Let‘s talk about WiFi 6E – the latest and greatest in wireless technology promising faster speeds, higher capacity, and lower latency. With more devices trying to share our home bandwidth these days, an upgrade sure sounds appealing!
In this guide, we‘ll cover everything you need to know about the key benefits WiFi 6E delivers and review the top-rated access points that unlock next-gen speeds.
What Makes WiFi 6E Better than WiFi 6 or WiFi 5?
WiFi 6E may seem like an incremental upgrade over WiFi 6, but it‘s more than just broader support for the new 6GHz frequency band. The additional airwaves enable some key enhancements:
Faster Top Speed – WiFi 6E enables lightning quick maximum wireless throughput thanks to specs like 320MHz-wide channels and 4K QAM allowing devices to transmit more data at once. You can hit peak rates above 10Gbps vs 3.5Gbps with WiFi 6.
Added Capacity – Those extra 160MHz channels in 6GHz also supply 3X more capacity compared to the existing 5GHz spectrum. More lanes means less congestion and faster speeds across all your gadgets.
Lower Latency – Interference has been the bane of WiFi gaming and video calls. But with 7 additional 160MHz channels for high-priority traffic, latency plummets by 75% for lag-free experiences.
Minimal Interference – The newly opened 6GHz band also provides cleaner spectrum because very few current devices transmit there. With less competing traffic, reliability sees a nice boost too.
But What About Device Support?
Here‘s the catch – to enjoy WiFi 6E‘s impressive improvements, both your wireless router AND your laptops, phones, tablets etc need full 6GHz compatibility. Many current devices still only work with WiFi 5 or standard WiFi 6 networks.
However more gadgets like Samsung‘s new Galaxy phones and high-end Windows laptops are shipping with WiFi 6E support. As adoption ramps up, that blazing fast network capacity will get unleashed.
Now let‘s explore the top access point contenders ready to build your WiFi 6E wireless network today…
Best WiFi 6E Routers and Mesh Systems
I‘ve compiled top picks across four categories based on needs – best overall WiFi 6E router, best value mesh system, best for low latency gaming, and best for whole home coverage.
Best Overall: Ubiquiti UniFi 6 Enterprise
Wireless Speed: 4.8Gbps tri-band WiFi 6E
Features: PoE powered, 200+ clients, weather resistant chassis
Pros: Fast speeds, easy mounting, advanced management features
Cons: Lacks WiFi mesh support, premium price tag
Ubiquiti‘s commercial-grade access point checks all the boxes – tri-band WiFi 6E connectivity with 4 spatial streams, robust hardware specs suited for dense user environments, versatile mounting options enabling placement for optimal signal coverage, and plenty of advanced tools including central management across multiple APs.
It‘s not the cheapest, but for $279 the UniFi 6 Enterprise delivers high-end wireless performance and key enterprise features at a reasonable price point for home and SMB usage.
| WiFi Standards | WiFi 6E, WiFi 5, WiFi 4 |
| Wireless Bands | 6GHz, 5GHz, 2.4GHz (tri-band) |
| Spatial Streams | 4 SU-MIMO per band (4×4) |
| Peak Throughput | 4.8Gbps |
Best Value: TP-Link Deco XE75 AX5400
Wireless Speed: 5.4Gbps tri-band WiFi 6E
Features: Mesh WiFi for 5800 sq ft, easy setup via app
Pros: Affordably priced, good coverage, built-in parental controls
Cons: Lacks some advanced configuration options
The Deco XE75 proves you don‘t need to spend big to enjoy WiFi 6E speeds. For just $249 this two-pack mesh blanket homes up to 5800 sq ft with fast wireless connectivity. Easy setup via TP-Link‘s app along with included parental controls make it great for family usage.
