Wi-Fi 7 vs Wi-Fi 8 – what’s the difference?
.
Why is this important?
Wi-Fi has become the most viable alternative to traditional wireline connectivity solutions such as Ethernet and coaxial cables. It offers users the convenience of cable-free flexibility for many devices, such as laptops and televisions, without the limitations of physical connections. Although the peak throughput of Wi-Fi often exceeds the requirements of many applications, users may occasionally experience intermittent jitter during streaming or video conferencing.
This suggests that Wi-Fi is still susceptible to environmental factors that affect signal quality and consistency. In many residential environments, achieving cable-equivalent reliability remains a significant challenge for Wi-Fi technology.
The wireless spectrum is becoming increasingly congested, and Wi-Fi 8 must be designed to integrate more effectively with cellular networks for internet access. A 2022 Cisco study estimated that over 50% of global mobile data traffic was offloaded to Wi-Fi networks, highlighting the important role Wi-Fi plays in the broader cellular ecosystem.
The same three frequency ranges—2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz—will be available in Wi-Fi 8, so it must continue to improve spectrum utilization to deliver greater network throughput and lower latency. This is especially critical as the number of wireless devices and their data demands continue to grow rapidly.
More complex networks also require better management. Mesh networks that cover large areas in homes, businesses, and public spaces are becoming increasingly common. Wi-Fi 8 must improve the coordination of multiple Access Points (APs), optimize how they handle all connected devices within their coverage areas, and enhance the way overlapping networks manage interference.
As you can see in the table below, despite Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 8 sharing many high-level similarities, digging in further unveils many new technologies being proposed to improve the use of wireless spectrum already available, enhancing connection efficiency and reliability, especially in congested network environments that frequently exist in everyday life.
| Technology | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 8 |
| Availability | Now | ~2028 |
| Top Speed | Up to 36Gbps | >36Gbps |
| Bands | 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz | 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz |
| Channel BW/Modulation | Up to 320MHz, 4096 QAM | Under investigation |
| MLO | Improved with MediaTek Smart-Link Dispatching |
Improved for further
spectral efficiency |
| AI-enhanced Networking | No | Potentially real-time network optimizations based on user connectivity habits |
| MIMO | Standard | Improvements in spatial streams, beamforming, and multi-user support |
| Mesh Networking | Standard | Improved with multi-AP co-ordination |
| Power Efficiency | Standard | Improved |
| Connectivity Range | Standard | Improved |
| Dynamic Sub-channel Operation (DSO) / Non-Primary Channel Access (NPCA) | No | Yes |
| Distributed Resource Units (dRU) | No | Yes |
| Coordinated Spatial Reuse (Co-SR) | No | Yes |
| Coordinated Beamforming (Co-BF) | No | Yes |
| Dynamic Sub-channel Operation (DSO) | No | Yes |
| Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCS) | Standard | Improved (better data-rate) |
| Non-Primary Channel Access (NPCA) | No | Yes |
| In-Device Coexistence (IDC) | No | Yes |
| TXOP Preemption | No | Yes |
| High Priority EDCA (HIP EDCA) | No | Yes |
Did this article help you? If so, please tell me in a comment what do you think about it.
Don’t miss any of our future video tutorials, follow us on Youtube. Like us on Facebook. Join our Best Deals Telegram Channel. Join our Android TV Box Firmware Updates Telegram Channel. Subscribe now to our newsletter. If you need Tech Reviewer or Youtube Influencer read this. Donate now here to support CGR Team!
