What is WiFi 7?
Published 04/11/2026
6 minute read
Overview
WiFi 7 is the latest in WiFi technology. Improving on WiFi 6, it has increased speed capabilities and is able to provide reliable internet to even more devices at once.
The benefits of WiFi 7
There are a few reasons why WiFi 7 is such a huge advancement in WiFi technology.
Faster speeds: The obvious benefit of WiFi 7 is how fast it is. A good WiFi 7 router can reach speeds of up to 8Gbps, which is around 200 times faster than standard broadband. This is enough to power up to 200 connected devices, handle 8K resolution streaming, and download large video games in a matter of seconds.
Lower latency or lag: When you select ‘add to cart’, how long does it take for the system to react? If it’s instant, it’s likely that your internet’s lag is low. If it’s a few seconds, it’s probably high. Having low latency means that systems are more likely to run in real-time, making it especially useful for online gaming, or MMOG, and those split-second dodges and attacks.
Reliable WiFi in more rooms: A lot of us have that one area of our home that our WiFi just doesn’t seem to reach. Modern routers use ‘beamforming’, which focuses wireless signals forwards connected devices, instead of data spreading out randomly. WiFi 7 uses explicit beamforming, which uses measurements to fine-tune the angle and strength of the beam, for better connectivity.
Higher bandwidth: Wireless signals, just like roads, can get blocked up with traffic when multiple devices are in use. This leads to slow speeds and an overall poor performance. WiFi 7 is designed to work with tri-band routers, which broadcast three signals instead of one, and help to reduce congestion.
Built for future tech: With more and more people making use of AI, high-definition streaming services, and smart home devices, we’re at an all-time high for internet consumption – and we need WiFi that can keep up. With its advanced features, WiFi 7 is primed to handle future tech such as advanced smart homes, 8K streaming, and immersive VR.
How fast is WiFi 7?
We’ve mentioned that WiFi 7’s speed is one of its key benefits. But how fast can it really go? And how much faster is it compared to older wireless technology like WiFi 6?
Feature | WiFi 5 | WiFi 6 | WiFi 6E | WiFi 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Max theoretical speed | Up to 3.5 Gbps | Up to 9.6 Gbps | Up to 9.6 Gbps | Up to 46 Gbps |
Throughput speed in ideal conditions | 250 Mbps to 450 Mbps | 600 Mbps and 1.2 Gbps | 1.2 Gbps to 2.4 Gbps | 8Gbps |
Bands available | 5 GHz | 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz |
Maximum channel width on average | 160 MHz | 160 MHz | 160 MHz | 320 MHz |
Multi-Link Operation (MLO) | No | No | No | Yes |
Device capacity on average | 10-25 | 20-50 | 60 | 200 |
Latency performance on average | 20-40 milliseconds | 8-25 milliseconds | 2-15 milliseconds | Under 5 milliseconds |
How does WiFi 7 work?
WiFi 7 manages to achieve its high speed, wide range and reliability through a few different factors.
Multi-link operation (MLO): When you connect a device to WiFi 7, it can use multiple WiFi bands; 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz, at the same time. If one band gets too crowded, it can switch to another, without interrupting your connection.
Preamble puncturing: Previously, if your internet experienced any radio interference, it could drastically impact its overall speed and latency. Preamble puncturing essentially ‘punches a hole’ through the problem area, and helps to maintain speeds, even in crowded areas.
Who benefits the most from WiFi 7?
Compared to older WiFi technologies, WiFi 7 can deliver huge improvements on day-to-day activities, especially when paired with the right WiFi 7 router and accompanying devices. Everyone can enjoy these improvements, but they’re especially useful for:
WiFi 7 for gamers
Online gaming or MMOG requires fast reflexes and split-second decisions – as well as internet that can keep up. WiFi 7 is perfect for high-level gaming that requires large amounts of data and low lag, reducing common issues like packet loss and congestion.
WiFi 7 for streamers and content creators
With its high speeds and low latency, WiFi 7 is able to easily manage 4K and 8K streaming, as well as fast uploads and large data transfers.
WiFi 7 for families and smart homes
More and more homes have a large number of smart home devices, including cameras, smart speakers and TVs. As WiFi 7 is able to handle multiple connected devices without congestion, it’s ideal for large, busy homes with constant online activity.
WiFi 7 for remote work
With online calls, file downloads and instant messaging, a daily part of at-home work, a high-speed internet connection is vital. WiFi 7 can handle downloads and video streaming on busy networks, and the high speed ensures it runs smoothly and reliably.
Vodafone and WiFi 7
If you’re interested in getting fast and reliable internet for your home, check out Pro 4 Broadband. Powered by WiFi 7, it includes a Super WiFi 7+ booster for whole-home internet, and 4G Broadband Back-up for automatic 4G connection, in case of an outage.