WiFi 6 vs WiFi 6E: I Tested Both and Here's What Surprised Me
So I finally caved and bought a WiFi 6E router last month after seeing everyone rave about the "exclusive 6GHz band" that's supposedly game-changing. Spoiler alert: it's complicated.
I spent two weeks running side-by-side comparisons with my existing WiFi 6 router, and the results were... not what I expected. Here's the honest breakdown.
The Test Setup
First, the boring details. I tested both routers in my 1800 sq ft apartment:
- WiFi 6 Router: TP-Link Archer AX73 ($150)
- WiFi 6E Router: ASUS RT-AXE7800 ($300)
- Internet: 500 Mbps fiber connection
- Test Devices: iPhone 15 Pro (6E compatible), MacBook Pro M2 (6E), older iPad (WiFi 6 only)
I ran speed tests from different rooms, at different times, with different devices. Probably way more than necessary, but hey, you're getting good data out of it.
The 6GHz Band: Amazing When It Works
Okay, so here's where WiFi 6E shines. When I'm in the same room as the router on the 6GHz band, the speeds are insane:
| Location | WiFi 6 (5GHz) | WiFi 6E (6GHz) |
|---|---|---|
| Same room (10 ft) | 420 Mbps | 490 Mbps |
| One room away | 380 Mbps | 450 Mbps |
| Two rooms away | 280 Mbps | 310 Mbps |
| Opposite end of apartment | 180 Mbps | 85 Mbps (!) |
See that last line? That's the problem with 6GHz - it doesn't penetrate walls well at all.
The Range Problem Nobody Talks About
This is what surprised me most. The 6GHz band is incredible for speed, but terrible for range. In my bedroom (opposite end from the router, through 2 walls), the 6GHz connection would either:
- Drop completely and fall back to 5GHz
- Connect but give me slower speeds than regular 5GHz
- Work fine but randomly disconnect
Meanwhile, the regular 5GHz band on both routers? Rock solid, even in that back bedroom.
The reality check:
If you live in a small apartment or your router is centrally located, 6GHz is great. If you have a bigger place or your router's in a corner (like most people), you're probably going to be on 5GHz most of the time anyway.
Latency and Gaming
This is where I expected big improvements but didn't really see them. Gaming ping on WiFi 6E was marginally better:
- WiFi 6 (5GHz): 12-15ms
- WiFi 6E (6GHz): 10-12ms
That 2-3ms difference? I honestly couldn't feel it in gameplay. Maybe pro esports players would notice, but for regular gaming, it's not a game-changer.
The Congestion Advantage (This One's Real)
Here's where WiFi 6E actually delivers on its promises. I live in an apartment building with like 30 other WiFi networks visible from my place. The 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands are absolutely crowded.
The 6GHz band? Completely empty. No other networks. And you can really feel the difference during peak hours (evenings/weekends when everyone's home).
On regular WiFi 6, my speeds would drop from 400 Mbps to about 300 Mbps around 8 PM. On WiFi 6E's 6GHz band (when connected), they stayed at 480 Mbps consistently.
So if you live in a densely populated area with tons of WiFi interference, this alone might justify the upgrade.
Device Compatibility is Still Limited
Here's the annoying part - most of your devices probably don't support 6GHz yet. Out of all the devices in my apartment:
- iPhone 15 Pro - YES (6GHz works)
- MacBook Pro M2 - YES (6GHz works)
- 2021 iPad Pro - NO (WiFi 6 only)
- Smart TV - NO (WiFi 5 only)
- PS5 - NO (WiFi 6 only)
- Various smart home devices - NO
So out of like 15 connected devices, only 2 could actually use the 6GHz band. The rest were using the same 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands they always have.
Is WiFi 6E Worth the Extra Cost?
Okay, real talk time. WiFi 6E routers cost about $100-150 more than equivalent WiFi 6 models. Is it worth it?
Get WiFi 6E if:
- You live in a crowded apartment/condo with tons of WiFi networks nearby
- You have multiple WiFi 6E devices already (or plan to upgrade soon)
- Your router is centrally located or you have a smaller home
- You're futureproofing and plan to keep the router for 4-5 years
Stick with WiFi 6 if:
- You live in a house with minimal WiFi congestion
- Most of your devices are older and don't support 6GHz
- Your router needs to cover a large area or penetrate multiple walls
- You're on a budget and $150 matters
My Verdict
After two weeks of testing, I'm keeping the WiFi 6E router. But not for the reasons I thought I would.
The 6GHz band is nice when I'm working in my office (near the router), but 90% of the time, my devices are on the 5GHz band anyway. The real value for me is having less congestion during peak hours and knowing I'm ready for future devices.
But if I lived in a house instead of an apartment, or if I was on a tighter budget? I'd save the money and get a really good WiFi 6 router instead. The performance difference isn't dramatic enough to justify the premium unless you have specific needs.
Bottom line: WiFi 6E is better, but it's not that much better for most people right now. Maybe in 2-3 years when more devices support it, it'll be a no-brainer. Today? It's a "nice to have" not a "must have."
Curious about your WiFi speeds?
Test your connection and see if you're getting the speeds you should be. Try testing from different rooms to see where your WiFi signal is weakest.