How we sort
Start with the concepts and prerequisites, then see example models for upgrade and wait-and-see cases.
Spec comparison table
| Aspect | WiFi 5 (802.11ac) | WiFi 6 (802.11ax) |
|---|---|---|
| Bands | Mainly 5GHz, rarely 2.4GHz | OFDMA on both 2.4 and 5GHz |
| Multi-client efficiency | OFDM — clients queue up | OFDMA + MU-MIMO for finer scheduling |
| Modulation | Up to 256-QAM | 1024-QAM |
| Power saving | No target wake time | TWT lets clients sleep longer |
| Prerequisites | — | Clients must also support ax; prefer 2.5G uplink or local forwarding |
Choosing by scenario
Worth it: high density with modern clients
Meeting rooms, classrooms, canteens with clients from the last few years.
Worth it: battery-sensitive mobile fleets
Clinical PDAs, scanners — TWT extends runtime.
Wait: clients are mostly 2.4GHz
Fix 2.4GHz coverage and channel planning first — faster payback.
Can these ship together
Roll out in stages: WiFi 6 in new areas, WiFi 5 retained elsewhere under the same SSID.
Sourcing ServiceQuestions
Q1Can I actually hit the advertised rate?
Rarely. The figure is an aggregate over the air with multi-antenna clients; uplink, concurrency and interference cap reality.
Q2Should I wait for WiFi 6E or 7?
The 6GHz band is not yet open in most target markets, and WiFi 7 adoption is still building — no need to wait.
Compare & Select
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