Is It Worth Upgrading from Standard WiFi to WiFi 6?

Yes, upgrading to WiFi 6 is worth it for most businesses – especially if you’re dealing with slow speeds, connection drops, or planning to expand your team. WiFi 6 delivers up to 40% faster speeds, handles more devices without performance drops, and uses less power. For businesses running on older WiFi 4 or 5 networks, the performance jump is significant.

But whether it makes financial sense depends on your current setup, business needs, and growth plans. Let’s break down exactly when WiFi 6 pays for itself, and when it doesn’t.

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What Makes WiFi 6 Different?

WiFi 6 isn’t just a speed upgrade. It’s a complete overhaul of how wireless networks handle traffic.

Key improvements include:

40% faster peak speeds than WiFi 5 (up to 9.6 Gbps vs 6.9 Gbps)
Better performance with multiple devices using OFDMA technology
Reduced latency for real-time applications like video calls
30% better battery life for connected devices
Enhanced security with WPA3 encryption

The biggest difference? WiFi 6 doesn’t slow down when more people connect. Where older networks struggle with 20+ devices, WiFi 6 maintains performance with 100+ connections.

When Upgrading to WiFi 6 Makes Sense

You’re Experiencing Network Congestion

If your WiFi slows to a crawl during busy periods, WiFi 6 solves this. We’ve seen offices where video calls drop every afternoon when everyone’s online. WiFi 6’s improved traffic management keeps performance steady regardless of user count.

Experiencing similar issues? A quick WiFi assessment can pinpoint whether congestion or coverage gaps are causing your problems.

Your Business Is Growing

Planning to hire more staff? Adding IoT devices? WiFi 6 future-proofs your network. It’s cheaper to upgrade once than patch problems as you scale.

You Rely on Bandwidth-Heavy Applications

Video conferencing, cloud backups, and file sharing all benefit from WiFi 6’s speed and stability. Healthcare facilities streaming patient data or logistics companies tracking inventory see immediate improvements.

Your Current Equipment Is 5+ Years Old

WiFi 4 and early WiFi 5 hardware lacks the capacity for modern business needs. If you’re running equipment from 2018 or earlier, the performance gap is substantial.

Not sure what equipment you’re currently running? Our network audit service includes a complete inventory of your existing infrastructure and compatibility assessment.

When to Wait on WiFi 6

Your Current Network Meets All Needs

If your WiFi handles current demands without issues, and you’re not planning major changes, upgrading isn’t urgent. Focus the budget on other priorities.

Limited Compatible Devices

WiFi 6’s full benefits require compatible devices. If most of your equipment is older, you won’t see maximum improvement immediately.

Tight Budget Constraints

WiFi 6 equipment costs 20-30% more than WiFi 5. If the budget is tight, ensuring good coverage with quality WiFi 5 equipment often delivers better value than partial WiFi 6 deployment.

Real-World Performance Differences

Speed tests show:

File transfers: 50% faster for large files
Video streaming: Less buffering, especially with multiple streams
Cloud applications: Noticeably quicker response times
Device connectivity: Maintains performance with 3x more connected devices

Curious about the specific improvements your business might see? We can model performance gains based on your current usage patterns and growth plans.

WiFi 6 vs WiFi 6E: What’s the Difference?

WiFi 6E adds access to the 6GHz band, providing more spectrum and less congestion. It’s ideal for:

Dense environments with lots of wireless interference
High-performance applications requiring guaranteed bandwidth
Future-proofing as more devices support 6GHz

WiFi 6E costs more but offers the best long-term value for demanding environments.

Upgrade Costs and ROI

Typical costs:

Small office (10-20 users): £2,000-4,000 for complete upgrade
Medium business (50-100 users): £5,000-12,000 depending on coverage needs
Enterprise deployment: £15,000+ with advanced features

ROI factors:

Reduced downtime from connection issues
Improved productivity with faster, more reliable connectivity
Lower support costs from fewer network problems
Future-proofing delays next major upgrade

Most businesses see ROI within 18-24 months through improved efficiency and reduced IT support needs.

