Wi-Fi 6 vs. 5G: Best mobile connectivity for your devices

Select between Wi-Fi 6 and 5G to maximise your smartphone or tablet experience necessitates consideration of everyday habits, surroundings and connectivity requirements. They both are state-of-the-art technologies, and each of them contains its own advantages to the modern mobile user. Read further to know about Wi-Fi 6 vs. 5G.

Wi-Fi 6 explained: Next generation wireless technology

The newest wireless networking designated as Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is intended to use at home, workplace and entertainment areas. Here is what is best in it:

• Faster speeds & more capacity:  Wi-Fi 6 can deliver up to 9.6 Gbps, 4x the capacity over Wi-Fi 5 plus latencies can be reduced by up to 75 percent.

• Ideal for crowded networks: It can serve lots of devices at the same time, thus making it ideal in an environment full of different devices such as smart TVs, laptops, and IoT devices where it might slow during peak usage per device.

• Efficient data handling:  OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies enable routers to send traffic to multiple devices simultaneously, which is more efficient in a crowded setting.

• Improved battery life: The Target Wake Time feature will allow objects to sleep when they are not communicating, thereby prolonging the battery life, which is important to mobile and smart-house technology

5G vs Wi-Fi: What sets 5G apart?

The major difference of 5G in 5G vs Wi-Fi is an upgraded cellular network architecture which provides seamless and high-quality always-fast connectivity stably inside and outside, no matter if you are at home, travel or move to a new place. 5G enables ultra low latency, which significantly cuts down delayed time, so it is best suited to mobile activities that need instantaneous response like real-time play, HD video conference, and future AR/VR applications even in the busiest urban surroundings. In contrast with previous generations, 5G networks will be designed to efficiently serve a very large number of devices simultaneously and will therefore be the foundation of future smart cities, industrial automation and the fast growing Internet of Things ecosystem. In addition, due to its wavering light pace speeds, especially the mid-bands and millimeter waves, 5G can outperform most of the conventional broadband networks and is much faster than the 4G LTE, which offers users faster downloads and flawless streaming in any network coverage area.

Wi-Fi 6 vs 5G: Phone network comparison table

Practical advice: Maximising signal strength & hotspot use

Which connectivity is best for your mobile devices?

• Select Wi-Fi 6 when you need maximum speed, consistent connection and intensive distribution of multiple devices within a building or specific area. It is ideal for streaming, gaming, work-at-home environment, and smart houses.

• Use 5G when you are on the move to achieve full mobility or have wide area coverage or when you are in transit. It is a spotlight for travelers, people who work remotely, or individuals requiring solid high-speed connectivity to non-static systems.

• Use Both: The current devices automatically change to use the strongest signal. Having Wi-Fi at home/work and 5G when you are on the go is the best of both worlds, which will be fast, secure and reliable in any location.

Final verdict

The most powerful opportunity to get good mobile connectivity is using Wi-Fi 6 at home and the office and 5G on the move, which is the formula that works well across a majority of users. To unleash maximum potential of these cutting-edge technologies, keep your hardware and service plans up to date.

Disclaimer: The information regarding the gadgets/devices listed in the table and article has been sourced from various secondary sources. For detailed product specifications, please refer to the brand sources.