If you are a gaming enthusiast yourself or are part of a gamer circle, you probably know to what extent internet connectivity, speed, and ping matter to professional gamers and hobbyists. Professional gamers are interested in tech that is going to offer them the perfect internet facilities they need, with little care to know how these technologies operate. That’s completely fine until tech companies offer deceitful advertisements and cause people to lose money by purchasing expensive gadgets that are incompatible with their system.
Recently, a new development has made its way into the tech world. On February 2, 2022, CITC, Saudi Arabia, announced the debut of WiFi 6e technologies to boost internet access across the nation. Since the launch, it has become a burning question whether this latest technology is optimal for gaming and whether it outperforms the earlier launched 5G network.
In this post, we will shed some light on the comparison of these two technologies from a gamer’s perspective.
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What are WiFi- 6e and 5G?
WiFi 6E indicates WiFi 6 extended to the 6 GHz band. WiFi 6E is based on the WiFi 6 standard but works on a broader spectrum. 6 GHz is the most current frequency band, having a range of 5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz with a total spectrum capacity of 1,200 MHz.
The WiFi Alliance reports that WiFi 6E provides “14 more 80 MHz channels and seven new 160 MHz channels.” These channels would not overlap, which would help alleviate congestion, particularly in areas with a dense network infrastructure.
On the other hand, Fifth-generation wireless (5G) is the successive version of the previous cellular technologies up to 4G, developed to boost wireless networks’ speed and flexibility significantly. 5G offers a data transmission speed of multigigabit rates, with maximum possible rates up to 20 Gbps.
These speeds outdo landline network rates and offer a latency of less than 1 millisecond. This level of speed is appropriate for applications that demand real-time input. In addition, 5G will privilege a surprising rise in terms of data transfer amounts in the shortest possible time, thanks to higher accessible bandwidth and upgraded antenna technology.
Fundamental Differences Between WiFi 6E and 5G Cellular Network
| Property | WiFi 6E | 5G |
| Peak Data Rate: | 10 Gbps – 5 Gbps | 2 Gbps – 1 Gbps |
| Coverage: | Indoors: up to 50 meters (Varies due to different parameters)
Outdoors: 300 meters |
Small Cells: 100-300 meters
Macro Cells: Up to 10 km |
| Specific Frequencies: | 700 MHz and 3.5, 26, 60 GHz | 2.4, 5, 6 GHZ |
| Channel Bandwidth: | 20, 40, 80, 160 MHz | 20, 40, 80, 100 MHZ |
| Equipment Price | Around $100 | Around $300 |
| Monthly Expenses | Almost free | $5 – $20 |
| Deployment Approach | Uncontrolled and unmanaged | Controlled and managed |
Source: Oughton, Edward & Lehr, William & Katsaros, Konstantinos & Selinis, Ioannis & Bubley, Dean & Kusuma, Julius. (2020). Revisiting Wireless Internet Connectivity: 5G vs Wi-Fi 6.
Which One is Better For Online Gaming?
The answer actually depends on your gaming environment, taste in games, and financial abilities.
If you fit the following:
- Indoor gaming
- Affordable tech
- Quick transmission of large quantities of data
You should go for WiFi 6E. It provides wild speed coverage indoors. The speed is significantly high compared to the practical speed of a 5G cellular network. The speed advantage of WiFi-6e effect on online casino games is already being seen in some of the latest released versions which are smoother than earlier. Moreover, both the equipment and monthly charge are comparatively low.
Otherwise, if you:
- Are a fan of games that are played outdoors or if you travel to play/ complete challenges
- Are willing to invest a lot of money to set up internet for your gaming station
- Play relatively light games that do not require instantly transmitting real-time data in a fraction of a second.
Then, consider a 5G cellular network. It covers a large area regardless of indoors and outdoors. While the connection is not as fast as WiFi 6E, it is more than enough if you are playing the proper game. However, 5G networks need expensive equipment and a monthly fee. Not to mention the fact that setting it up is a hassle itself. However, after you’re hooked up, you don’t need to stay inside your home network’s service area for gaming.
Final Thoughts
So, which one is the best? The question itself is irrelevant as 5G and WiFi 6E are not competitors but rather complementary technologies. However, since they have their own strengths and weaknesses, you should think carefully before adopting one for use.
