With so many Google Pixel 6 features already rumored and leaked, there is already plenty to discuss about the phone even before everything is revealed at the Pixel event on October 19. But along with the new design, enhanced camera system, and new Tensor chipset, the Pixel 6 is expected to include a less flashy feature that holds a lot of potential for users. That is Wi-Fi 6E.

Based on leaked information from the FCC (via FCC ID) and rumored compatibility with this latest Wi-Fi guise, the Pixel 6 series could be one of the easiest and cheapest ways to get a Wi-Fi 6E device. And it's a technology you'll want to have because it will bring you connectivity advantages for a long time to come.

If you're not already familiar with it, Wi-Fi 6E is the latest version of the local wireless networking system you probably use every day; it's based on Wi-Fi 6, which came out in 2019 and uses the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands already in use band, plus an additional 6 Ghz band. The basic advantages of this are lower latency (as little as 2 ms), greater stability, and faster data transmission speeds, but the narrower transmission range can be a problem. [Kevin Robinson, senior vice president of marketing for the Wi-Fi Alliance (a global network of companies that provide chips, hardware, and services that enable Wi-Fi), sums it up: "The availability of Wi-Fi 6E and 6 GHz is going to fundamentally change the experience users get from Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is fundamentally changing the experience that users get from Wi-Fi."

For the average user, this will lead to improved performance when streaming content, with AR and VR content in particular benefiting greatly from low latency. Wi-Fi 6E is also beneficial for device miniaturization, as the product does not require the installation of so many antennas. The extra bandwidth and more stable connection also means less interference from neighboring networks.

This benefit may outlast Wi-Fi 6E. Robinson explains, "Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 8, and Wi-Fi 9 all rely on this critical frequency band."

If rumors of Wi-Fi 6E compatibility with the Pixel 6 prove true, it would not be the first phone to support this feature. However, the S21 Ultra is a very expensive device at $1,200, while the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are rumored to be $100 to $400 cheaper than that.

While Samsung has a much larger presence in the U.S., savvy users will be tempted away from the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 Plus because of the Pixel 6's numerous photo, display, and AI upgrades as well as its new flavor of Wi-Fi may be.

It seems at least as likely that the Pixel 6 will drive a wave of mass adoption of Wi-Fi 6E technology. Even though Google is reportedly projecting shipments of 10 million Pixel 6 units in the first year (via Nikkei Asia), that is only one-ninth of Apple's iPhone 13 production target, even after Apple adjusted its target due to a global chip shortage. Many users will probably take advantage of the Wi-Fi 6E in future iPhones and Samsung devices, which are the best-selling phones in the U.S. and the U.K. But Google and the Pixel 6 will still play a part.

The real benefit of supporting Wi-Fi 6E on a phone like the Pixel 6 is the same reason it is good to have a 5G connection. The Wireless Broadband Alliance reports that while Wi-Fi 6E networks are not very common yet, 83% of device manufacturers, service providers, and enterprises will deploy Wi-Fi 6 or WiFi 6E by the end of 2022. In other words, the day is not far off when this technology will become ubiquitous. Google is said to be promising five years of updates, so even with the Pixel 6 in your pocket, there is a good chance you will see at least one of these major generational changes.

Wi-Fi 6E will not be exclusive for long. The more such a feature is used, the cheaper it will be to implement quickly on any type of cell phone. How quickly individual companies adopt this technology, however, will depend on the market. For example, China has not yet opened up 6 GHz. Therefore, companies such as OnePlus, Huawei, and Oppo may fall behind companies that already have the ability to use Wi-Fi 6E in their key markets, such as the US and Europe. Google may therefore be part of an elite group of smartphone makers that can offer the best Wi-Fi speeds.

If you are already on the cutting edge with the best Wi-Fi router in your home and are interested in the services that Wi-Fi 6E could bring, the Pixel 6 series could be your earliest ticket to reaping the benefits.