What is WiFi 7, and How Does It Work?
WiFi 7 CONNECT BEYOND SPEEDS
What is WiFi 7*?
WiFi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) is the seventh generation of the 802.11 standard since 1997. It packs all the benefits of WiFi 6/6E and expands several existing standards to a whole new level, such as 320 MHz bandwidth and 4K-QAM. And it introduces some revolutionary features like Multi-Link Operation, Multi-Resource Units (MRU) and Puncturing. As WiFi has become indispensable in daily life from work to home, WiFi 7 reshapes your WiFi experiences with a huge leap into the future.
*This page explains the technical standards of WiFi 7 technology. Actual specifications and feature availability vary based on device. Please refer to the product specifications page for your device.
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4.8XFaster*
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5XCapacity*
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Ultra-lowLatency
How Does WiFi 7 Work*?
320 MHz Bandwidth*
While WiFi 6E increased channel width in the 6 GHz band to 160 MHz, WiFi 7 introduces ultrawide 320 MHz channels, doubling data transmission capacity. You can think of networking as a virtual freeway and the doubled bandwidth as a doubling of the number of lanes. Now larger vehicles are allowed to get on the freeway and can pack more data than ever before.
*WiFi 7 features requires WiFi routers and client devices with WiFi 7-supported operating systems to support the corresponding features. **The 320 MHz in the 6 GHz band may be unavailable in some regions / countries due to regulatory restrictions.
Three new 320 MHz channels in the
4K-QAM
With the introduction of 4K-QAM, WiFi 7 can improve data transmission rates versus WiFi 6/6E by up to 20%, because a higher QAM can pack signals more densely. Continuing with the freeway analogy, now higher QAM permits more merchandise to be loaded into every vehicle. In other words, you can now upload and download more data in the same timeframe as before.
12 bits/symbol
10 bits/symbol
Multi-Link Operation (MLO)
Before WiFi 7, transmissions were limited to one band, such as 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. Multi-Link Operation (MLO) allows a device to simultaneously connect on multiple bands, enabling faster speeds by aggregating bandwidth, with more reliable WiFi connections on multiple concurrently used bands.
*Multi-link Operation (MLO) full function support may be ready for the Windows 11 2024 Platform (Windows 11 24H2) or made available at a later date.
Multi-Resource Units (MRU) and Puncturing
In WiFi 6, the spectrum resource could be wasted if the channel encounters signal interference. With Multi-RU and Puncturing, WiFi 7 devices will be able to take full advantage of the remaining part of the channels that is not being used or interrupted. This way, the WiFi bandwidth can be used efficiently to make data transmission quicker and more reliable.
*Multi-Resource Units (MRU) and Puncturing available in 2024 or later.With Multi-RU and Puncturing
Without Multi-RU and Puncturing
16x16 MU-MIMO*
MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) supports multiple users to transmit and receive data simultaneously. With 16x16 MU-MIMO, WiFi 7 doubles the number of spatial streams compared to WiFi 6 and increases network capacity. Now, more WiFi devices that need more network capacity can perform smoothly at the same time.
*Although 16x16 MU-MUMO is the maximum technical standard of WiFi 7, it is not a mandatory feature for all WiFi 7 devices.
Do I Need WiFi 7?
WiFi 7 vs. WiFi 6/6E vs. WiFi 5
| WiFi 7 | WiFi 6E | WiFi 6 | WiFi 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IEEE | 802.11be | 802.11ax | 802.11ac | |
| Max data rate | 46 Gbps | 9.6 Gbps | 3.5 Gbps | |
| Bands | 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz | 2.4GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz | 2.4GHz, 5GHz | 5GHz |
| Bandwidth | Up to 320 MHz | 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, 80+80 MHz, 160 MHz | ||
| Modulation | 4096-QAM | 1024-QAM OFDMA | 256-QAM OFDM | |
| MIMO | 16x16 MU-MIMO | 8x8 MU-MIMO | 4x4 MU MIMO | |
| RU | Multi-RUs | RU | N/A | |
| Security | WPA3 | WPA3 | WPA2 | |
ASUS routers come standard with features valued at $300+ a year, with no trials or subscriptions.
