Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) was released as the successor to Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) with significant improvements in speed, capacity and efficiency. But is upgrading worth the investment for your business? Here is what you need to know.

What is Wi-Fi 6?

Wi-Fi 6 is the sixth generation of Wi-Fi technology. It supports speeds up to 9.6 Gbps theoretically, compared to 3.5 Gbps for Wi-Fi 5. More importantly, it handles many devices simultaneously much better — crucial for modern offices.

Key Differences: Wi-Fi 6 vs Wi-Fi 5

  • Speed: Wi-Fi 6 is ~40% faster in real-world scenarios
  • Capacity: Wi-Fi 6 handles 4x more simultaneous devices efficiently
  • Latency: Wi-Fi 6 reduces average latency by 75%
  • Battery efficiency: Wi-Fi 6 uses less power on client devices (Target Wake Time)
  • Range: Similar indoor range, slightly better at the edges
  • Cost: Wi-Fi 6 equipment costs 30-50% more than Wi-Fi 5

When Wi-Fi 6 is Worth It

Wi-Fi 6 provides significant benefits in these scenarios:

  • Dense office environments with 30+ devices per access point
  • Video conferencing-heavy workflows (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet)
  • Mixed IoT environments with many smart devices
  • New office setups where you are buying equipment fresh anyway
  • Healthcare, education or retail with high device density

When Wi-Fi 5 is Still Fine

  • Small offices with under 20 devices
  • Mostly wired infrastructure with Wi-Fi as secondary
  • Tight budget — Wi-Fi 5 still delivers excellent performance
  • Existing Wi-Fi 5 network installed in the last 2-3 years

Our Recommendation

For new installations and offices with more than 25 devices, we recommend Wi-Fi 6. For existing Wi-Fi 5 deployments that are performing well, wait until the next refresh cycle. The performance improvement is real but does not justify premature replacement of working infrastructure.

Need expert advice on your office Wi-Fi setup? View our Networking Services or contact us for a free Wi-Fi assessment.