# WiFi Standards
WiFi 5 | WiFi 6 | WiFi 6e | WiFi 7 | |
Launch date | 2013 | 2019 | 2021 | 2024 |
Standard name | 802.11ac | 802.11ax | 802.11ax | 802.11be |
Power and battery life | - | Supports TWT | ||
Security protocols | WPA, WPA2 | WPA, WPA2, **WPA3 (OWE)** | ||
Modulation | up to 256-QAM | up to 1024-QAM | up to 4096-QAM | |
Beamforming | up to four antennas | up to eight antennas | ||
Subcarriers (Resource units) | - | Supports **OFDMA** | **OFDMA** | **OFDMA** |
Multi-RU | - | No | No | Yes |
MU-MIMO | up to 4x4 downlink unidirectional | up to 8x8 bidirectional | up to 8x8 bidirectional | up to 16×16 bidirectional |
Frequency bands | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz |
Channel width | 20, 40, 80, 80+80, 160 MHz | Same | Same | Up to 320 MHz |
BSS coloring | - | Yes | ||
Latency | Reduced if all devices using the network are WiFi 6 and above, due to the above features. |