You might not be aware, but there are different Wi-Fi versions available. This could be the reason while your new flagship phone has better reception than your friend’s older budget device. They are named with a mix of letters and numbers, but that changes now.

Wi-Fi Alliance, the group who oversees the development of Wi-Fi, figured out a new naming system that’s easy to understand, especially for the average consumers.

Wi-Fi versions are identified as “802.11” and it’s followed by version letters. You might think they’re alphabetical, but they’re not. The latest version is 802.11ac, but before that, we had 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11a, and 802.11b. Quite confusing, right?

All of those complex codenames are being changed. The latest 802.11ac standard will now be called Wi-Fi 5. Why? Because it’s the fifth version. The rest of the older standards will also adopt the new scheme:

Wi-Fi 1 — 802.11b (1999)
Wi-Fi 2 — 802.11a (1999)
Wi-Fi 3 — 802.11g (2003)
Wi-Fi 4 — 802.11n (2009)

So, instead of researching which one is better, you just have to look for the highest number. Obviously, Wi-Fi 5 is newer than Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 4 is better than Wi-Fi 3, and so on.

Additionally, the next Wi-Fi generation which will be based on 802.11ax technology will be called Wi-Fi 6. Like before, the new version will offer faster speeds, increased throughput, and better experiences.

“Wi-Fi 6 will deliver an improved experience to address device and application needs in a range of consumer and enterprise environments,” Wi-Fi Alliance said in the press release.

You may read more about the technicalities of Wi-Fi 6 here.

Source: Wi-Fi Alliance

SEE ALSO: How to optimize your home’s Wi-Fi