Wi-Fi 6 is a wifi standard that improves speed, efficiency, and security over Wi-Fi 5. Compared to Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6 dramatically reduces lag on your connected devices.
Supported eeros
These eero models support Wi-Fi 6:
Standard models:
- eero 6 (router)
- eero 6 Extender
- eero 6+
Pro models:
- eero Pro 6
- eero Pro 6E
PoE models:
- eero PoE 6
Note: The eero Pro 6E supports an expansion of the Wi-Fi 6 protocol called Wi-Fi 6E which introduces support for the faster 6 GHz band.
Technology
Wi-Fi 6 operates on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, letting you connect more devices without sacrificing speed. It's more secure with WPA3 encryption, and includes performance improvements at both the network and device level:
- OFDMA subdivides wifi channels so multiple clients can transmit data at the same time rather than each client transmitting one at a time
- BSS Coloring allows devices to distinguish between your network and other networks on the same wifi channel, increasing efficiency even on congested networks
- Target Wake Time (TWT) reduces power consumption when clients are idle
Compatibility
What about older devices?
Older devices can still connect to Wi-Fi 6 networks using their supported Wi-Fi standards, but:
- They won't receive Wi-Fi 6 performance benefits
- They may not perform as well as Wi-Fi 6-capable devices
- Some may have trouble connecting with WPA3 enabled
For more information, see WPA3.
Note: Wi-Fi 6 eeros won't use Wi-Fi 6 backhaul while meshing with Wi-Fi 5 eero models. This means Wi-Fi 6 devices may experience slower speeds and higher latency when roaming from a Wi-Fi 6 eero to an older one.