Don’t get excited about Wi-Fi 6E on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888

It is currently expected that the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 will feature support for the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard. We should have confirmation of this by the end of today.

Wi-Fi 6E vs Wi-Fi 6

The Wi-Fi standard builds upon the existing Wi-Fi 6 by using the 6Ghz channel as well as 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz.

The benefit here is that 6Ghz is far less congested and offers considerably more channels to use. This is particularly important if you want to use the 160Hz width channels.

Currently, on the congested 5Ghz channel, you only have six 80MHz and two 160MHz channels.

Using 6Ghz, you gain access to fourteen-80Mhz channels and seven 160Mhz channels, making it easily possible to run a mesh system or access points with no overlapping channels on the 160Mhz width.

However, it seems unlikely that Wi-Fi 6E will become mainstream any time soon.

Reasons why Wi-Fi 6E could take years to become mainstream:

Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 only supports Wi-Fi 6E

The initial wording I have seen for the SD888 is that it supports Wi-Fi 6E. This could be similar to when Wi-Fi 6 was launched on the SD855, and only Samsung implemented it.

No routers yet

The biggest challenge at the moment is that there are no routers that offer Wi-Fi 6E. When Wi-Fi 6 launched there were a couple already out, plus it has been a couple of years now, and Wi-Fi 6 is only really just gaining decent traction.

Affordable dual-band Wi-Fi 6E will be non-existent due to backwards compatibility

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	TP-Link Next-Gen WIFI 6 Gigabit Tri-Band Wireless Cable...	No ratings yet	£399.99	Buy on Amazon
	NETGEAR Nighthawk Wifi 6 Router (RAX200) | AX11000 Tri-Band...	No ratings yet	£399.98	Buy on Amazon

Speculation on my behalf, but if a router comes out with Wi-Fi 6E, it will need to be tri-band, offering 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz, and 6Ghz.

Currently, dual-band Wi-Fi 6 devices have become quite affordable, and the 5Ghz radio can handle both Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6.

With the new 6E, the 6Ghz radio will only be compatible with 6E devices. So it is impossible to have a dual-band system (as far as my basic understanding goes).

Currently, most tri-band Wi-Fi 6 routers cost well in excess of £300.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.

Last update on 2024-09-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API