Does the PlayStation 4 have Wi-Fi 6?

The short answer is no – neither the original PS4 or PS4 Pro have built-in support for the latest Wi-Fi 6 wireless standard. However, connecting these consoles to a Wi-Fi 6 router can still provide significant improvements to gaming performance and connectivity.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore PS4’s Wi-Fi capabilities in depth, analyze how Wi-Fi 6 benefits gaming, compare Wi-Fi standards, discuss next-gen demands, and ultimately determine if upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 is worthwhile in 2022.

Playstation‘s Wireless Evolution

The original PS4 hit the market in 2013 with Wi-Fi 5 – aka 802.11n wireless technology. This allowed it to reach theoretical maximum speeds up to 300Mbps on the common 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz frequency bands via advanced coding techniques like MIMO (multiple input, multiple output).

Real world tests often achieved between 50 – 80Mbps speeds. While fast for online gaming of the time, 1080p streams and downloads could still be constrained.

The PS4 Pro updated the wireless specs in 2016 to the newer Wi-Fi 5 standard – 802.11ac. By adding higher order 256 QAMmodulation, more MIMO streams and operating solely on the less crowded 5Ghz channels, link rates increased to a theoretical max of 867 Mbps on some routers.

Practically, 200 – 300Mbps speeds were attainable – a nice bump that enabled faster downloads, smoother online play and greater 4K streaming potential by reducing network bottlenecks.

Console	Wi-Fi Generation	Max Speed	Bands	Release
PS4	802.11n	300Mbps	2.4Ghz/5Ghz	2013
PS4 Pro	802.11ac	867Mbps	5Ghz only	2016

Then in 2019, the Wi-Fi 6 standard (802.11ax) emerged, promising cutting edge performance. With astounding theoretical speeds up to 9.6Gbps, 4X more simultaneous device connections, lower latency, better range and capacity – gaming would never be the same!

Introducing Wi-Fi 6 – Next Generation Wireless

Wi-Fi 6 achieves these blazing fast speeds and optimization through several key technologies:

• Higher order 2048 QAM modulation – Encodes more data per waveform for 2X the throughput of Wi-Fi 5.

• OFDMA – Allows multiple devices to share a channel efficiently so available bandwidth isn‘t wasted. Reduces latency.

• MU-MIMO – Routers can transmit data to multiple devices simultaneously using beamforming, boosting capacity.

• 1024 QAM uplink – Faster upload speeds from your devices competing for bandwidth.

Combining these advances gives Wi-Fi 6 up to 4X the effective capacity of the previous generation within a congested network environment – critical when multiple users and devices are gaming and streaming concurrently.

Why Wi-Fi 6 Matters for Gaming

Given most modern titles demand fast reflexes, quick loading and ultra hi-def graphics, Wi-Fi 6 delivers tangible improvements:

• Faster downloads – Large 100GB game installs aren‘t uncommon. Wi-Fi 6 routers download 35% faster on average.

• Lower latency – Competitive online multiplayer demands quick reactions. Wi-Fi 6 latency can be up to 30% less versus Wi-Fi 5 thanks to techniques like OFDMA.

• 4K game streaming – Graphics are more immersive than ever. Wi-Fi 6 provides the bandwidth to smoothly stream 4K or even 8K games across the home.

• VR gaming – Virtual reality requires heavy data throughput with no interruptions. Wi-Fi 6 has the speed and capacity to prevent dropouts.

• More connected devices – Households today have 10 or more Wi-Fi products. Wi-Fi 6 supports 4X more simultaneous connections by splitting capacity.

So while the PS4 can‘t access all aspects of Wi-Fi 6, you‘ll still benefit with faster performance, downloads, fewer interruptions, and smoother coexistence of multiple wireless gaming and streaming devices on one busy network.

How Does Wi-Fi 6 Compare to Wi-Fi 5?

To see the generational leaps Wi-Fi 6 provides, take a look at how it stacks up versus Wi-Fi 5:

Category	Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Max Speed	6.9 Gbps	9.6 Gbps
Bands	5GHz	5GHz + 2.4GHz
Spatial Streams	8	8
MU-MIMO	Downlink only	Uplink + Downlink
QAM Modulation	256 QAM	1024/2048 QAM
Simultaneous Connections	~100 devices	4X more
Range	Average	Improved 30%

You can see across the board Wi-Fi 6 outpaces Wi-Fi 5 – faster speeds, less interference on 2.4Ghz, better device handling, lower latency, wider range, and advanced technologies working together. All key aspects for gaming!

What About Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7?

Wi-Fi generations are continually improving, so is it better to wait for an even newer standard? Not necessarily.

Wi-Fi 6E builds on Wi-Fi 6 by adding the wide open 6Ghz band. This can provide around 25% faster speeds and less interference when supported. However device compatibility is still limited.

Wi-Fi 7 aims to double theoretical speeds to jaw-dropping 30Gbps using techniques like 4×4 MIMO and 320Mhz channels. But finalized specs aren‘t expected until 2024.

