Wi-Fi Standards (802.11a to Wi-Fi 7 Comparison)
Compare Wi-Fi standards from 802.11a, b, g, n, ac, and ax (Wi-Fi 4 to 7) by year, frequency band, max theoretical speed, and key features. A free reference that answers "what's the difference between Wi-Fi generations?" with a search filter.
| Generation | IEEE Standard | Year | Frequency Band | Max Theoretical Speed | Key Feature | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 1 | 802.11b | 1999 | 2.4 GHz | 11 Mbps | The earliest consumer Wi-Fi standard, using the 2.4 GHz band at up to 11 Mbps — a pioneer for wireless LAN adoption in offices and homes. | Support in new devices from major manufacturers has largely ended; it remains only for legacy compatibility. |
| Wi-Fi 2 | 802.11a | 1999 | 5 GHz | 54 Mbps | Standardized around the same time as 802.11b but uses the 5 GHz band, giving it more directional, less interference-prone signals at the cost of shorter range. | The first standard to use the 5 GHz band, but few devices supported it at the time, so adoption stayed limited. |
| Wi-Fi 3 | 802.11g | 2003 | 2.4 GHz | 54 Mbps | Stayed on the same 2.4 GHz band as 802.11b but sped up to 54 Mbps while keeping backward compatibility with 802.11b. | A fairly widespread standard — some inexpensive 2.4 GHz-only devices still rely on it today. |
| Wi-Fi 4 | 802.11n | 2009 | 2.4/5 GHz | 600 Mbps | Introduced MIMO (spatial multiplexing with multiple antennas) for the first time, supporting both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, reaching up to 600 Mbps. | Still the de facto minimum baseline, widely used in many inexpensive IoT and embedded devices today. |
| Wi-Fi 5 | 802.11ac | 2014 | 5 GHz | 6.9 Gbps | 5 GHz-only, adding MU-MIMO (simultaneous streaming to multiple devices) and wider channels (up to 160 MHz), pushing the theoretical max to 6.9 Gbps. | Adopted by most smartphones and laptops from 2015 onward, and still widely in active use today. |
| Wi-Fi 6 | 802.11ax | 2019 | 2.4/5 GHz | 9.6 Gbps | Introduced OFDMA (simultaneous divided transmission to multiple devices), improving real-world speed and latency in crowded environments, reaching a theoretical 9.6 Gbps. | Operates on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, well suited to dense apartment buildings and offices. |
| Wi-Fi 6E | 802.11ax | 2021 | 2.4/5/6 GHz | 9.6 Gbps | An extension of Wi-Fi 6 that keeps the same technology but adds access to the newly opened 6 GHz band. | The 6 GHz band is less crowded than the existing 2.4/5 GHz bands, but both the router and device must support it. |
| Wi-Fi 7 | 802.11be | 2024 | 2.4/5/6 GHz | 46 Gbps | The latest standard, supporting Multi-Link Operation (simultaneous use of multiple bands) and channels up to 320 MHz wide, reaching a theoretical 46 Gbps. | The newest standard, with compatible devices only starting to appear in late 2024 — widespread adoption is still ahead. |
Tips
- Unless both the router and your phone or PC support the same generation (e.g. Wi-Fi 6), you will not get that generation's speed. Check both sides' supported standards before buying.
- The 2.4 GHz band reaches farther through walls but is more prone to interference from microwaves and similar devices, so pick 5 GHz for speed and 2.4 GHz for range.
- The 6 GHz band used by Wi-Fi 6E and 7 is now allowed for indoor use in many countries, but compatible routers and devices are still rare, so full adoption is still ahead.
- The listed max speed is only a theoretical figure — actual throughput is typically much lower due to interference, the number of connected devices, and obstacles.
- Even a single old 802.11b/g device connected to your network can drag down the effective speed for the whole network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Side Note — Where the Name "Wi-Fi" Came From and How Generation Names Work
The name "Wi-Fi" is often said to stand for "Wireless Fidelity," but it is actually a made-up term with no real meaning — a brand name the Wi-Fi Alliance coined to echo the sound of "Hi-Fi." The dry technical name IEEE 802.11 was hard for consumers to remember, so a catchy nickname was chosen instead.
In 2018, the Wi-Fi Alliance introduced a generational naming scheme calling 802.11n and later standards "Wi-Fi 4," "Wi-Fi 5," and "Wi-Fi 6." The earlier 802.11a/b/g standards later came to be commonly called "Wi-Fi 1 through 3" as well, but note that this is not official Wi-Fi Alliance branding — it is an informal usage that spread for the sake of clarity.
What drives the performance gains across generations is the evolution of multiplexing technologies like MIMO, OFDMA, and MU-MIMO, which let multiple antennas and frequencies be used simultaneously. Rather than simply raising frequencies, the accumulated ingenuity of sharing limited radio resources efficiently among multiple devices is what has driven perceived speed improvements.
The 6 GHz band, usable starting with Wi-Fi 6E, is like an "empty highway" compared to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, which are crowded with Bluetooth devices, microwaves, and countless nearby routers. That said, compatible devices will take time to spread, so multiple generations of standards are likely to coexist for a while.