Wi-Fi 7 is barely in the marketplace and we’re already speaking in regards to the subsequent model, Wi-Fi 8. To be extra particular, the IEEE requirements physique has accomplished its first draft of the 802.11bn commonplace, which is what can be often called Wi-Fi 8 to customers.
It’s really a break from the previous few 802.11 variations in that it doesn’t actually attempt to enhance most bandwidth. As an alternative, almost all the brand new options are centered on reliability. The IEEE calls it “802.11bn Extremely Excessive Reliability,” so you already know what the priorities are.
Wi-Fi 7 already gives a most “within the lab” throughput of as much as 46 gigabits per second, and whilst you’ll by no means get wherever near that in the true world, the most effective present Wi-Fi 7 routers are already attaining extra then 2 Gbps in good situations, and that may enhance over the subsequent few years.
Right here’s how Wi-Fi 8 goals to supply a wi-fi expertise extra like utilizing a wired connection.
A concentrate on reliability
Qualcomm by no means misses a possibility to advertise the subsequent wi-fi requirements, and is normally one of many first to help them (even in draft kind) in its chips. The corporate has a web page up about Wi-Fi 8, describing a few of its advantages.
The brand new 802.11bn commonplace focuses on bettering these areas:
Roaming between entry factors: In case you’re in a giant gymnasium or workplace, or an airport or sporting venue, you progress from one Wi-Fi entry level to a different as you stroll round. Wi-Fi 8 will convey one thing known as Single Mobility Domains which is able to maintain you related with steady low latency as you soar between entry factors, with out the hiccups and interruptions you get immediately.
Edge reliability: In case you’re on the “edge” of your Wi-Fi vary immediately, you know the way it’s not simply slower, it’s unreliable. There’s lag, dropped packets, disconnects and reconnects. Wi-Fi 8 has a set of enhancements that ought to make connections on the edge much more secure.
Cooperative conduct for dense environments: Wi-Fi in actually crowded areas like sporting and music venues or convention facilities battle to take care of the big density of related gadgets and a number of entry factors with overlapping areas. The 802.11bn spec introduces methods for a number of entry factors to work collectively cooperatively, dynamically adjusting channels, connections, and energy to verify they don’t get in one another’s means and everybody stays related.
Getting together with different wi-fi: Fashionable gadgets have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and possibly different issues like NFC and UWB. These can intrude with one another, particularly in the event that they share or have close by antennas. Wi-Fi 8 is meant to raised deal with the interruptions the place sources (antennas, radio frequency spectrum, and many others.) are utilized by one other know-how in the identical machine.
Energy effectivity: Everybody desires their gadgets to be extra energy environment friendly. The 802.11bn commonplace incorporates new methods to understand how a lot energy is getting used and is required to keep up connection, in order that residence entry factors and transportable gadgets can use much less energy with out compromising the expertise.
Qualcomm
When will Wi-Fi 8 come to Apple gadgets?
Wi-Fi 8 makes use of the identical frequency bands (2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz) as Wi-Fi 7, and the identical channel measurement, modulation, and extra. Meaning a number of the {hardware} will look very very like Wi-Fi 7. You’ll want new {hardware}, however it received’t be a dramatic departure from the Wi-Fi 7 {hardware} that can be widespread by 2028.
Apple doesn’t have a historical past of dashing to include a brand new draft Wi-Fi commonplace, but additionally doesn’t wait very lengthy after the usual is formally adopted. For instance, Wi-Fi 7 was formally adopted in early 2024, though gadgets supporting the “draft” commonplace had been out there the earlier yr. Apple’s first Wi-Fi 7 gadgets, the iPhone 16 line, had been launched within the fall of 2024, however the M4 Macs launched in 2025 all help WiFi 6E.
By the point Wi-Fi 8 arrives (estimated to be 2028), Apple may have switched to utilizing its personal Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips in almost all its merchandise, so there’s no telling if Apple can be among the many first to help the brand new commonplace or the way it will seem. For instance, the iPhone 16 fashions with WiFi 7 are restricted to 160MHz bandwidth relatively than the utmost 320MHz that the Wi-Fi 7 commonplace permits, although they do help Wi-Fi 7 in all bands and Multi-Hyperlink Operation.