While not as configurable as the UniFi AP, the Deco XE75 focuses on plug-and-play performance. With compatibility for internet plans up 1Gbps+ plus enough capacity for lots of wireless clients, it checked all the key boxes in my testing. If you want WiFi 6E done simple, this mesh system should appeal.
| WiFi Standards | WiFi 6E, WiFi 5, WiFi 4 |
| Wireless Bands | 6GHz, 5GHz, 2.4GHz (tri-band) |
| Spatial Streams | 4 SU-MIMO per band (4×4) |
| Peak Throughout | 5.4Gbps |
Best for Gaming & Streaming: ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE16000
Wireless Speed: 16Gbps tri-band WiFi 6E
Features: Optimized for gaming & streaming, 2.5G WAN, Quad-core CPU
Pros: Super fast speeds, lag reducing enhancements specifically for games, Link Aggregation support
Cons: Very expensive
If you‘re a serious console or PC gamer, this ROG Rapture router delivers. It carries a hefty price tag but with triple-level game acceleration via traffic optimization, minimized ping spikes, and a 6GHz band solely for your Xbox‘s traffic, gameplay remains smooth as butter. 10Gbps-plus wireless throughput ensures snappy response connecting to game servers too.
There‘s also Link Aggregation support for teaming multiple LAN ports. Handy for lifting transfer rates when accessing local network attached storage. For gamers seeking the ultimate unfair advantage, the GT-AXE16000 is your WiFi 6E weapon.
| WiFi Standards | WiFi 6E, WiFi 6 |
| Wireless Bands | 6GHz, 5GHz, 5GHz, 2.4GHz (tri-band) |
| Spatial Streams | Not stated |
| Peak Throughput | 16Gbps |
Best Whole Home Coverage: Linksys Atlas Max 6E
Wireless Speed: Over 10Gbps tri-band WiFi 6E
Features: Easy mesh setup for 7500 sq ft, 160MHz channel support at 6GHz
Pros: Robust signal penetration for multi-story homes, supports next-gen speeds above 10Gbps, dedicated wireless backhaul prevents slow downs Cons: High price per node
The Atlas Max 6E mesh system brings seamless roaming and cutting edge wireless performance to every corner of your abode. Tri-band WiFi 6E nodes work cooperatively to create unified whole home coverage up to a cavernous 7500 sq ft.
Effortless setup via the Linksys app makes establishing the mesh network painless. Just add nodes to any dead zone areas and the system configures itself automatically on the back end. This even eliminates double NAT issues when meshing with your existing router instead of replacing it.
With wireless speeds in excess of 10Gbps plus robust cybersecurity protections, the Atlas Max 6E guarantees your network‘s ready for the future. Whether you‘ve got a larger house, multi-story layout, or just need rock solid signal penetration, this mesh has you covered on all fronts.
| WiFi Standards | WiFi 6E, WiFi 6 |
| Wireless Bands | 6GHz, 5GHz, 2.4GHz (tri-band) |
| Spatial Streams | Not stated |
| Peak Throughput | Over 10Gbps |
Key Factors When Deciding on a WiFi 6E Access Point
With next-gen WiFi 6E wireless performance comes premium price tags. You‘ll want to make sure your usage scenarios warrant opening the wallet before upgrading.
Multi-Gig Internet Plan – If you pay for fiber or cable internet speeds above 1Gbps, WiFi 6E ensures your local wireless network isn‘t the bottleneck. Without it, routers max out around 3.5Gbps.
Plan on Connecting Lots of Devices – Each generation of WiFi gets more efficient at handling simultaneous clients. If you plan to grow your connected smart home for instance, that extra 6GHz capacity helps avoid slow downs.
Experiencing Dead Zones or Buffering – Interference from the neighbors‘ WiFi and Bluetooth gadgets leads to pixelated Netflix and laggy online games. The cleaner 6GHz spectrum prevents many of these headaches.
Need Minimal Lag – WiFi 6E‘s spacious dedicated lanes keep latency in check for real-time apps like competitive gaming, video calls through your office VPN, live streaming, and more.
As long as your laptops, mobiles and other WiFi clients include 6E compatibility, the routers and mesh systems above help tackle common wireless woes. But if 1Gbps internet speeds still seem quick and the family doesn‘t battle much buffering or lag, WiFi 6 can still get the job done.
Let me know which WiFi 6E benefits and access points catch your eye in the comments! I‘m happy to answer any additional questions too.
