Side-by-Side Comparison
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 4 vs. Wi-Fi 5
Comparing 2 standards across 11 specifications. 11 key differences identified.
Comparing:
Wi-Fi 4
Wi-Fi 5
Wi-Fi 4 (IEEE 802.11n) was ratified in 2009, introducing Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) spatial streaming and optional 40 MHz channel bonding across both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, achieving maximum theoretical physical link rates up to 600 Mbps.
Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11ac) was ratified in 2013, operating exclusively in the 5 GHz band. It introduced 80 MHz and 160 MHz channel bonding, 256-QAM modulation, and multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) downlink, reaching theoretical maximum data rates up to 6.93 Gbps.
Specification Comparison Table
11 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
IEEE Standard
|
IEEE 802.11n-2009 | IEEE 802.11ac-2013 |
|
Wi-Fi Generation
|
Wi-Fi 4 | Wi-Fi 5 |
|
Ratification Year
|
2009 | 2013 (Wave 1) / 2016 (Wave 2) |
|
Frequency Bands
|
2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (Dual-Band) | 5 GHz only (2.4 GHz uses 802.11n) |
|
Max Channel Width
|
40 MHz | 160 MHz |
|
Max Theoretical PHY Rate
|
600 Mbps | 6.93 Gbps |
|
Max Spatial Streams (MIMO)
|
4x4 | 8x8 (Wave 2) |
|
Modulation Standard
|
64-QAM | 256-QAM |
|
Guard Interval
|
400 ns (Short GI) / 800 ns (Standard) | — |
|
Typical Client PHY Rate (2x2)
|
— | 866.7 Mbps |
|
Multi-User MIMO
|
— | Downlink Only (DL MU-MIMO in Wave 2) |