There's always a new tech standard coming out (USB 4! 5G!), and sometimes it's hard to know if it's really worth upgrading your tech for a potentially small improvement.

Not all new generations are major improvements, but in the case of Wi-Fi 7, early testing shows. Experts say that the latest Wi-Fi standard delivers a remarkable jump in speeds by doubling the width of the channels it uses to send signals to your devices. It's definitely worth the upgrade, especially if like to stream 4K video, to game without latency, or enjoy crystal-clear video calls. 

You will need some new equipment to take advantage of Wi-Fi 7, though. MSI offers Wi-Fi 7 mesh routers designed to support high-speed connections anywhere in your home, and the company also makes add-ons to make your laptop or desktop computer compatible with the latest generation of Wi-Fi.

Here's everything you need to know about Wi-Fi 7—including how to upgrade your hardware.

• Wi-FI 7 is the newest wireless standard, offering faster speeds and lower latency than Wi-Fi 6 and 6E.
• Wi-Fi 7 introduces 320MHz channels and Multi-Link Operation (MLO) to improve efficiency and reliability.
• You'll need a Wi-Fi 7 router and compatible devices to see full benefits.
• Mesh systems, including models from MSI, aim to extend Wi-Fi 7 coverage throughout larger homes.

What is Wi-Fi 7? 

Wi-Fi 7 is the fastest Wi-Fi that's currently available. It meets specific standards for performance, like bandwidth, reliability and latency, which is how long it takes data to move from your computer to its destination and back. 

Wi-Fi 7 sticks with the same three bands we know from Wi-Fi 6E — 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz — so you might wonder what the big deal is. WiFi-7 widens the channels within those frequency bands so data can move through them faster. Think of it like merging narrow lines on a highway into one super-lane: Wi-Fi 7 bumps the 6GHz band from 160MHz to a massive 320MHz. By creating more open space on the digital road, you can move way more data at once without the traffic jams.

Wi-Fi 7 is already popular with gamers and streamers who love its super-fast speeds and low latency rates.

Is Wi-Fi 7 really that much better?

The hype is real. Wi-Fi 7 offers speeds over three times as fast as previous standards Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E and five times faster than Wi-Fi 5. After testing a bunch of Wi-Fi 7 devices, PC Mag managing editor Tom Brant called the difference "astonishing."

Here's how Wi-Fi 7 increases theoretical throughput compared to previous versions:

• Wi-Fi 7 drastically increases how much data can be transmitted at once, giving your data twice as many "lanes" to travel on.
• Multi-Link Operation (MLO) technology lets devices connect to multiple bands simultaneously, limiting latency and boosting efficiency and reliability.
• Wi-Fi 7 offers speeds up to 40 GBPs—four times faster than Wi-Fi 6E—and can handle multiple devices more easily.

Which devices support Wi-Fi 7?

To enjoy the ultra-fast connections of Wi-Fi 7, you'll need to upgrade your hardware. The good news is that more than 233 million Wi-Fi 7 devices are currently on the market, according to the Wi-Fi Alliance. You'll get the smoothest, speediest results if your entire network is Wi-Fi 7-enabled—meaning smartphones, tablets and PCs as well as your router, which communicates wirelessly between your modem and your devices.

Even if you don't need super speeds, Wi-Fi 7 devices are smart future-proofing. They're also backwards-compatible, meaning they'll still work if other parts of your network are Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E. 

What's the best performing Wi-Fi 7 router? 

The best Wi-Fi 7 router offers seamless coverage no matter where you are in your home. A high-quality mesh router like MSI's Roamii BE Pro or Roamii BE Lite includes multiple access points for powerful penetration through walls and ceilings. Both models cover several thousand square feet, support hundreds of connected devices at once and offer adaptive roaming—meaning no dropped connections as you move around the house. Additionally, now available in the MSI Router 2.0 App, the "Find WiFi Spot" tool allows for real-time signal diagnostics to identify the perfect location for nodes, ensuring a stable Wi-Fi 7 backhaul.

Can I add Wi-Fi 7 to my PC or laptop?

Yes, you can adapt your existing hardware and combine it with a Wi-Fi-7 router to take advantage of this new technology.

MSI's BE6500 WiFi 7 USB Adapter is an easy and affordable way to get faster connections, lower latency and better reception, even when you're further from your router. The adapter connects via USB and installs through standard drivers. Adds Wi-Fi 7 capability to a compatible desktop PC with the HERALD BE9400 WiFi 7 PCIe Card for a smoother, more responsive experience while gaming, streaming or working in the cloud.

Making the move to Wi-Fi 7

Wi-Fi 7 hardware is becoming more widely available, and mesh systems and adapters provide multiple ways to add the new standard to existing home networks. MSI's Roamii BE mesh routers and Wi-Fi 7 adapters are designed to deliver broader coverage, higher speeds and support for more connected devices across the home.