For most households, Wi-Fi 6 hits a great sweet spot – fast enough for modern gaming and streaming needs, while providing wide device compatibility today and in the next few years as the install base grows.

Jumping to 6E may only yield marginal gains for a premium price right now. And Wi-Fi 7 risks being overkill while the technology matures. Wi-Fi 6 offers an excellent balance of speed, latency, capacity and future-proofing for gaming.

Xbox Series X/S – What Wi-Fi Does the Competition Use?

Microsoft‘s latest Xbox consoles are surprisingly in the same boat as Sony when it comes to wireless technology.

Neither the Xbox Series X or Series S support the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard out of the box according to the official specs.

Both max out at the previous generation Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) with speeds up to 866Mbps – parallel to the PS4 Pro.

While Microsoft matches Sony for horsepower and graphics, they lag on wireless connectivity. Like PlayStation owners, Xbox gamers need to upgrade their routers independently to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6.

Console	Wi-Fi Generation	Speed
Xbox Series X	802.11ac	866Mbps
Xbox Series S	802.11ac	866Mbps
PS5	802.11ax	9600Mbps

Hopefully both companies will add Wi-Fi 6E via future firmware updates to maximize wireless performance. But most home networks today are still built around Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6.

Do You Need a Wi-Fi 6 Router to Reap Benefits?

This is a key question – will connecting the PS4 or Xbox One to a Wi-Fi 6 router improve performance even if the console only supports older Wi-Fi 5 standards?

In most cases yes – while you won‘t get the absolute maximum Wi-Fi 6 speeds, you can still realize meaningful benefits:

• Faster network speeds – Wi-Fi 6 routers have better internal processors and architecture. So even Wi-Fi 5 devices connect faster versus linking to an older 802.11ac or 802.11n router.

• Decreased interference – Wi-Fi 6 does a better job balancing traffic across bands and channels resulting in less congestion for your console.

• Good range – Optimizations like MU-MIMO enable better reach throughout your home without drop offs.

• Smoother streaming – Extra bandwidth headroom from the faster Wi-Fi 6 foundation improves 4K/8K video streaming reliability.

• More connections – Additional devices like phones, tablets, and TVs are handled better avoiding slowdowns.

Think of it like attaching a garden hose to a high volume water main – even if your hose can‘t handle the full main pressure, the water flow you do get is higher than linking to a smaller pipe. Same idea with Wi-Fi routers.

Wi-Fi Routers – What to Look for in 2022

If upgrading your home network, here are some key features to compare across gaming routers:

Wi-Fi Generation – Aim for Wi-Fi 6 at a minimum. Only consider Wi-Fi 6E if you have compatible phones, tablets, laptops already.

Processor – Look for a quad core processor or better. The CPU governs overall performance.

Channels – More 5Ghz channels like DFS improve congestion and finding cleaner lanes.

Antennas – 4-6 antennas ideally. More enables better beamforming and device locking.

Ports – Look for at least 4-5 gigabit ethernet ports to directly connect consoles and TVs.

Features – Gaming routers include optimizations like geo-filtering, bandsteering and connection prioritization.

Some top gaming models to consider from brands like ASUS, Netgear, TP-Link and Linksys range from $150 – $300. A sound investment to maximize your wireless gaming!

Router	WiFi Gen	CPU	5GHz Channels	Antennas	Ports	Price
ASUS RT-AX86U	Wi-Fi 6	1.8Ghz Quad Core	8	8	5 Gigabit	$250
Netgear Nighthawk RAX120	Wi-Fi 6	1.8Ghz Quad Core	12	4	5 Gigabit	$350
TP-Link Archer AX73	Wi-Fi 6	1.5Ghz Triple Core	6	4	4 Gigabit	$170

As you can see, there are several excellent Wi-Fi 6 routers equipped to handle demanding modern gaming needs for under $300. A worthwhile upgrade that will serve your home network and consoles for years to come.

Key Takeaways – PS4 and Wi-Fi 6

To recap, the key points we covered in this guide:

• The PlayStation 4 and PS4 Pro lack native Wi-Fi 6 support, maxing out at 802.11ac speeds.

• Connecting to a Wi-Fi 6 router will still provide faster speeds, lower latency, greater capacity and range for gaming.

• Technologies like OFDMA, MU-MIMO, 1024QAM DL/UL make Wi-Fi 6 far superior to Wi-Fi 5 for handling demanding gaming needs.

• The Xbox Series X and Series S also do not have Wi-Fi 6 built-in at present. Both brands need a router upgrade.

• While not a necessity, upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 is highly recommended for smoother online play, faster downloads, robust 4K streaming and future-proofing.

• Look for key gaming features when comparing Wi-Fi 6 routers like geo-filtering, DFS channels, connection prioritization and strong processors.

So in summary – while your PlayStation 4 can‘t tap into every bell and whistle, connecting it to a new Wi-Fi 6 router will provide a noticeably faster and more reliable wireless experience perfect for gaming in 2022!

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