Wi-Fi 7 Routers Can Fall Short of Promised Speeds, Engadget Reports
Engadget reports Wi-Fi 7 routers can fall short of promised speeds due to placement, device load and broadband limits.
The Wi-Fi Alliance launched Wi-Fi 7 in 2024. Engadget said the standard promises lower latency, more capacity for congested and high-density environments and, in theory, speeds that could be around four times faster than Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, with some estimates putting the theoretical figure near 46 Gbps. Users on forums such as Reddit have described slower-than-expected results after buying new and potentially more expensive setups, and have searched for fixes.
Wi-Fi 7 is backwards compatible, so older devices should continue to work even if they do not benefit from the higher speeds and new features. Data from connectivity intelligence firm Ookla showed that Wi-Fi 7 reached 7.2% market adoption at the beginning of 2026, up from 1.8% a year earlier, according to Engadget.
The report pointed first to router location. XDA explained that placing a router too close to drywall, for example, can cause its signals to bounce off the walls and back toward the antennas, degrading the original signal. Moving the router to a spot such as an open media console shelf, or at least three feet out from a corner, may help; users should rerun a speed test afterward.
The number of connected devices is another factor. Phones and tablets are now only part of a home network, which may include wearables and home appliances, even if they are not all active at once. Netgear said most homes have at least 20 connected devices. Engadget reported that keeping up with that load requires a router with a fast processor that can accommodate multiple devices and offers at least two frequency bands, as well as enough bandwidth from the internet service provider. Users were advised to note whether slowdowns occur when everyone is home and streaming or remain relatively consistent throughout the day.
Netgear also noted that Wi-Fi 7 introduced multi-link operation, or MLO, which allows compatible devices to use the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands at the same time, with the aim of creating faster and more reliable connections.
Editor's Summary
Engadget reported that Wi-Fi 7 routers can deliver slower speeds than expected because of factors including router placement and device load. The standard promises higher speeds and capacity, but users need to check location, network demand and broadband bandwidth to get closer to its theoretical performance.