While you need a good router for a good quality internet connection, not everyone demands a high end model. Suppose you’re looking to upgrade to a tri band router supporting Wi-Fi 6E, but none of your devices need Wi-Fi 6E. So, let’s break down when you should, and not, buy such a router.
What Is Wi-Fi 6E?
Wi-Fi 6E builds off of Wi-Fi 6 by adding a new 6 GHz band to what was previously the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. On top of that, this extra band can supplement many other devices quite well, even if there are many devices in a crowded area. Unfortunately, 6 GHz only works with Wi-Fi 6E compatible devices (like your phone or laptop).
Do You Need a Tri Band Router Before Wi-Fi 6E Devices Become Available?
If your devices don’t support Wi-Fi 6E, however, then a tri-band router that includes the 6 GHz band probably isn’t necessary, at least not yet. Here’s why:
- No immediate benefit: The 6 GHz band can’t work unless you have compatible devices. Even though your gadgets will still connect over 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz the router will still go untapped.
- Dual 5 GHz bands are still useful: Some tri band routers don’t use the 6 GHz band. Some have two 5GHz bands and one 2.4 GHz band. If you don’t have any Wi-Fi 6E devices, you can still take advantage of the extra 5GHz band to keep multiple devices connected and less congested.
Why is a tri band router even necessary?
A tri-band router can be beneficial if:
- Generally, you have a lot of devices connected to your network or your home has multiple users streaming, gaming, or using bandwidth-intensive applications existing.
- You live in an area with many networks superimposing themselves, which will prevent fast, stable connections, unless additional bandwidth resources are added.
If you’re just a casual user that won’t be using your router frequently to do more complex things, then you might not need anything higher above this level. You probably won’t care.
Future-Proofing: Thinking Ahead
You may not have Wi-Fi 6E devices now, but you might want to future proof your network. Newer phones, laptops, and other devices are increasingly supporting Wi-Fi 6E, and buying a tri-band router now could make sense if:
- You’re going to be upgrading your devices.
- Then, you put a Wi-Fi 6E router on sale, saving yourself some cash in the process.
An example might be when you purchase a Wi-Fi 6E router today, you won’t need to replace it when you inevitably upgrade to 6 GHz devices. But even so, it could also be worth waiting for even more advanced models, like Wi-Fi 7 which is coming but isn’t going mainstream yet.
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth the Upgrade?
If you’re not using the internet for anything other than basic tasks and your current devices aren’t supporting Wi-Fi 6E, then a tri band router with 6GHz will probably be overkill. That might sound like overkill, but if you’re going to upgrade your devices or have a lot of gadgets connected to your network, then investing in a tri band router could be a smart decision for future-proofing.
Whether you need a tri band router or not ultimately depends on what you actually need. But think about your current setup, where you’re headed with the new devices, and the cost before jumping.