In the past two years, the 5G and WiFi 6 features of smartphones have been frequently mentioned. Some users feel that these features are not significantly noticeable in daily use, so whether they are equipped with 5G and WiFi 6 doesn’t matter. However, as users’ demands for network speed continue to rise, the importance of these features is gradually becoming apparent. While 5G is relatively well-known, today we will focus on discussing whether WiFi 6 is necessary for ordinary users.

First, let’s talk about what WiFi 6 is. It is essentially the WiFi protocol based on the 802.11AX standard. To make it easier for more people to remember, the name was changed to WiFi 6, with previous generations also receiving updated names. The latest WiFi 6 can achieve a maximum transmission rate of up to 9.6Gbps, while WiFi 5 only reaches 3.5Gbps.

Is WiFi 6 Necessary for Ordinary Users

Converting the theoretical maximum value of WiFi 6 into commonly used download speeds, it is approximately 1228.8MB/s or 1.2GB/s. However, this is a theoretical speed, and actual usage is limited by factors such as broadband, the range of the wireless access point, obstacles, interference from other signals, and the quality of the wireless signal. Despite these limitations, after multiple real-world tests, the importance of WiFi 6 is quite evident.

Firstly, with the development of AIOT, more and more devices in the home need to connect to the network. In addition to at least one smartphone per person, there are also laptops, various smart home appliances, etc., which can easily lead to network congestion. However, WiFi 6 networks offer significantly improved speed and transmission efficiency compared to WiFi 5.

To compare the differences between the two, the author conducted real-world tests using the Coolpad COOL20Pro, which supports WiFi 6, and a model that only supports WiFi 5. When downloading the same movie, the Coolpad phone saved about 40% of the time.

Moreover, WiFi 6 also provides a better entertainment experience. Many people now play games, listen to music, watch dramas, and movies through their smartphones. One of the most worrying issues during these activities is network lag. During the use of the Coolpad COOL20Pro, this phenomenon did not occur at all. Gaming was smooth and fluid, with no frame drops.

Lastly, the simplest point is that WiFi 6 is backward compatible. This means that devices supporting WiFi 6 also support WiFi 5, but lower-version devices cannot support WiFi 6. As time progresses, WiFi 6 will inevitably become more widespread. If your phone is still functional but you have to replace it due to network speed issues, it would be a waste.

In conclusion, even for ordinary users, it is still necessary to configure WiFi 6, as it is an inevitable trend of development. However, if your broadband is inherently poor, WiFi 6 cannot save you.