Forget About Wi-Fi 6, Here Come The Wi-Fi 6E Routers

Wi-Fi 6 routers started gaining more popularity last year, and 2021 might have just started, but routers for Wi-Fi 6E have just been announced, meaning that the new routers will also be able to tap into the 6GHz band in addition to the existing 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.

If you don’t know the difference between the three, let’s put it this way. The 2.4GHz band allows for data to travel a further distance, but less data can travel at once. The 5GHz band allows more data, but it can’t travel quite as far.

The 6GHz band will allow for much more data than the 5GHz band because there’s more bandwidth, but as a result, the data can only travel a limited distance. This means you’ll get the best experience when using the 6GHz band network if you’re positioned near the router and not when you’re on the other side of the house.

Here are some of the new Wi-Fi 6E routers that you can look forward to in 2021.

Linksys AXE8400 Wi-Fi 6E System

Credit: Linksys

Linksys has debuted the AXE8400 Wi-Fi 6E System as a reliable and adaptive Wi-Fi router that can answer to multiple user connections on a single bandwidth while giving them steady Wi-Fi connections and deliver more bandwidth.

The AXE8400 Wi-Fi 6E System can provide all these benefits due to it being powered by a Qualcomm Networking Pro 1210 Platform. According to Linksys’s press release, it is “an ideal solution” for homes that consume heavy amounts of bandwidth, which is a welcome feature due to the onset of remote learning and work-from-home jobs due to the pandemic.

The AXE8400 Wi-Fi 6E System can cover up to 3,000 square feet per node and is reputed to be twice as fast as the competition.

Users are able to switch between three frequencies: 2.4GHz, 5Ghz, and 6GHz. The AXE8400 Wi-Fi 6E System is also compact and simple to install through the Linksys companion app.

The AXE8400 Wi-Fi 6E System will be available in Spring or Summer 2021 in the US for US$449.99 (1-pack), US$849.99 (2-pack), and US$1,199.99 (3-pack) at Linksys’s official website. It will be available globally in the second half of 2021.

ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000

Credit: Asus ROG

Asus ROG’s Rapture GT-AXE11000 is designed to utilise the new 6Ghz band and is the company’s answer to gamers’ demand for faster in-game ping and bandwidth even with the use of a VPN.

The Rapture GT-AXE11000 utilises a 1.8Ghz 64-bit Quad-core CPU with 16GB RAM that allows parallel processing for increased speed across multiple devices. It also provides triple-level game acceleration that lowers ping rates and reduces game latency.

Asus ROG partnered with Outfox, an optimised gaming network reputed to provide stable connections, lag reduction and increased speeds, to deliver a more stable path to a game’s server through the Rapture GT-AXE11000. This also holds true for 4K resolution video streaming.

The Rapture GT-AXE11000 also includes a 2.5GB WAN port for multi-Gigabit connections. Users that have Asus AiMesh-compatible routers can opt to create a whole-home Wi-Fi network through the Rapture GT-AXE11000.

Asus ROG has yet to disclose when the Rapture GT-AXE11000 will be made available for purchase and its price tag as of this article’s publication.

TP-Link Deco X90

TP-Link has unveiled their new router, the Deco X90, which they claim can provide fast internet speeds of up to 6,600mbps while connected to 600 devices at once without slowing down.

The Deco X90 uses the new Wi-Fi 6E standard and supports 1024-QAM and 160MHz to achieve high internet speed. It features a mesh system that has tri-band support with quad-stream radios for all three Wi-Fi bands.

The Deco X90 combines OFDMA and MU-MIMO technology to build a more efficient network by increasing the average throughput for connected devices in a connection-dense environment by four. This means users in a single household can stream videos, play online video games, and live-stream content simultaneously without breaking pace.

The Deco X9 also comes with a self-learning AI, with its smart mesh system observing its users’ behaviour through experience to improve itself.

TP-Link’s router is also secured through advanced WP3 encryption and Avira’s powering of TP-Link’s HomeShield. TP-Link’s HomeShield can deliver real-time security monitoring and antivirus for Internet of Things (IoT) devices like smart appliances as well as personal data.

TP-Link has yet to announce when the Deco X90 will be available for purchase.

NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500 Tri-band Wi-Fi router

Credit: Netgear

NETGEAR has designed their new Wi-Fi router to provide 10.8Gbps without interruption and congestions.

In NETGEAR’s press release, the Nighthawk RAXE500 Tri-band Wi-Fi router, the latest in the Nighthawk line, was reported to be able to utilise the new Wi-Fi 6E standard and provide 12 streams of tri-band Wi-Fi (6Ghz, 5Ghz, and 2.4Ghz receive four streams each) for less congestion for all connected devices.

It is equipped with a 64-bit 1.8Ghz quad-core processor made specifically for Wi-Fi 6E to ensure 4K/8K UHD streaming and gaming.

The Nighthawk RAXE500 Tri-band Wi-Fi router can also automatically update its firmware. Additionally, it also includes a free 30-day trial of NETGEAR Armour to protect connected devices from online threats.

The press release did not, however, specify how many devices can be connected to the router.

The Nighthawk RAXE500 Tri-band Wi-Fi router was named as an Innovations Award Honouree during CES 2021.

NETGEAR Vice President of Connected Home Products, David Henry, said that they are pleased that the Consumer Technology Association, the association running CES, has recognized their commitment to their mission of providing products to enable people to work, learn, stream and game more effectively in a connected world.

The Nighthawk RAXE500 Tri-band Wi-Fi router will be available for purchase within the first quarter of 2021 at NETGEAR’s online store and online resellers for US$599.99.

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Written by John Paul Joaquin