WiFi 6E

When selecting a mobile hotspot, or other internet enabled device check to see if it is WiFi 6E enabled. WiFi 6 was released in 2019, and WiFi 7 is expected in 2024. WiFi 6E became available in 2021. It operates at up to 6 GHz, an improvement over the 5 GHz possible with WiFi 6, and makes it possible for a router to create additional channels. [WiFi transmits data via radio waves - 2.4 GHz is UHF; 5 GHz is SHF - super high frequency which actually covers between 3 and 30 GHZ]. You will get improved speed on WiFi 6E because your device will be operating on a spectrum which standard WiFi devices cannot reach. The new iPhone 15 Pro supports WiFi 6E, as does the Google Pixel 6. A WiFi 6 device may support up to 1000 mbps, but a 6E device can get up 1700 mbps. These speeds will obviously require a router that is 6E capable, and an ISP that provides speed faster than 1000 mbps - something that is unusual for home networks. The 6 GHz connection will only function at a short distance. WiFi 6 and 6E are both mesh capable, which means that they can access multiple routers to make them work as a single network.

It's cheaper to make a device 6E capable than to enable it for 5G, and you won't need a data plan to access WiFi 6E. WiFi 6 or 6E devices also require the use of an enhanced security protocol, WPA3. This protocol is particularly resistant to brute force dictionary attacks to guess passwords - the hacker needs to access the WiFi network for each guess. It will also provide data encryption on open networks.

5G still has advantages - it can be attuned for instances in which lower or higher bandwidth is required. It's also better than WiFi 6E in setting up data connections on the first attempt. 5G will work better for applications which have tight latency requirements such as video conferencing software like Zoom.