All Wi Fi Generations Explained in 13 Minutes

The latest Wi-Fi generation arriving in stores this year isn’t dramatically faster than the previous one — and surprisingly, that may be the best thing to happen to Wi-Fi in decades. In this video, we explain every major Wi-Fi generation in simple English, starting with the original 2 Mbps Wi-Fi from 1997 and moving all the way to Wi-Fi 8. You’ll discover the simple rule behind Wi-Fi: lower frequencies travel farther and pass through walls more easily, while higher frequencies can carry more data but lose their strength faster. It’s the same basic idea behind why you can hear your neighbor’s bass but not clearly hear their conversation. We’ll explain why 2.4GHz can still struggle when your microwave is running, what Dual-Band and MIMO actually mean, and how Wi-Fi 6 introduced OFDMA to improve performance in busy homes filled with multiple connected devices. You’ll also learn what the 6GHz band introduced with Wi-Fi 6E really adds, how Wi-Fi 7’s Multi-Link Operation helps reduce the traditional speed-versus-range trade-off, and why Wi-Fi 8 focuses more on reliability than simply increasing maximum speed. And here’s an important money-saving fact: your internet plan sets the maximum speed available from your connection. A better router can help distribute that connection more efficiently, but it can’t magically increase the speed your ISP provides. 🔔 Subscribe to PCExplainer for more technology explained in simple English. New videos every week. 💬 Have a tech topic you want us to explain next? Let us know in the comments!