Planning your WiFi 6 upgrade

Assess your current network

Start with a WiFi audit. Map coverage, identify dead zones, and measure current performance during peak usage. This baseline helps determine upgrade scope and expected improvements.

Want to understand your current network performance? Our free site survey provides detailed coverage maps and identifies specific areas where WiFi 6 would deliver the biggest impact.

Consider device compatibility

Check how many devices support WiFi 6. While backwards compatibility means everything will work, older devices won’t see full benefits immediately.

Plan for growth

Size your network for 2-3 years ahead. It’s more cost-effective to install adequate capacity upfront than expand later.

Professional installation matters

WiFi 6’s advanced features require proper configuration. Poor placement or setup negates the technology’s benefits. Professional installation ensures optimal performance and coverage.

Common WiFi 6 upgrade mistakes

Underestimating coverage needs: WiFi 6 access points often have different coverage patterns than older equipment. What worked before might leave gaps.
Forgetting about cabling: WiFi 6’s full speed requires gigabit ethernet connections. Old Cat5 cabling becomes a bottleneck.
Mixing generations extensively: While WiFi 6 works with older devices, mixing too many access point generations can create management headaches.
Skipping the site survey: Every environment is different. Assuming your needs match a generic deployment often leads to poor performance.

Avoiding these pitfalls requires proper planning and professional guidance. If you’d like a second opinion on your WiFi upgrade strategy, our consultation service helps you navigate the technical decisions without the sales pressure.

FAQs

Is there a downside to WiFi 6?

There are no serious performance downsides to WiFi 6 – it’s an upgrade in almost every technical aspect. However, there are a couple of practical considerations to be aware of. Compatibility is one: to use WiFi 6 features, you need WiFi 6 capable devices. Older phones or laptops (for instance, an iPhone 8 or a 2015-era laptop) won’t support WiFi 6 and thus won’t see speed or battery life improvements.

They will still work on a WiFi 6 router (WiFi 6 is backwards compatible), just at their normal speeds. The other “downside” is cost – upgrading to WiFi 6 means purchasing new routers or access points, and possibly new WiFi adapters for PCs if you want those to be WiFi 6 compatible.

Can WiFi 6 penetrate walls better?

WiFi 6 isn’t a magic bullet for WiFi signal through walls, but it does have some advantages. The ability of a WiFi signal to penetrate walls is mainly determined by the frequency it uses. WiFi 6 operates on the same 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands that standard WiFi has used for years. A 2.4 GHz signal (whether from a WiFi 6 router or an older WiFi 4 router) will generally penetrate walls better and go further than a 5 GHz signal; that’s just physics. WiFi 5 (802.11ac) by design used only 5 GHz, which doesn’t penetrate walls as well. In contrast, WiFi 6 uses both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz. That means a WiFi 6 router can leverage the 2.4 GHz band to cover distant rooms with lower signal loss.

Will my existing devices work on a WiFi 6 network?

Yes, almost all existing WiFi devices will work fine with a WiFi 6 router or network. The WiFi 6 standard was built to be backwards compatible. If your device worked with WiFi 5 or even WiFi 4, it can still connect to a WiFi 6 access point using the older protocol that it supports.

The main thing to remember is that your older devices won’t automatically get faster or gain WiFi 6 features; they’ll be operating in compatibility mode. To get the full benefit (speed, latency, etc.) on a given device, that device itself would need to support WiFi 6. As you replace devices over time, you’ll start to see those devices achieving higher speeds and better battery life on your WiFi 6 network.

About Nortech Network Services

At Nortech, we are an independent IT infrastructure company with offices in Northampton and Milton Keynes. Since 2000, we’ve helped businesses across the UK get connected, stay secure, and work smarter.

From cabling and wireless to AV, security, and IT support, we handle the lot. Our engineers know their stuff, and because we’re vendor-neutral, you get advice that’s honest and cost-effective.

If your systems are slow, outdated or holding your business back, give us a call. We’ll help you sort it out without the jargon or drama.

If you want to find out more about Nortech Network Services, our products and expertise or if you’d like to have an informal chat with one of our professionals about your requirements