Wi-Fi 7 is the newest and most advanced Wi-Fi standard to date, promising major leaps in wireless connectivity speeds, capacity, latency and more. But given its cutting-edge nature, you may be wondering — what products actually support this new technology today? And how widespread will adoption be?
As your friendly neighborhood technology expert, I‘ve written this comprehensive guide to walk you through everything important to know about Wi-Fi 7 compatible devices. We‘ll explore:
- What exactly Wi-Fi 7 is and its key improvements
- An overview of current products supporting Wi-Fi 7
- Insights on how adoption will progress in the coming years
- Projections around evolving areas Wi-Fi 7 could enable
My goal is equipping you with expert-level knowledge to evaluate if Wi-Fi 7 makes sense for your needs. Let‘s dive in!
What Is Wi-Fi 7 and What Does It Enable?
First, a quick crash course on what Wi-Fi 7 brings to the table.
Wi-Fi 7 (also known as 802.11be) represents the next generation of Wi-Fi standards after Wi-Fi 6/6E. It introduces major technical enhancements like:
- Faster top speeds: Wi-Fi 7 supports maximum theoretical speeds up to 30 Gbps, 4x faster than Wi-Fi 6! Real-world speeds will be lower but still impressive.
- Higher bandwidth: Channels can now extend up to 320 MHz wide, double Wi-Fi 6‘s maximum channel width.
- More simultaneous connections: Thanks to innovations like multi-link operation (MLO)
- Lower latency: Key for time-sensitive uses like streaming VR/AR and gaming
- Greater reliability: More consistent performance even for many high-demand devices
In a nutshell, Wi-Fi 7 turbocharges wireless connectivity — what‘s not to like?
For now, Wi-Fi 7 is most beneficial in environments like:
- Businesses managing many connected devices
- Public venues hosting high visitor densities
- Smart homes with numerous smart appliances and gadgets
But over time, more consumer devices will integrate Wi-Fi 7 for boosted speed, capacity and latency.
Now let‘s explore what‘s currently available.
Overview of Current Wi-Fi 7 Products
Given the newness of Wi-Fi 7, few devices support it so far. The most common form of support today comes via:
- Chipsets: Such as Qualcomm‘s upcoming FastConnect 7800 mobile chip
- Routers: Providing faster wireless routing to Wi-Fi 7 capable devices
- Mesh systems: To blanket homes/businesses in high-performance Wi-Fi 7
Key players driving early Wi-Fi 7 products include semiconductor company Qualcomm and networking brand TP-Link.
Qualcomm Wi-Fi 7 Chipsets and Platforms
As a leading designer of mobile and wireless chipsets, Qualcomm is ensuring support for Wi-Fi 7 gets baked into upcoming smartphone and laptop processors.
So far Qualcomm has unveiled:
- FastConnect 7800 chip (releasing 2023): Qualcomm’s first Wi-Fi 7 chip for phones/tablets, integrating key capabilities like 320MHz channel support and multi-link operation.
- Network Pro series platforms: Sit at the heart of Wi-Fi 7 wireless routers and access points from brands like NETGEAR, D-Link, ASUS and more. Available platforms include:
- Immersive Home 326
- Immersive Home 3210
- Networking Pro 820
- Networking Pro 620
- Networking Pro 1620
- Networking Pro 1220
You‘ll find Qualcomm Wi-Fi 7 chipsets and platforms powering many networking devices later this year and next.
And with over a 30% smartphone market share, soon expect Qualcomm-powered handsets from Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, Sony and more to boast Wi-Fi 7 as well. Exciting times ahead!
TP-Link Routers and Mesh Systems
Focused squarely on Wi-Fi for the home and office, TP-Link moves fast to support the latest wireless standards.
For Wi-Fi 7, TP-Link has already showcased compatibility with:
Routers
| Model | Details |
|---|---|
| Archer BE900 | Up to 33 Gbps speeds |
| Archer BE800 | 22 Gbps speeds |
| Archer BE550 | 15 Gbps speeds |
| Archer BE450 | 11 Gbps speeds |
Mesh Systems
| Model | Details |
|---|---|
| Deco BE95 | Dual-band mesh router, up to 11 Gbps |
| Deco BE850 | Tri-band mesh router, up to 22 Gbps |
The Deco BE95 mesh system is available for purchase now. We expect TP-Link to continually expand their Wi-Fi 7 lineup through 2023 and beyond.
