What is WiFi 7? And How Fast Will It Be? Let’s Find Out…


What is WiFi 7? And How Fast Will It Be? Let's Find Out...Pin

Most people just use WiFi and think nothing of it. But when a new version drops, things can get a lot better. But how fast will WiFi 7 be when it finally arrives?


TL;DR: WiFI 7 Key Takeaways

  • What is WiFi 7? WiFi 7, also referred to as “802.11be EHT” (Extremely High Throughput), is the upcoming generation of wireless technology. It promises theoretical speeds of up to 40Gbps, which is over four times faster than WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E. However, these maximum speeds are theoretical and may not be achieved in everyday use.
  • Backward Compatibility: WiFi 7 will be backward compatible with WiFi 6, WiFi 5 (802.11ac), and WiFi 4 (802.11n), ensuring a smooth transition for users upgrading their devices.
  • Innovations: WiFi 7 will build upon the innovations of WiFi 6, such as Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Multi-User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO), and Target Wake Time (TWT). These technologies will be enhanced to maximize gains and improve latency.
  • Bands: WiFi 7 will operate on the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz radio bands, similar to WiFi 6E. This will help reduce latency and interference, leading to quicker and more reliable connections.
  • New Technologies: WiFi 7 will introduce Multi-Link Operation (MLO) technology, which allows devices to simultaneously send and receive data over multiple radio bands to create a single aggregated connection. This will improve throughput performance, reduce latency, and allow for smoother data flow.
  • Speed: The channel width in WiFi 7 will double compared to WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E, leading to less interference and improved speed and latency. WiFi 7 will also use a new technology called “puncturing” to prevent interference on specific channels.
  • Release Date: The earliest expected release date for WiFi 7 is in 2024, with WiFi 7 compatible devices likely appearing in 2023. However, to access WiFi 7, users will need a new phone that supports WiFi 7 and a new home router.


WiFi isn’t sexy but it is essential. Billions of people use WiFi every single day to connect to the internet, to work, and to communicate with friends and family. WiFi is and has been integral to our modern culture for close to two decades now. And whether you realize it or not, WiFi is not a static thing – it changes and updates every now and then.

The next phase of WiFi is called WiFi 7 and, while this new standard is not yet publicly available, it’s currently going through FCC approval, it will soon become the new “standard” for wireless networks, replacing WiFi 6, in millions of homes and workplaces around the globe. But what’s the deal with WiFi 7? Is it going to be A LOT better than WiFi 6? Let’s find out…

What is WiFi 7?

If your au fait with WiFi trends, you’ll know that WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E are only just starting to make inroads in homes and workplaces around the globe. WiFi 6 is great too, offering appreciable improvements over WiFi 5. But it isn’t THAT different from what came before. There are benefits, of course, but WiFi 6 was always an incremental update over WiFi 5, not a complete overhaul.

With WiFi 7, things couldn’t be more different. WiFi 7 will improve data rates, enable loads more connected devices, have lower latency, and it will be considerably faster than WiFi 6, promising theoretical speeds of up to 40Gbps – a truly astonishing number. But, again, this is its theoretical maximum speed. No one will get this kind of speed from WiFi 7 unless you’re on some kind of top-secret government skunkworks network.

To put that above figure into context, WiFi 6 can theoretically handle 9.6Gbps, while WiFi 5’s upper limit was 6.9Gbps. With maximum data rates of 40Gbps, WiFi 7 will be more than FOUR TIMES faster than WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E. Now, most people will never get these kinds of speeds from their WiFi 7 routers. But the fact that WiFi 7 can handle these speeds is important; it leaves plenty of headroom for big leaps forward in wireless data delivery.

Is WiFi 7 Backwards Compatible With WiFi 6?

In order to make WiFi 7’s rollout as simple as possible, the new standard will be backward compatible with WiFi 6. There is new jargon in place, however, with WiFi 7 being referred to as “802.11be EHT,” where “EHT” means Extremely High Throughput, but WiFi 7 will be compatible with both Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), so no worries in this regard.

