Wi-Fi is one of the most groundbreaking technologies in our modern lives. It enables everything from streaming services to connecting IoT devices and industrial applications. But what really lies behind designations like "Wi-Fi 4", "Wi-Fi 5" and "Wi-Fi 6"? And what happened to the older standards that 802.11b and 802.11g? Here we sort out both the official and unofficial Wi-Fi generations and explains which technique which defines each level.
From 802.11 to Wi-Fi: A Guide to Naming
2018 introduced Wi-Fi Alliance a numbering system to simplify the understanding of Wi-Fi standards for consumers. This started with Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), but older standards such as 802.11b, 802.11a, and 802.11g never received official numbers. However, to create a clearer overview, an unofficial structure is sometimes used where previous standards are retroactively numbered.
| Standard | Official name | Unofficial name | Maximum speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 802.11b | No | Wi-Fi 1 | 11 Mbps |
| 802.11a | No | Wi-Fi 2 | 54 Mbps |
| 802.11g | No | Wi-Fi 3 | 54 Mbps |
| 802.11n | Wi-Fi 4 | — | 600 Mbps |
| 802.11ac | Wi-Fi 5 | — | 6.9 Gbps |
| 802.11ax | Wi-Fi 6 | — | 9.6 Gbps |
| 802.11be | Wi-Fi 7 | — | Over 30 Gbps |
Wi-Fi generations in detail
Wi-Fi 1 (802.11b): First consumer-friendly standard with a maximum speed of 11 Mbps and long range. Perfect for homes and small offices, but sensitive to interference.
Wi-Fi 2 (802.11a): Introduced the 5 GHz band with speeds up to 54 Mbps. Common in corporate environments, with less sensitivity to interference but with shorter range.
Wi-Fi 3 (802.11g): A combination of Wi-Fi 1 and Wi-Fi 2, with higher speed (54 Mbps) and compatibility with older standards.
Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n): Introduced MIMO technology and support for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, giving a maximum speed of 600 Mbps. A big boost for anyone who wanted faster Wi-Fi!
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac): Optimized for the 5 GHz band with features like MU-MIMO and beamforming. A maximum speed of 6.9 Gbps makes it ideal for streaming and gaming, as long as the signal is strong, which can otherwise cause lag.
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax): Designed for high-density environments such as offices and arenas. Features such as OFDMA handle multiple devices efficiently at the same time. Maximum speed is 9.6 Gbps.
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be): The next step in Wi-Fi evolution, supporting speeds over 30 Gbps and multi-link operation that uses multiple frequency bands simultaneously. Perfect for AR, VR and high-definition video streaming.
Summary
Wi-Fi has undergone enormous development from Wi-Fi 1 to today's Wi-Fi 7, with each generation introducing new technologies to meet the increasing demands for speed, stability, and energy efficiency. Whether you use Wi-Fi for work, entertainment, or IoT applications, understanding the different generations is key to choosing the right solution for your needs.
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