Wi-Fi 6E Upgrade: The Best 6GHz Options

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Wi-Fi 6E Upgrade: The Best 6GHz Options

Looking for the best Wi-Fi 6E upgrade options? You’re at the right place.

Since the introduction of Wi-Fi 6E (and the upcoming Wi-Fi 7,) the new 6GHz band has become a hot commodity. Everyone wants to see that little 6e attached to their device’s Wi-Fi signal symbol.

This post will give you the best 6GHz options out of that FOMO, even when you have a dated router and a computer with an older Wi-Fi standard or none.

In other words, you’ll find hardware that adds the 6GHz band on either end of a Wi-Fi connection — the broadcasting and receiving sides.

Wi Fi 6E Upgrade Hardware
Wi-Fi 6E upgrade: This combo of the ARRIS SURFboard W6U network upgrade kit and the Intel AX210 chip or the Netgear A8000 will give you a complete 6GHz experience no matter what your current Wi-Fi situation is.

Wi-Fi 6E Upgrade: The almost plug-and-play options

This post doesn’t apply to those who already have a Wi-Fi 6E broadcaster — like one of these — and 6GHz-ready clients, such as most latest laptops or smartphones.

Generally, to upgrade a network to Wi-Fi 6E, you need to add a 6GHz-capable access point. If you have a Wi-Fi 6 router, you only need a 6GHz-only access point. But if you have a non-Wi-Fi router, you might want an access point with all three bands, including 2.4GHz, 5Ghz, and 6GHz.

On the receiving end, all you need is a Wi-Fi 6E adapter. This adapter, by default, is a Tri-band device — it’ll work on one of them at a time.

With that, let’s look at our current five Wi-Fi 6E upgrade options. They are listed in the order I tested them with the latest top. There’s no ranking among these — they are designed for different situations or needs.

1. Netgear A8000 USB Adapter: The most convenient Wi-Fi 6E upgrade for a Windows 11 computer

Netgear A8000 Wi Fi 6E Adapter plugged in
Wi-Fi 6E upgrade: The Netgear A8000 looks like a typical USB Wi-Fi adapter card.

The Netgear A8000 is the first, and currently the only, USB Wi-Fi adapter that supports Wi-Fi 6E. It works well in my testing, and the plug-and-play design makes it worth the relatively hefty price tag.

For right now, you need Windows 11 to use it — Windows 10 only gets Wi-Fi 6. Going forward, chances are you’ll find software drivers for Linux, and other platforms, though don’t quote me on this.

Pros

Instantly adds Wi-Fi 6/6E to a Windows computer

Relatively compact design, software driver included

Fast (sub-Gig) and reliable performance

Cons

Expensive; 6GHz available only in Windows 11

No 160MHz channel support; no Mac support; No USB-C option

Could be even more compact


2. ARRIS SURFboard W6U: Instant 6GHz band for any existing router

Arris SURFboard W6U Wi-Fi 6E Network Upgrade Kit
Wi-Fi 6E upgrade: Compact and light, the Arris SURFboard W6U is an excellent Wi-Fi 6E Network Upgrade Kit

The ARRIS SURFboard W6U is a perfect 6GHz upgrade on the broadcasting side. That’s because it’s, so far, the only access point I know that features only the 6GHz band.

So if you have a Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (or Wi-Fi 5) router, plug this little AP into one of the network ports, and you get a complete Wi-Fi 6E network.

Pros

Fast and reliable 6GHz performance

Quickly adds top-tier Wi-Fi 6E to any existing Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 5 network

2.5Gbps Multi-Gig port, compact design

Standard local web user interface, optional mobile app

Cons

No 2.4GHz, 5GHz, or PoE support;

Not yet supported by the mobile app (at the review)

A bit pricey, no Guest Wi-Fi network, no media bridge role, not supporting 240V power outlets


3. ZyXel NWA220AX-6E: A Wi-Fi 6E network upgrade with some extra

ZyXel NWA220AX-6E 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6E Dual Radio PoE Access Point
Wi-Fi 6E upgrade: The ZyXel NWA220AX-6E is a relatively compact Wi-Fi 6E access point.

The ZyXel NWA220AX-6E is a bit odd. It’s a Tri-band wireless access point — 2.4GHz, 5Ghz, and 6GHz — that can operate only as a Dual-band.

Specifically, you can only use either the 5GHz or 6GHz band at a time. Consequently, if you already have a Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 5 router, it’ll make an applicable 6GHz upgrade.

Pros

Reliable performance, good coverage

2.5 Gbps PoE network port, extra Gigabit port

Nice design, ready to mount

Local web interface with tons of customization

Cons

Only 6GHz or 5GHz is available at a time; no power adapter or PoE injector is included.

Sustained Wi-Fi throughputs could use some improvement

Overwhelming amount of settings for home users; a Nebula login account is required for mesh function and remote management


4. Netgear WAX630E: The complete Wi-Fi upgrade for any network

Netgear WAX630E Wi Fi 6E Access Point 1
Wi-Fi 6E upgrade: The Netgear WAX630E is a gigantic access point, but it’s large for a reason.

The Netgear WAX630E is one of the first wireless access points (WAPs) that feature Wi-Fi 6E.

The AP has all three bands, 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz, and, unlike the ZyXel NWA220AX-6E above, you can use all three simultaneously. So this is a complete Wi-Fi upgrade for a non-Wi-Fi router, such as the Firewalla Gold.

But you can also add it to any existing Wi-Fi router. In this case, ensure you place it far enough from the router, so their signals don’t heavily interfere.

Pros

Wi-Fi 6E support, reliable performance with excellent coverage

2.5 Gbps PoE network port, extra Gigabit port

Excellent web local interface, tons of Wi-Fi settings, and lots of AP-related features

Cons

Bulky design, no power adapter or PoE injector included

Sustained throughput speeds could be better

No support for multiple units via local management, no free level of Insight cloud-based management


5. Intel AX210 Wi-Fi 6E chip: The most versatile Wi-Fi 6E adapter for a computer

Intel AX210 Wi-Fi 6E Module
Wi-Fi 6E upgrade: The Intel AX210 Wi-Fi 6E chip is a standard NNGF module.

The Intel AX210 — not to be confused with the AX200 — is a standard Wi-Fi 6E module that you can add to any NGFF slot. It’s also the only one that can work with most platforms, including Windows 10 (with a special driver.)

Unlike the Netgear A8000 above, the Intel AX210 requires a bit of work in installation. But it supports the 160GHz channel width to have twice the capacity. Most importantly, it’s affordable, costing merely around $20 apiece.

Pros

Adds Wi-Fi 6 and 6E to a computer; support 160MHz; affordable

Flexible application via NGFF form factor (2230 M.2 slot) or PCIe adapter

Reliable and fast Gig+ performance

Cons

No official driver for Windows 10


The final thoughts

Since Wi-Fi (6 or 5) routers are commonplace, a combo of the 6GHz-only ARRIS SURFboard W6U access point and an adapter — the Intel AX210 or the Netgear A8000 — is the applicable Wi-Fi 6E upgrade in most cases. Still, pick a device or a combo that works for your need.

If your laptop doesn’t have Wi-Fi 6E, it never hurts to get one of the adapters because they both feature Tri-band bands and can work with all Wi-Fi networks, not just the one you have at home. And you might get a Wi-Fi 6E (or 7) in the future anyway.

Of the two, the Netgear A8000 is super easy to use — for a cost — while the Intel AX210 is affordable, more versatile, and delivers the best 6GHz performance.

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