Wi-Fi 7 Label Misleads
Wi-Fi 7 routers may not meet standards due to loopholes and missing features, causing consumer confusion
Key points
- Most Wi-Fi 7-branded routers lack a key feature defining the standard
- Trademark loopholes allow some brands to bypass certification requirements
- A federal bottleneck has prevented newer Wi-Fi 7 routers from entering the US market
- Most devices cannot handle Wi-Fi 7, despite the label on routers
- Wi-Fi 7, or IEEE 802.11be, brings upgrades like 320 MHz channel widths over Wi-Fi 6 and 6E
The Wi-Fi 7 label on routers has been found to be misleading, with most devices not meeting the standard due to missing features or bypassing certification through loopholes. This has caused confusion among consumers, who may not be getting the faster speeds and lower latency promised by brands. The IEEE 802.11be standard, known as Wi-Fi 7, introduces several upgrades over its predecessors, including 320 MHz channel widths. However, a federal bottleneck has prevented newer Wi-Fi 7 routers from entering the US market, and most devices are not compatible with the standard.
Sources
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