Side-by-Side Comparison
Wi-Fi
Legacy Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g) vs. Wi-Fi 6
Comparing 2 standards across 16 specifications. 16 key differences identified.
Comparing:
Legacy Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g)
Wi-Fi 6
Legacy IEEE 802.11 standards (802.11b, 802.11a, and 802.11g) established commercial consumer wireless networking between 1999 and 2003, transitioning from 11 Mbps DSSS/CCK in the 2.4 GHz band to 54 Mbps OFDM modulation across both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax) was ratified in 2021, operating across both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Engineered for high-density network efficiency, it introduced Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), bi-directional MU-MIMO, 1024-QAM, and Target Wake Time (TWT), reaching physical rates up to 9.6 Gbps.
Specification Comparison Table
16 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Frequency Bands
|
2.4 GHz (802.11b/g), 5 GHz (802.11a) | 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz |
|
Max Channel Width
|
20 MHz | 160 MHz |
|
Standards Included
|
802.11b (1999), 802.11a (1999), 802.11g (2003) | — |
|
Max Data Rate (802.11b)
|
11 Mbps | — |
|
Max Data Rate (802.11a/g)
|
54 Mbps | — |
|
Modulation Schemes
|
DSSS / CCK (802.11b), OFDM (802.11a/g) | — |
|
Spatial Streams (MIMO)
|
1 (SISO only) | — |
|
IEEE Standard
|
— | IEEE 802.11ax-2021 |
|
Wi-Fi Generation
|
— | Wi-Fi 6 |
|
Ratification Year
|
— | 2021 |
|
Max Theoretical PHY Rate
|
— | 9.6 Gbps |
|
Typical Client PHY Rate (2x2)
|
— | 2.4 Gbps |
|
Modulation Standard
|
— | 1024-QAM |
|
Multiple Access Technology
|
— | OFDMA (Uplink and Downlink) |
|
Multi-User MIMO
|
— | Bi-directional (DL and UL MU-MIMO up to 8x8) |
|
Power Saving Feature
|
— | Target Wake Time (TWT) |