February 22, 2024 at 04:44PM
Microsoft is testing Wi-Fi 7 support in Windows 11 to provide multi-gigabit speeds and improved throughput, latency, and reliability. Wi-Fi 7 offers advancements including 320 MHz superwide channels, Multi-Link Operation (MLO) support, and a new 4K QAM modulation technique, delivering faster speeds than Wi-Fi 6. The support is being tested in the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26063.
Key takeaways from the meeting notes on Microsoft’s Wi-Fi 7 support in Windows 11 are as follows:
1. Wi-Fi 7, also known as IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput (EHT), is being tested in Windows 11, offering multi-gigabit speeds, improved throughput, latency, and reliability compared to previous Wi-Fi generations.
2. Wi-Fi 7 introduces advancements including 320 MHz superwide channels exclusive to the 6 GHz spectrum, supporting multigigabit speeds for Wi-Fi-enabled devices.
3. Multi-Link Operation (MLO) support improves traffic distribution among links, enhancing throughput and reliability.
4. The newly adopted 4K QAM advanced modulation technique offers a 20% increase in transmission rates compared to Wi-Fi 6, enhancing data transfer efficiency.
5. Users will require Wi-Fi 7 compatible access points and computers to benefit from the performance boost, already introduced to the market by several vendors.
6. The performance of Wi-Fi 7 systems may vary based on the manufacturer and device hardware capabilities.
7. Wi-Fi 7 support is currently being tested in the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26063, released in the Canary Channel.
8. Microsoft is also planning to add support for the USB4 Version 2.0 specification, offering increased USB transfer speeds of up to 80 Gbps over USB Type-C cables.
9. Lastly, Microsoft is testing a new feature that automatically opens the AI-powered Copilot assistant on systems with 27-inch displays and pixel widths of at least 1920 pixels after Windows 11 starts up.
These clear takeaways highlight the key advancements, requirements, and Microsoft’s focus on testing and improving the support for Wi-Fi 7 and related technologies in Windows 11.