Wi-Fi Alliance just announced the Wi-Fi 6 Release 2 standard

Wi-Fi 6 is already a significant step up from previous wireless internet standards, but the new Wi-Fi 6 Release 2 brings improvements to the uplink, as well as power management in all supported bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz). It is designed for both home and workplace routers and devices, as well as smart home IoT devices.

Version 2 adds support for multi-user MIMO uplink – the ability for multiple connected devices to load onto an access point simultaneously. That makes multi-person uploads faster and more reliable at the same time, and it will also improve latency for gaming and video conferencing.

Wi-Fi 6 Release 2 is also smarter with power management. It supports new sleep and low-power modes that will especially benefit battery-powered smart home devices.

Wi-Fi 6 Release 2 features apply to all bands supported by the standard, including 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz. This is important as all three have their own use cases, and 2.4GHz is often still the only option in low-power smart home devices.

Smartphones with Wi-Fi 6 support will also reap some benefits, once Version 2 features hit Wi-Fi 6 and 6E devices.