For consumers seeking out Wi-Fi 7 today, TP-Link provides the clearest path forward.
Will Wi-Fi 7 Be Worth It for Most Users?
For average users focused on home/personal connectivity, Wi-Fi 7 may not provide tremendous value currently — but future proofing still makes sense.
Why Most Users Don‘t Need Wi-Fi 7 Today
The latest Wi-Fi 6 routers remain more than enough for activities like:
✅ Streaming 4K video
✅ Web browsing & social media
✅ Online gaming without lag
✅ Smart home device management
For these uses, upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 yields negligible real-world speed boosts for its higher costs. Simply put, overkill for most households!
Why Future Proofing Matters
However, Wi-Fi standards evolve rapidly. That shiny new router eventually seems sluggish as wireless tech advances.
So when purchasing new networking gear, opting for Wi-Fi 7 capable models helps prevent feeling left behind in just a few years.
Today‘s Wi-Fi 7 router purchases become solid 5+ year investments. While link speeds may exceed your needs now, better safe than sorry down the road!
Recent Advances Accelerating Wi-Fi 7 Adoption
If Wi-Fi 7 remains overkill for the average consumer today, why does so much buzz exist around it?
Because several key technology milestones promise to accelerate real-world adoption greatly in the coming years.
The Wi-Fi 7 Release 1.1 Specification
In January 2023, the Wi-Fi Alliance introduced the Wi-Fi 7 Release 1.1 specification to build on the initial 802.11be standard.
This update brings key optimization like:
- Support for 160 MHz channels: Wi-Fi 7 can now harness channels up to 160 MHz wide (in addition to existing 80/160/320 MHz channels). This expands options for networks to utilize fatter pipes.
- 1024-QAM modulation support: By enabling 1024-QAM (up from Wi-Fi 6‘s 1024-QAM), 30% increased throughput becomes possible without needing additional spectrum.
With innovations like these, the latest Wi-Fi 7 specification extracts further speed and capacity gains. This will undoubtedly accelerate adoption in enterprise and public venue settings demanding high density performance.
Expect even faster theoretical speeds to soon be associated with Wi-Fi 7.
The Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 Mobile Chip
In February 2023, Qualcomm unveiled its FastConnect 7800 chip, purpose-built to unlock Wi-Fi 7‘s potential in smartphones.
This chip unlocks key improvements like:
- Support for 320 MHz wide channels
- 4K QAM for higher throughput
- Multi-link operation (MLO)
With the FastConnect 7800 ready for integration, consumers can expect flagship phones in 2024 to advertise blistering fast Wi-Fi 7 speeds.
Apple will surely feel pressure to match benchmark Android devices leveraging Qualcomm‘s latest silicon!
Projecting the Future of Wi-Fi 7
It‘s still early days, but expect use cases for Wi-Fi 7 to grow exponentially in 3-5 years.
When Will Most Consumers Gain Access?
Based on historical Wi-Fi upgrade cycles, I predict mass adoption in 2025-2027 — once Wi-Fi 7 routers and phones become broadly available at friendly price points.
Until then, early adopters and commercial use cases will drive most usage.
However, gradually declining costs + marketing hype around speed claims could pull that mainstream timeframe forward!
What Will Wi-Fi 7 Enable in Future?
Beyond raw speeds, Wi-Fi 7 opens possibilities like:
- Wireless AR/VR gaming: Enabling smooth, real-time interaction by minimizing latency
- 8K streaming: 8K video requires serious bandwidth available with Wi-Fi 7
- Smart city apps: High speed mesh networks covering urban areas
- Self-driving cars: Low latency vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication
So while Wi-Fi 7 seems overkill today, coming years will see applications exploiting its capabilities arise.
Exciting innovations lie ahead!
The Bottom Line
To wrap up this definitive guide:
- Wi-Fi 7 delivers sizable speed, latency and reliability improvements
- But benefits only niche users today until adoption expands
- Qualcomm and TP-Link pace early compatible devices
- Expect prices to fall and use cases to climb over next 5 years
- Upgrade when you can to future proof your networking gear!
I hope this breakdown gives you tremendous clarity on where Wi-Fi 7 stands currently. Let me know if any other Wi-Fi 7 questions arise!
