In 2024, the Wi-Fi Alliance introduced Wi-Fi 7 . However, a little over a year later, it seems that Wi-Fi 8 is already in the works. According to TP-Link, a company best known for its routers and home security solutions, they have achieved a successful first connection of Wi-Fi 8.

TP-Link claims to have successfully demonstrated a first Wi-Fi 8 connection using a prototype device developed through a “ joint industry partnership .” The company says, “ The test successfully validated both the Wi-Fi 8 beacon and data throughput, confirming the viability of the technology and marking a critical milestone in Wi-Fi 8 development. This technology is poised to deliver the ultra-reliable wireless performance that the industry will require as more devices and bandwidth-intensive applications come online .”

This means that the firm has essentially proven the viability for future consumer products. TP-Link did not go into much detail about the stats of what Wi-Fi 8 can achieve, but it sounds like a step in the right direction. We also don’t know when Wi-Fi 8 is expected to be released or when we’ll see the first Wi-Fi 8-enabled devices. So, we’ll just have to wait and see.

What’s the difference?

Most of us probably don’t really pay too much attention to the Wi-Fi version we’re using. However, there are differences in terms of speed, bandwidth, and features. But unlike Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 8 isn’t about chasing faster speeds. Instead, according to Qualcomm, one of the goals of Wi-Fi 8 is to keep devices online with stable connections . This is thanks to the use of Multi-AP Coordination. It enables access points to work together for seamless roaming and more consistent coverage.

As for Wi-Fi 7, it focuses more on Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which lets individual devices connect across multiple bands simultaneously for better performance. Wi-Fi 8 takes a different approach. When you have many devices, multiple access points, or lots of nearby networks competing for airwaves, Multi-AP Coordination helps everything work together more smoothly.

This doesn’t mean that Wi-Fi 8 won’t be fast. Instead, stability and reliability are the main focus areas here.