Side-by-Side Comparison
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 5 vs. Wi-Fi 6
Comparing 2 standards across 12 specifications. 11 key differences identified.
Comparing:
Wi-Fi 5
Wi-Fi 6
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.
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
12 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
IEEE Standard
|
IEEE 802.11ac-2013 | IEEE 802.11ax-2021 |
|
Wi-Fi Generation
|
Wi-Fi 5 | Wi-Fi 6 |
|
Ratification Year
|
2013 (Wave 1) / 2016 (Wave 2) | 2021 |
|
Frequency Bands
|
5 GHz only (2.4 GHz uses 802.11n) | 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz |
|
Max Channel Width
|
160 MHz | 160 MHz |
|
Max Theoretical PHY Rate
|
6.93 Gbps | 9.6 Gbps |
|
Typical Client PHY Rate (2x2)
|
866.7 Mbps | 2.4 Gbps |
|
Multi-User MIMO
|
Downlink Only (DL MU-MIMO in Wave 2) | Bi-directional (DL and UL MU-MIMO up to 8x8) |
|
Modulation Standard
|
256-QAM | 1024-QAM |
|
Max Spatial Streams (MIMO)
|
8x8 (Wave 2) | — |
|
Multiple Access Technology
|
— | OFDMA (Uplink and Downlink) |
|
Power Saving Feature
|
— | Target Wake Time (TWT) |