Last week, the Wi-Fi Alliance announced that “certification for Wi-Fi 6E is now available to deliver interoperability for devices operating in the 6 GHz spectrum.” When that announcement came, it was assumed that routers featuring that technology would arrive at International CES this week.

And now they have, with at least three major manufacturers announcing Monday the arrival of their Wi-Fi 6E devices.

Netgear announced the arrival of a new Nighthawk router called the Nighthawk RAXE500 Tri-band WiFi Router. It’s a product that received a 2021 Innovations Award Honoree. 

“Our mission at Netgear is to provide products with cutting edge technologies to enable people to work, learn, stream and game more effectively in a connected world,” David Henry, senior vice president of Connected Home Products for NETGEAR, said in the announcement.

“We are pleased to be recognized by the Consumer Technology Association for our commitment to this mission with the introduction of the industry’s first all-purpose WiFi 6E router. The Nighthawk RAXE500 Tri-band WiFi Router will capitalize on the available bandwidth afforded by the new 6Ghz channel, delivering an increase in speed and capacity that has never been experienced up until this moment.”

That router is scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2021, at a retail price of $599.99. 

Another big name in routers, Linksys, introduced the Linksys AXE8400 Wi-Fi 6E System, which was also an Innovation Award honoree. 

“Taking advantage of the newly opened 6 GHz band, Linksys AXE8400 reduces congested, unsteady Wi-Fi connections and delivers more bandwidth to consumers' homes for clearer, faster networks and strengthened reliability,” the company said. “It has built-in mesh technology, easy app-based setup, and allows for full access to all three bands so that customers and connected devices, 6E or not, benefit from the system.”

The Linksys router will be available in the spring or summer in the U.S., at a listed price of  $449.99 for a 1-pack, $849.99 for a 2-pack, and $1,199.99 for a 3-pack.

Meanwhile, TP-Link, also on Monday, announced multiple Wi-Fi 6E products, including the AX7800 Whole Home Mesh WiFi 6E System (Deco X96), AX5400 Whole Home Mesh WiFi 6E System with Smart Hub (Deco X76 Plus), AX7800 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Router (Archer AX96), AX11000 Tri-Band WiFi 6E Router with 10G Ports (Archer AX206).

“The award-winning Deco now comes with voice built-in, while the Deco Mesh WiFi 6E and Archer router takes your WiFi to new levels,” the company said. “TP-Link’s 10G router and switch ensures the best connections possible, along with the 5G WiFi gateway Deco X80 and the HomeShield premium security service provide a blazing fast, easy to manage, and ultra-secure home networking experience for consumers and businesses.”

The products will be available throughout 2021, at what the company described as “competitive price points.”

Stephen Silver, a technology writer for the National Interest, is a journalist, essayist and film critic, who is also a contributor to Philly Voice, Philadelphia Weekly, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Living Life Fearless, Backstage magazine, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. Follow him on Twitter at @StephenSilver.

Image: NETGEAR