No, the current Xbox Series X|S consoles do not support Wi-Fi 6.
The Xbox Series X|S models are compatible with Wi-Fi signals up to 802.11ac dual band. This specification is also known as Wi-Fi 5, which is an older standard than Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax).
Understanding Wi-Fi Standards and Your Xbox
Wi-Fi technology continually evolves to offer faster speeds, improved efficiency, and enhanced performance, especially in network environments with many connected devices.
What is Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)?
Wi-Fi 6, officially known as 802.11ax, represents the latest generation of Wi-Fi technology designed to handle the increasing number of connected devices in modern homes and offices. It introduces several key enhancements over previous standards:
- Faster Theoretical Speeds: Offers higher maximum throughput, translating to quicker downloads and smoother streaming experiences.
- Improved Efficiency (OFDMA): Utilizes Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) to allow multiple devices to communicate simultaneously on a single channel, reducing latency and improving overall network efficiency.
- Enhanced Capacity (MU-MIMO): Features bi-directional Multi-User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO), enabling routers to communicate with more devices at once, both sending and receiving data.
- Better Battery Life (TWT): Incorporates Target Wake Time (TWT), which allows devices to schedule check-ins with the router, conserving battery power by staying in sleep mode for longer periods.
Why Xbox Series X|S Uses Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
The Xbox Series X|S was engineered to utilize the 802.11ac standard (Wi-Fi 5). While not the very latest, Wi-Fi 5 is a robust and highly capable wireless standard that offers significant advantages for modern console gaming:
- High Speeds: It can deliver speeds well over 1 Gbps in optimal conditions, which is more than sufficient for high-bandwidth activities such as 4K game streaming, downloading large game files, and engaging in online multiplayer.
- Dual-Band Operation: Supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, providing flexibility for users to choose between wider range (2.4 GHz) and higher speed (5 GHz).
For the vast majority of gaming scenarios, the strong performance of Wi-Fi 5 ensures a stable and responsive connection for both online play and streaming content.
Wi-Fi Standard Comparison
To provide context, here's a brief comparison of common Wi-Fi standards:
| Wi-Fi Standard (IEEE) | Marketing Name | Max Theoretical Speed (Approx.) | Key Features | Xbox Series X|S Compatibility |
| :-------------------- | :------------- | :------------------------------ | :---------------------------------------------------------------- | :---------------------- |
| 802.11n | Wi-Fi 4 | 600 Mbps | MIMO, dual-band (2.4/5 GHz) | Backward Compatible |
| 802.11ac | Wi-Fi 5 | 3.5 Gbps | MU-MIMO (downlink), wider channels, 5 GHz focus | Yes |
| 802.11ax | Wi-Fi 6 | 9.6 Gbps | OFDMA, bi-directional MU-MIMO, TWT, better in dense environments | No |
| 802.11be | Wi-Fi 7 | 46 Gbps | Multi-Link Operation (MLO), 320 MHz channels, Preamble Puncturing | No |
What This Means for Gamers
Despite the Xbox Series X|S not incorporating Wi-Fi 6, this does not significantly impede its performance or your gaming experience.
- Wired Connection is Optimal: For competitive online gaming, a direct wired Ethernet connection remains the superior choice. It provides the lowest latency, most consistent speeds, and highest reliability, irrespective of the Wi-Fi standard used.
- Wi-Fi 5 is Robust: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) offers ample bandwidth for even the most demanding gaming activities. Unless you operate in an exceptionally congested wireless environment or require the absolute maximum wireless throughput for non-gaming tasks, its performance is perfectly adequate.
- Future Possibilities: As technology continues to evolve, it is conceivable that future iterations of Xbox consoles may integrate Wi-Fi 6 or even newer standards like Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, aligning with ongoing advancements in wireless technology. However, the current models do not include Wi-Fi 6.