What is WiFi 7? And How Fast Will It Be? Let's Find Out...Pin
With maximum data rates of 40Gbps, WiFi 7 will be more than FOUR TIMES faster than WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E

WiFi 7 will use all of the innovations present in WiFi 6, things like Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Multi-User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO), and Target Wake Time (TWT), but key aspects of these technologies have – or will – be tweaked ahead of its rollout to maximize gains and improve latency across the board.

What Bands Will WiFi 7 Run On?

Similar to WiFi 6E, Wi-Fi 7 will run on the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz radio bands, and the reason for this, while rather technical, relates to augmenting the performance of specific technologies used by the standard – OFDMA operations, for instance – which, in turn, help to further reduce latency and interference, making for quicker more reliable connections.

The new standard will offer enhanced OFDMA operations that use Multiple Resource Units (MRUs) designed to further reduce latency and interference. The big advance is a doubling of the MU-MIMO streams, to 16. This is a key driver behind the industry’s ability to tout such massive overall throughput gains compared with Wi-Fi 6.

Additionally, Wi-Fi 7 will introduce Multi-Link Operation (MLO) technology, which allows devices to simultaneously send and receive data over multiple radio bands to create a single aggregated connection. This will not only provide faster throughput performance, but will also help reduce latency and allow data to flow unimpeded by network traffic or interference.

PC MAG

How Fast Will WiFi 7 Be?

Each new iteration of WiFi tends to bring wider channel width with it, so if your home network’s 2.4GHz band is too crowded, for instance, you can switch to a higher band like 5GHz.

This will ensure there is less interference and improve both the speed and latency of your internet connection. But it is the width of these bands that make them useful. And with WiFi 7, the bands’ width will DOUBLE compared to what you got with WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E.

What does this mean? Channel width doubled from 80MHz in WiFi 5 to 160MHz in WiFi 6. With WiFi 7, you’re looking at 320MHz channel bandwidth across the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz radio bands.

And WiFi 7 will also use a new technology called “puncturing” that will prevent interference on specific channels and, again, improve connection speeds and latency. And it is ALL these aspects combined that allow WiFi 7 to theoretically handle speeds of up to 40Gbps.

WiFi 7 Release Date

WiFi 6 vs WiFi 6EPin

All of this sounds very exciting, right? The idea of having a home WiFi network that can handle speeds of up to 40Gbps, whichever way you slice it, is a game-changer. Even more so when you factor in that the average WiFi speed in the average home in America is a paltry 42.86 Mbps. With 40Gbps, you’d be able to download 8K content in the blink of an eye. It is orders of magnitude faster than anything we currently have access to.

WiFi 7 is not official yet, though; the spec has not been finalized and it still needs FCC approval, a process that it is currently going through.

With release dates, the earliest we’re likely to see WiFi 7 is 2024, although a slew of WiFi 7 compatible devices will almost certainly start appearing during 2023.

But for most people, the WiFi 7 era will not start for a good few years yet. You’ll need either a new phone to access it, one that supports WiFi 7, as well as a new home router.

And when was the last time you upgraded your router? Exactly…

Latest Smartphone Releases


  • Xiaomi 15S Pro

    The Xiaomi 15S Pro didn’t come with a flashy launch, but it brings some seriously heavy hardware to the table. A custom 10-core chip, Leica-engineered cameras, and one of the brightest displays on the market

  • Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

    At just 5.8mm thick, it’s one of the thinnest Android phones ever made—but don’t let the slim profile fool you. This phone is all flagship under the hood.

  • Nothing Phone (3a) Pro

    It’s got the same slick design and OLED display, but adds a periscope zoom camera and a 50MP front-facing shooter.

  • Nothing Phone (3a)

    The Nothing Phone (3a) nails the formula: give people what they actually want, keep the price low, and make it look cooler than anything else in its class.

