TP-Link today announced (opens in new tab) its first router to support Wi-Fi 6, the Archer AX50. The company said this new router features the Intel Home Wi-Fi Chipset to "deliver a premium Wi-Fi 6 Gig+ experience to more families at an affordable price point."
Intel Wireless Infrastructure Group general manager Doron Tal said in today's announcement that "Wi-Fi has seen its greatest advancement in the last decade with the introduction of Wi-Fi 6" and the release of routers like the Archer AX50 "make it possible for a broader set of consumers to start experiencing the full potential of Wi-Fi 6.” (Provided, of course, people are also purchasing devices that support the new protocol.)
So what is Wi-Fi 6? Well, it's technically called the 802.11ax protocol, but it was fortunate enough to debut after The Wi-Fi Alliance switched to a new version numbering system to help consumers. It's also equipped with improvements to pretty much every aspect of the protocol: Intel said in a fact sheet that its Wi-Fi 6 Gig+ platform offers 3x max wireless throughput, 4x capacity for devices and 75% reduced latency over previous generations.
TP-Link didn't offer pricing information for the Archer AX50 or say when it would debut. More information about the router can be found on the company's website (opens in new tab). The Wi-Fi Alliance also has further information about Wi-Fi 6 and how you can spot devices that support it on its website.