Commercial Grade Security
$99.99/yr Included
Advanced Parental Controls
$79.99/yr Included
Built-in VPN + Fusion and Instant Guard
$99.99/yr Included
3 Year Warranty
$39.99/yr Included
Featured Products
- Quad Band WiFi 7
- BE30000 ultimate BE performance : 1376+5764+11529+11529 Mbps
- Coverage up to 8000 sq. ft. (2pk)
- Dual 10G Ports
- Extendable Router with AiMesh
- Advanced Network Security & VPNs
- Tri-band WiFi 7
- BE18000 ultimate BE performance : 688+5764+11529 Mbps
- Coverage up to 6000 sq. ft. (2pk)
- Dual 10G Ports
- Extendable Router with AiMesh
- Advanced Network Security & VPNs
- WiFi 7
- BE19000, 2.4GHz BE: 4x4 + 5GHz BE: 4x4 + 6GHz BE: 4x4
- Very large homes
- Dual 10G Ports
- Gaming features: Mobile game mode
- ASUS features: AiMesh, AiProtection
- Beyond-fast WiFi 7 (802.11be)
- Multi-link Operation links
- Cutting-edge external dual-feeding antennas
- Dual 10G Ports and quad 2.5G ports
- Triple-Level Game Acceleration
- Comprehensive VPN features
- Extendable Router with AiMesh
- WiFi 7
- BE3600 ultimate BE performance : 688+2882 Mbps
- 2.0 GHz quad-core processor
- 2.4GHz 2x2, 5GHz 2x2
- Extendable Router with AiMesh
- ASUS features: AiMesh, AiProtection
- WiFi 7
- BE6800 ultimate BE performance : 1032+5764 Mbps
- 2.6GHz quad-core processor
- 2.4GHz 3x3, 5GHz 4x4
- 1x 10G WAN/LAN port and up to 4x 2.5G LAN ports
- Extendable Router with AiMesh
- ASUS features: AiMesh, AiProtection
- WiFi 7
- BE7200 ultimate BE performance : 1376+5764 Mbps
- 2.6GHz quad-core processor
- 2.4GHz 4x4, 5GHz 4x4
- Dual 10G ports, 4x 2.5G LAN, 4x 1G LAN
- Extendable Router with AiMesh
- ASUS features: AiMesh, AiProtection
- WiFi 7
- BE9700 ultimate BE performance : 1032+2882+5764 Mbps
- 2.0GHz quad-core processor
- 2.4GHz 3x3, 5GHz 2x2, 6GHz 2x2
- 1x 10G port, 4x 2.5G ports
- Extendable Router with AiMesh
- ASUS features: AiMesh, AiProtection
- Ultrafast WiFi 7
- All-new 6 GHz Band and 320 MHz Bandwidth
- Latest Bluetooth® 5.4
- Reducing Dead Zones with External Antenna
- Platform Support Guide
- Tri-band WiFi 7 up to 14 Gbps with 6 GHz, MLO & 4K-QAM
- AI-powered Smart AiMesh, coverage up to 5900 sq. ft. (2-pack)
- Seven internal antennas & eight high-power modules
- 24/7 AiProtection Pro & advanced VPNs
- IoT Network, parental controls & easy SSID setup
- Dual 2.5G Ethernet ports for fast wired backhaul
- Tri-band WiFi 7 up to 9.4 Gbps with 6 GHz, MLO & 4K-QAM
- AI-powered Smart AiMesh, coverage up to 5800 sq. ft. (2-pack)
- Seven internal antennas & eight high-power modules
- 24/7 AiProtection Pro & advanced VPNs
- IoT Network, parental controls & easy SSID setup
- Flexible Ethernet ports for robust wired backhaul
- Tri-band WiFi 7 up to 14 Gbps with 6 GHz, MLO & 4K-QAM
- AI-powered Smart AiMesh, coverage up to 5900 sq. ft. (2-pack)
- Seven internal antennas & eight high-power modules
- 24/7 AiProtection Pro & advanced VPNs
- IoT Network, parental controls & easy SSID setup
- Dual 2.5G Ethernet ports for fast wired backhaul
- Dual-band WiFi 7 up to 3600 Mbps with MLO & 4K-QAM
- ASUS AiMesh, coverage up to 6500 sq. ft. (3-pack)
- Four internal antennas & four high-power modules
- 24/7 AiProtection Pro & advanced VPNs
- IoT Network, parental controls & easy SSID setup
- Dual 2.5G Ethernet ports with auto detection
- Dual-band WiFi 7 up to 5000 Mbps with MLO & 4K-QAM
- AiMesh coverage up to 2500 sq. ft., seamless indoor & outdoor connectivity
- Durable IP65 enclosure, ESD & surge protection, -30°C to 60°C range
- Power over Ethernet & AC power, two 2.5G PoE-in ports with auto WAN
- Versatile mounting: wall, pole, or flat surface
- 24/7 AiProtection Pro & advanced VPNs
- Dual-band WiFi 7 up to 6500 Mbps with 4096-QAM
- Five 2.5GbE ports for optimized wired connectivity
- AiMesh extendable network for seamless whole-home roaming
- Multi-link operation for stable & efficient connections
- AiProtection Pro powered by Trend Micro™ & Safe Browsing
- One-tap security scan for hassle-free protection
- Ultrafast WiFi 7, 1.2X faster speeds & improved efficiency
- Enhanced network security for safer connections
- All-new 6 GHz band & 4096-QAM for less congestion
- Larger network capacity & reduced interference
