Microsoft may restrict Windows 10 from using Wi-Fi 7, Only supports Windows 11/Linux/ChromeOS
Wi-Fi 7 heralds the dawn of the next epoch in wireless connectivity. However, to luxuriate in the accelerated wireless speeds, users must operate on the latest Windows OS to ensure comprehensive compatibility. Recent whisperings from the online community divulge that Intel’s internal documents indicate a conspicuous absence of Microsoft-certified Windows 10 drivers, rendering the OS incompatible with Wi-Fi 7—a conundrum also afflicting Qualcomm and MediaTek’s Wi-Fi 7 chips.
Recently, rumblings suggest that Intel’s “BE200NGW” and “BE200D2W” wireless cards have gracefully cleared FCC certification, poised to grace the market in M.2 2230 and M.2 1216 size specifications. It is anticipated that Wi-Fi 7 will make its grand debut on laptops and desktops later this year, enhancing the allure of the Meteor Lake-based “Core Ultra” platform and the enticing new Z790 motherboards that champion the 14th generation Core series. According to current intel, only Windows 11, subsequent iterations, select Linux distributions, and certain versions of ChromeOS are primed to support Wi-Fi 7. Given Microsoft’s prevailing stance, the dearth of essential certifications insinuates a high probability that Wi-Fi 7 will remain estranged from Windows 10.
Wi-Fi 7 corresponds to the IEEE 802.11be EHT (Extremely High Throughput) standard. Built upon the foundation of Wi-Fi 6E, it ushers in innovations like 320MHz bandwidth, 4096-QAM modulation, Multi-RU, multi-link operations, augmented MU-MIMO, and collaborative multi-AP (commonly termed MESH networking). This intricate tapestry of advancements enables Wi-Fi 7 to boast superior data transmission rates and diminished latency compared to its Wi-Fi 6E counterpart.
In theoretical paradigms, Wi-Fi 7 is poised to deliver staggering data transfer speeds of up to 30Gbps—tripling the prowess of Wi-Fi 6. This technological marvel is tailored to seamlessly cater to an array of applications including high-bitrate 4K/8K video streaming, immersive VR/AR experiences, remote work paradigms, video conferencing, and the expansive realm of cloud computing.