  • Motorola EDGE 60 Pro

    With a bold design, flagship-like display, and surprisingly refined camera system, it’s one of the most interesting mid-range phones of 2025.

  • Google Pixel 9

    I’ve been using the Pixel 9 for a few weeks now, and honestly? It nails all the basics—and a bit more. Killer stuff all round!

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro

    I’ve used the Pixel 9 Pro as my daily device, and it’s hands-down the best balance of power, practicality, and photography you’ll find on Android right now.

  • OnePlus 13

    I’ve been using the OnePlus 13 as my daily driver for a few months now—and I’ve got to say, it’s easily one of the best Android phones I’ve tested this year.

  • Xiaomi 15 Ultra

    After using the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for over a week, I can confidently say: this phone is an absolute beast. It’s made for camera nerds, power users, and creators.

  • iPhone 16 Pro Max

    If you’ve been holding out for a truly complete iPhone, the 16 Pro Max delivers—hard. After using it daily, I won't be going back…

  • Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

    Big screen, big battery, and even bigger brains—this is the Pixel to get if you want Google’s best hardware and longest support.

  • Google Pixel 9a

    The Pixel 9a brings Google’s flagship-level smarts to a budget-friendly package, and it’s easily one of the best-value Android phones of 2025.

Best SIM-Only Plans & Deals


  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Premium Plan

    Boost’s top-tier option brings the heat: 50GB of premium data, hotspot, North America roaming, global talk & text, and $430 off select devices. All-in at $60/month with no contract.

    +

    Data: Unlimited (50GB premium speed)

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited+ Plan

    Level up with 40GB of premium data, hotspot access, global calling, and up to $300 in device savings. All for just $50/month. No contracts and flexible phone options included.

    +

    Data: Unlimited; Speed Caps After 40GB

  • Boost Mobile Unlimited Plan

    Start strong with 30GB of premium data, unlimited everything, and a killer intro offer: just $15/month for the first 3 months, then $25/month forever. No contracts. No fluff. Big value.

    +

    Data: Unlimited (Speed Caps Over 30GB)

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    Another high-data, low-cost option with no contract. 108GB for just £9, full 5G access, and the same goodies you get with 12-month deals.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 20GB

    The lowest price option. 20GB for £6 with all the same perks as pricier plans. Great if you don’t use much data and want to save every penny.

    +

    Data: 20GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 110GB

    This plan gives you big data and zero commitment. 110GB for just £10 with all perks intact. If you need more data but want the freedom to cancel, this is the one.

    +

    Data: 110GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    More data, same price. For just £8/month, you get 60GB on a no-strings 1-month rolling plan. Ideal for users who stream often but don’t want long commitments.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 1 Month SIM-Only: 40GB

    Perfect if you want full flexibility. You get 40GB and all of iD Mobile's perks with no lock-in, annual increases, or setup fees. Great for short-term users.

    +

    Data: 40GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 60GB

    One of the best pound-per-GB plans around. You get 60GB for £8 with £25 cashback, which means you’re effectively paying closer to £6/month. Includes roaming and data rollover.

    +

    Data: 60GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: 108GB

    This deal gets you a healthy 108GB of 5G data for less than a tenner, with no upfront costs and £24 cashback. All the perks are included too: data rollover, roaming, and loyalty rewards.

    +

    Data: 108GB

  • iD Mobile 12 Month SIM-Only: Unlimited Data

    This iD Mobile plan doesn’t just compete on price, it’s up there with the best of them. Unlimited everything, a year-long lock-in with no price rises, and £42 cashback straight to your pocket. It’s like getting nearly 3 months free.

    +

    Data: Unlimited, No Speed Caps

  • Mint Mobile 20GB Plan

    If you're looking to save some cash on your bills, this plan is an awesome option. You'll get 20GB of data per month and 20GB hotspot data allowance. For moderate to heavy users, that should be more than enough. I seldom use more than 10GB of data a month, and I'm always using my phone

    +

    Data: 20GB