- Bluetooth® 5.4 for better security, reliability & efficiency
- External antenna reduces dead zones & allows flexible positioning
- Ultrafast WiFi 7, 1.2X faster speeds & improved efficiency
- All-new 6 GHz band & 4096-QAM for less congestion & higher capacity
- Bluetooth® 5.4 for better security, reliability & efficiency
- External adjustable antennas reduce dead zones & allow flexible positioning
- Ultrafast WiFi 7 up to 6,500 Mbps with 160MHz, MLO & 4K-QAM
- 3.6X faster than WiFi 6: 688 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 2,882 Mbps (5 GHz & 6 GHz)
- Powerful 6 GHz band for less congestion & interference
- Plug-and-play with wide OS support
- USB Type A & C for versatile connections
- Advanced network security with WPA3n
- Compact WiFi 7 USB adapter in nano size
- Upgrade your PC to 802.11be standard
- Plug-and-play for seamless installation
- Advanced network security with WPA3
- Tri-band support with 6GHz for streaming & gaming
Complete Your Network with WiFi 7
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NEW
Extendable WiFi 7 For A New Era | RT-BE96U
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NEW
Game Beyond Speeds | ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro | ROG
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NEW
Should I upgrade to WiFi 7? Six reasons to make the switch
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NEW
Three all-new ZenWiFi mesh WiFi systems embrace WiFi 7 tech
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How ultra-wide 320 MHz channels allow WiFi 7 to double your data transfer rates
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How WiFi 7 achieves a faster data rate with 4K QAM
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Multi-link Operation (MLO) gives WiFi 7 routers and devices an undeniable advantage over last-gen tech
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Better connections for multiple users: how WiFi 7 boosts your networking with Multi-RU Puncturing
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WiFi 7 explained: learn how next-gen WiFi takes your network into the passing lane
FAQ
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WiFi 7 offers faster speeds than WiFi 6, lower latency, and higher bandwidth—ideal for gaming, 8K streaming, smart homes, and remote work.
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WiFi 7 delivers multi-gigabit speeds up to 4.8X faster than WiFi 6. With wider 320MHz channels, 4K QAM, and improved efficiency, it supports higher throughput across multiple devices, making it ideal for heavy data transfers and future applications like AR/VR.
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WiFi 7 routers are built for networks that demand low latency, high bandwidth, and stable performance across multiple devices. With features like Multi-Link Operation (MLO), it keeps connections fast and reliable even under heavy use, such as streaming 4K/8K video, video calls, transferring large files, and gaming at the same time, making it ideal for smart homes and environments where many devices are online together.
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All WiFi 7 routers are backwards-compatible, so your older WiFi devices will still connect. For the full WiFi 7 experience, upgrade the devices connecting to a WiFi 7 router with a WiFi 7 adapter, where possible. See supported ASUS and ROG products here: https://www.asus.com/us/support/faq/1054158/
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For gaming, we recommend a router with QoS features and a powerful CPU. For large homes, we recommend a mesh router. For families or offices, we recommend a router with wide coverage, multiple ports, and high throughput. For operations that require large file transfers, NAS, 10G Ethernet, or faster ISP plans, routers with 10G Ethernet ports deliver the fastest wired speeds.
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WiFi 7 improves upon WiFi 6 latency with a new feature called Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which lets compatible devices use multiple bands at once.