Every Wi-Fi generation promises more speed, with bigger and better numbers than the previous version. We have more devices than ever, using more bandwidth, and we want beefier Wi-Fi to keep connected.
But Wi-Fi 8 changes the focus from ever-increasing speeds to focus on something different, yet equally important for networks: reliability.
What Wi-Fi 8 actually is
Better doesn’t always mean faster
Wi-Fi 8 is the consumer name for the upcoming IEEE 802.11bn Wi-Fi standard—also known as Ultra High Reliability (UHR). The name gives us a clearer clue about Wi-Fi 8’s focus: improving Wi-Fi reliability so devices can make better use of available bandwidth, stay connected in busy areas, and generally boost stability.
It feels slightly odd talking about Wi-Fi 8 when most folks aren’t even using Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be), the most recent Wi-Fi generation. Wi-Fi 7 delivered enormous theoretical speed boosts, with a maximum speed of around 46Gbps, up from Wi-Fi 6/6E’s 9.6Gbps. But while Wi-Fi 8 builds on Wi-Fi 7, it won’t deliver another enormous jump in performance.
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It’s all about reliability
Wi-Fi 8 will bring more stability to your network
One of Wi-Fi 8’s biggest improvements is Multi-Access Point (Multi-AP) coordination, which will help mesh network nodes work together in an active network rather than overlapping signals. In theory, the introduction of Multi-AP should mean smoother roaming between nodes, fewer retransmissions and signal drops when moving rooms, and generally more stability. As part of that, coordinated beamforming will allow access points (APs) to intelligently direct signals to avoid interference, shaping the transmission area to avoid overlapping with other APs.
Another key improvement is Seamless Roaming, which builds upon the multi-link operation (MLO) introduced with Wi-Fi 7. MLO basically allows devices to use multiple bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz) simultaneously, keeping you connected to the best available band. Now, Wi-Fi 8 uses a new technology known as a Single Mobility Domain that basically allows your device to connect to two access points simultaneously, automatically shifting between them without interruption.
I’m also interested to see how Wi-Fi 8’s upgraded Quality of Service (QoS) features work. QoS settings let you prioritize traffic for specific devices and uses, such as your gaming PC or workstation.
Wi-Fi 8 introduces Priority EDCA, which is effectively a new traffic priority class for anything that must stay connected over other devices on your network. Traffic marked as high-priority will always be prioritized, even if your network is congested.
In addition, Wi-Fi 8 devices can signal to the access point that they require a low-latency connection, further assisting with network traffic prioritization.
Wi-Fi 8, like all Wi-Fi standard upgrades, is broad and multifaceted. If you’d like to really dive into the nuts and bolts of Wi-Fi 8, I suggest giving Intel’s Wi-Fi 8 White Paper a read.
It doesn’t matter that Wi-Fi 8 isn’t faster
|
Generation (Wi-Fi Alliance Designation) |
IEEE Standard |
Release Year |
Max Theoretical Speed |
Bands |
What Actually Improved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wi-Fi 4 |
802.11n |
2009 |
~600 Mbps |
2.4GHz, 5GHz |
Introduced MIMO (multiple antennas), major speed jump over 802.11g |
|
Wi-Fi 5 |
802.11ac |
2013 |
~6.9 Gbps |
2.4GHz, 5GHz |
Wider channels (80/160MHz), MU-MIMO (downlink), better for streaming |
|
Wi-Fi 6 |
802.11ax |
2019 |
~9.6 Gbps |
2.4GHz, 5GHz |
OFDMA, better efficiency in crowded networks, lower latency under load |
|
Wi-Fi 6E |
802.11ax (6GHz extension) |
2021 |
~9.6 Gbps |
2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz |
Access to clean 6GHz spectrum, reduced interference |
|
Wi-Fi 7 |
802.11be |
2024 |
~46 Gbps |
2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz |
320MHz channels, Multi-Link Operation (MLO), huge peak throughput |
|
Wi-Fi 8 |
802.11bn |
Expected 2027–2028 |
Not expected to significantly exceed Wi-Fi 7 |
2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz |
Ultra High Reliability (UHR), improved multi-AP coordination, tighter latency control, smarter spectrum use |
Most folks don’t need a 40+Gbps connection, or even have access to one. Even with multiple streaming devices, gaming, and so on, we rarely use the full capacity of our existing networks. Given that many people are still using Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, that’s some considerable capacity still available.
Wi-Fi 7 already pushed wireless into territory most homes simply don’t need. With 320MHz channel widths and advanced Multi-Link Operation (MLO), it can deliver multi-gigabit speeds under ideal conditions. But the thing is, peak throughput isn’t the only factor that makes a network feel good.
But people absolutely do need stability, and when the internet doesn’t work, everything breaks down.
Wi-Fi is shared between your devices, with each one effectively taking turns speaking. When multiple high-priority tasks collide — streaming, gaming, conferencing — the network has to decide who goes first. If that coordination isn’t efficient, you lose both speed and network stability. That results in high latency, jitter, lost packets, and an unreliable network.
Wi-Fi 8 is the answer to those problems, eliminating lag and keeping your devices connected. Overall, additional stability is far more important to most folks, especially on home networks, rather than another 10 or 20Gbps speed boost.
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Wi-Fi 8 is still a few years in the distance
You’ll probably upgrade to Wi-Fi 7 first
Wi-Fi 8 isn’t due to arrive on consumer hardware until around 2027 or 2028. You’re far more likely to upgrade to a Wi-Fi 7 router before then, as these are starting become widely available, and most importantly, affordable compared to the early adoption phase.
Furthermore, the reality is that for now, at least in terms of speed and network capacity, Wi-Fi 6 and 6E still offer excellent performance for most homes. If you’re using the older Wi-Fi 5 standard, upgrading to Wi-Fi 6, 6E, or 7 is the right call, though.
But if you’re having Wi-Fi problems, there are a few ways you can optimize your network. For example, you could set a preferred band for your network or map your Wi-Fi to find the signal sweet spots.
Another option is to adjust the default DNS configuration on your router, which is one of the fastest ways to give your network a quick-yet-effective upgrade.
