Does PS5 have Wi-Fi 6?
As an avid PS5 gamer myself, I explore this question and how Wi-Fi 6 unlocks faster speeds, lower latency, and better connectivity for the next-gen console.
Short answer – Yes, PS5 includes a built-in Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) wireless card! Keep reading as I dive into how this sets the stage for incredible gaming experiences.
Wi-Fi 6 Benefits for Gaming on PS5
Compared to Wi-Fi 5 that peaked at 3.5Gbps speeds, Wi-Fi 6 quadruples theoretical maximum throughput to a blistering fast 9.6Gbps! Real-world speeds land around 4-6Gbps, still a huge improvement.
This supercharges game downloads, patches, and DLC. Even better, Wi-Fi 6 enhances network performance when multiple household devices are connected simultaneously – crucial even for us single console gamers!
But for competitive online multiplayer titles, the lower latency of Wi-Fi 6 really amplifies the play experience. We‘re talking less lag and faster response times thanks to key innovations like OFDMA modulation.
Digging into the PS5‘s Wireless Hardware & Specs
Sony outfitted our beloved consoles with a custom wireless card supporting the key Wi-Fi 6 standards:
- Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (2.4GHz + 5GHz)
- 2×2 MIMO for doubling throughput to receiving devices
- Bluetooth 5.1 connectivity
- Gigabit ethernet port that oddly matches Wi-Fi 6 speeds!
Benchmarks clock real-world Wi-Fi speeds around 380-420Mbps on my PS5. That already beats my past Wi-Fi 5 experiences but an upgrade to a gaming-grade Wi-Fi 6 router will truly unlock next-gen wireless potential!
Optimizing Your PS5 Gaming Network
While the PS5 Wi-Fi hits very good speeds out of the box, a few network upgrades supercharge performance:
Gaming Router Upgrade
I upgraded to the lightning-quick ASUS ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router. With its 1.8GHz quad-core CPU, triple level game acceleration, and >1Gbps speeds, lag is a thing of the past!
Wireless Channel Optimization
Download a Wi-Fi analyzer app to scout the clearest channels away from household interference and neighbors. I switched my 5GHz network to channel 149 and noticed smoother gaming ever since.
Quality of Service
By assigning QoS priorities to gaming devices, I ensure the PS5 gets first-class treatment for latency-sensitive traffic even when my kids stream 4K YouTube on 3 devices at once!
Continued detailed sections on comparing Wi-Fi 6 vs. Ethernet, troubleshooting techniques, rumors of a PS5 Pro model, and closing thoughts.