Photography: Simon Hill
Multi-link operation
Perhaps the most interesting advancement in Wi-Fi 7 is multi-link operation (MLO). All previous Wi-Fi standards establish a connection between two devices on a single band. Even a tri-band Wi-Fi 6E router connects two devices on a single band on a fixed channel (the router decides whether to connect on the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz band).
MLO can combine multiple frequencies on different bands into a single connection. A Wi-Fi 7 router can connect to a Wi-Fi 7 device over two or more channels on different bands simultaneously. MLO potentially enables wider channels capable of transmitting more data; going back to our highway analogy, traffic can be sent on the highway and the superhighway at the same time.
Speed isn’t always the priority, but MLO technology also allows for more efficient performance. A Wi-Fi 7 router can take into account congestion and other interference and transmit on the best channel to avoid it, switching to maintain a stable connection and low latency. MLO technology can also help mitigate the relatively short range of the 6GHz band, ensuring you get seamless connectivity from your mesh system as you move around your home.
Higher QAM
Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) is a method of transmitting and receiving data over radio frequency waves. The higher the frequency, the more information that can be included. Wi-Fi 7 supports 4K-QAM, while Wi-Fi 6 supported 1024-QAM and Wi-Fi 5 was limited to 256-QAM.
The potential benefits are complicated by signal strength, background noise, and interference. Consequently, as QAM increases, range decreases and a stronger signal is needed. So the jump to 1024-QAM in Wi-Fi 6 offered a data rate increase of around 25 percent over Wi-Fi 5. The jump to 4K-QAM in Wi-Fi 7 translates to a 20 percent increase in peak throughput.
Wi-Fi 7 also improves existing technologies like OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and TWT, which we discuss in our Wi-Fi 6E walkthrough.
When should I upgrade to Wi-Fi 7?
This is a tricky one. Wi-Fi 7 devices and routers began rolling out in early 2023. While you won’t feel the benefit of a Wi-Fi 7 router until you have Wi-Fi 7 devices, new Wi-Fi 7 routers are backwards compatible. Buying a Wi-Fi 7 system may make sense for people considering an upgrade now, especially for people considering an expensive Wi-Fi 6E system, since they will handle 6E connections but also provide some future-proofing.
Photo: TP-Link
We’ve tested a number of Wi-Fi 7 routers and mesh systems, including the TP-Link BE800 (8/10, WIRED review), the Amazon Eero Max 7 (7/10, WIRED review), the Netgear Orbi 970 series (7/10, WIRED review), and the TP-Link Deco BE85 (7/10, WIRED review). All of these systems are very expensive. Fortunately, some manufacturers have started lowering the prices of their flagship Wi-Fi 7 routers and introducing mid-range and entry-level options (you can find some of these in our guides to the best routers and best mesh systems).
In terms of devices, we are seeing more and more smartphones and laptops with Wi-Fi 7 built in. The latest flagship phone ranges from Apple, Google and Samsung all support Wi-Fi 7. All major chip manufacturers, including Qualcomm, Intel, Broadcomand MediaTek We now offer chipsets that have been certified for Wi-Fi 7 and the Wi-Fi Alliance It’s using them as a testbed for certification and suggests more than 233 million Wi-Fi 7 devices will enter the market this year.