What exactly is Wi-Fi 6E and what does it mean for Apple devices?

Wi-Fi 6E represents the latest advancement in wireless connection technology, and its adoption by Apple marks a significant step towards faster and more efficient connectivity for all of us. It’s a technology that substantially enhances the user experience in terms of speed and performance, thereby opening the door to a new network of connected devices in environments like smart homes and offices.

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What is Wi-Fi 6E?

Wi-Fi 6E is an extension of the Wi-Fi 6 standard. While Wi-Fi 6 operates in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, Wi-Fi 6E adds a third band, the 6GHz band. This new band offers greater bandwidth, resulting in faster speeds, lower latency, and reduced signal interference. To get the most out of Wi-Fi 6E, it’s essential to have a compatible device and a Wi-Fi 6E router.

The implementation of Wi-Fi 6E in Apple devices, such as the 2023 iMac, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro also from 2023, the 2023 Mac mini, the 2023 Mac Studio, the 2023 Mac Pro, the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, the 4th generation 11-inch iPad Pro, and the 6th generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro, represents a qualitative leap in terms of network performance. These devices can handle more simultaneous connections without a decrease in performance, which is ideal in environments with many connected devices.

To use a Wi-Fi 6E network with an Apple device, it’s necessary to have a Wi-Fi 6E router that also has its 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands enabled. Apple recommends using a unique network name for the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands of the router for optimal performance. This is something that can be modified in the router’s configuration settings.

As the wireless signal becomes faster, its range is reduced due to physical limitations. This might require more strategic placement of routers or the use of range extenders. Generally, for a house around 100m², a couple of well-placed routers should suffice to cover the entire space. It’s worth noting that 2.4 networks still exist in Wi-Fi 6E, so devices farther from routers—such as some HomeKit devices in the garden, for example—might still connect at a lower speed.

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Absolutely, the arrival of Wi-Fi 6E to Apple devices is a substantial improvement. Even if we might not have the precise router right now, its emergence is evident. In this regard, having a device that already supports the standard is fantastic news. And if we already have the appropriate router, we’ll be able to surf at the maximum available speed.