Connectivity and Network Support of the Poco X6
Wireless connectivity
The device falls short in terms of connectivity as it only supports the Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) standard and not the latest Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). However, it is worth noting that the Qualcomm SM7435-AB Snapdragon 7s Gen 2 mobile platform is technically capable of supporting Wi-Fi 6, as mentioned on the Qualcomm website, but we are not really sure if it’s upgradable in the near future.
What’s the difference between Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6?
Wi-Fi 5, which is based on the 802.11ac standard, provides data rates of up to 3.5 Gbps. However, the newer Wi-Fi 6, based on the 802.11ax standard, takes it up a notch with higher data rates of up to 9.6Gbps and increased network capacity.
When it comes to frequency bands, both Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 operate in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. However, Wi-Fi 6 introduces support for the 6 GHz band (802.11ax/Wi-Fi 6E) to alleviate congestion in existing bands. Both standards support MU-MIMO, but Wi-Fi 6 goes further by enhancing capabilities and efficiency.
It also introduces OFDMA for improved data transmission efficiency, BSS Coloring to reduce interference, and Target Wake Time for power savings. What’s more, Wi-Fi 6 incorporates the latest security protocols, providing superior protection against a wide range of attacks compared to Wi-Fi 5.
Wi-Fi 5 vs. Wi-Fi 6 in a nutshell
In a nutshell, Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 are both wireless networking standards, but Wi-Fi 6 surpasses Wi-Fi 5 with faster speeds, reduced latency, improved performance, and greater bandwidth capacity.
So how does it effect the average user?
The Wi-Fi 5 standard operates on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, allowing users to reach a peak bandwidth of 1300Mbps. This bandwidth is more than adequate for most users, including “power users” who extensively use popular streaming services like Disney+, Netflix, and YouTube.
