When should we consider wifi 6 devices?

[Budgeter]

When is the expected time for commercial devices (laptops, phones, wifi card, etc) fully support wifi 6 features (final draft)? Since this information is rarely disclosed, I can't find anything about it.

 

[L&LD]

WiFi 6 is expected to reach 'final' sometime in September 2020.

Not all devices will support all WiFi 6 features. There is nothing to make that mandatory.

It will simply depend on the specific device.

 

[Trip]

Considering we're still pre-draft 1 and hardly much of the radio population is even AX-capable, let alone fully functional, I would say this time next year would be optimistic. Most likely into 2021, I would think.

 

[Datalink]

Here's a reference to the IEEE Final Approval step:

https://standards.ieee.org/develop/gaining-final-approval/finalapp.html

Here's the current approval schedule for the standards that are under development / update:

http://www.ieee802.org/11/Reports/802.11_Timelines.htm

Wifi 6, or 802.11ax as shown on the chart is up for Final Approval in Nov 2020.

 

[System Error Message]

just because wifi 6 comes out soon doesnt mean you should rush out and buy wifi 6. It makes no sense if you only have 1 device that uses it on the network or if wifi AC's practical bandwidth exceeds your internet speeds for your home usage.

However i am pretty impressed with some routers given by ISPs to home users which suit home usage well and they usually come with an entry level version of a new wifi soon after it is out but expect this to come later.

Only buy it when your needs have finally caught up.