Is Your WiFi Ready for the Hottest Tech Gifts of the Season? Discover the Must-Have Upgrades!

It seems 2024 is the year WiFi technology has come of age. You may already know about WiFi 7, the latest WiFi standard and the secret behind the futuristic networking transformation.

A WiFi 7 upgrade will open up amazing opportunities for work and play with the hottest tech gifts for the upcoming holiday season.

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WRITTEN BY

NETGEAR Team

Holiday Season Tech for US Smart Homes

The holiday season is almost here, and WiFi tech gifts are on the wishlist for people of all ages. Wireless technology gifts are the big hit this year, especially WiFi 7-enabled devices and smart home gadgets that take gift giving to the next level of excitement. The average US home today has more than 20 connected devices, so the first step in tech gift-giving is having a robust WiFi system. Is your current WiFi network capable of handling the best new tech devices in 2024? If so, it’s time to get excited. If not, it’s time to get with the program.


Hottest WiFi-Enabled Tech Gifts of the Season

Latest Smartphones

  • iPhone 16 Series – The ever-popular iPhone keeps getting better, and 2025 will be no exception. The iPhone 16 improves transfer speeds for seamless editing of 48MP photos, superfast 4K video uploads, cloud gaming, and real-time streaming of high-definition content, all with WiFi 7 capability.
  • Android Phones – The Android smartphone range is huge, and the Samsung Galaxy S24 Series has it all and then some. This class-leading smartphone is WiFi 7-ready with advanced connectivity for flexible high-resolution cameras, Galaxy AI features, and punchy speakers, all protected by a titanium build and Gorilla Armor durability.

Tablets and Laptops

  • MacBooks and iPads – The ultra-convenient and portable solutions for achieving almost anything online. Elevate the experience by pairing your device with a WiFi 7 router for next-level productivity and entertainment.
  • Windows Laptops – A versatile and reliable choice. The best laptops for gaming and work combine power and performance with professionalism and portability. Top picks include the Dell XPS 15, which boasts the latest i9 processor, NVDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, and 32GB RAM.

Gaming Consoles

  • PlayStation 5 Pro – Boasting Incredibly fast responsiveness, an innovative DualSense controller, and excellent exclusives, the PS5 Pro is a must-have for PlayStation fans in 2024. take 4K/8K streaming to the next level with PlayStation 5 and WiFi 7, the best WiFi for gaming consoles.
  • Xbox Series X/S – The Xbox Series X/S is Microsoft’s most powerful game system yet, with native 4K HDR graphics and an SSD for blazing-fast load times. Strong backward compatibility with WiFi 7.
  • Nintendo Switch – One-part handheld and one-part home console, Nintendo Switch may be the only device you’ll ever need for gaming, wherever you are. The hybrid console offers exceptional handheld graphical quality, while seamlessly transitioning into a home console.

Smart TVs and Streaming Devices

  • Samsung and LG – TV technology has improved to the point where Samsung and LG offer their own state-of the art QLED advantages with a wider color gamut for 8K streaming and smart home integration. WiFi 7 routers are the best WiFi routers for Smart TV’s.
  • Streaming Sticks – A streaming stick is a tiny media player, slightly bigger than a USB stick. A streaming stick such as the Google TV Streamer offers seamless 4K content delivery when paired with a robust WiFi router.

Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Devices

  • VR Headsets – The best VR headsets are compatible with low latency WiFi 7 to achieve deeper levels of immersion. Leading VR headsets such as META Quest 3 are an enticing gateway into an entirely fresh gaming experience.
  • AR Glasses – Although not yet available commercially, this is an emerging technology slated for rollout within 3-5 years. Prototype ORION AR glasses are already being showcased for seamless WiFi 7 device connectivity.

Smart Home Devices

  • Smart Thermostats and Locks – Top smart home gift options for 2024 include very convenient smart door locks and thermostats with the option for WiFi 7 target wake time for hands-free, automatic operation. WiFi 7 is the best WiFi for smart home devices.
  • Home Security Systems – Hard-wired and complex home security systems have been superseded by smart home WiFi 7 systems with wireless connectivity that can be set up fast and remotely controlled for constant connectivity and 24/7 surveillance.

The WiFi Challenge: Is Your Network Up to the Task?

Home networks are growing, devices are getting hungry for increased bandwidth, faster speeds without buffering, lag, and dropped connections are needed for gaming, streaming, virtual reality, and more. Older WiFi networks and outdated equipment risk exposure to security vulnerabilities and performance issues. Is your network up to the task? WiFi 7, also called EHT for extremely high throughput, is the secret behind the best Mesh WiFi Systems for 2025 and beyond.


Why Upgrading Your WiFi Network Is Essential

Upgrading to a new WiFi network periodically is essential to achieve optimal speed, better coverage, and a secure internet connection. WiFi technology has advanced rapidly during the past decade, including WiFi 7 routers and whole-home WiFi mesh systems with WiFi 7 Mesh Satellites can connect up to 200 devices simultaneously with blazing-fast real-world speeds of 27Gbps and coverage up to 10,000 sq. ft.

WiFi 7 is backward compatible with older WiFi devices. However, the full potential of WiFi 7 will be appreciated as you progressively upgrade your device network with WiFi 7-certified devices, with advantages that include:

  • Future-Proofing Your Home – WiFi 7 offers major improvements compared to WiFi 5, WiFi 6, and WiFi 6E. WiFi 7 is future-proofed networking at its best with gigabit speeds for all your connected devices.
  • Improved Security and Privacy – The best WiFi 7 routers and mesh systems include robust security with WPA3 encryption with VPN, automatic firmware updates, end-point device protection, Qualcomm chipsets, and more.

Don't Let Outdated WiFi Hold You Back

If your WiFi router is more than a few years old, or you are someone who wants to own the best WiFi 7 gadgets in 2025, now is the right time to upgrade to low latency quad-band WiFi 7 for an enhanced wireless networking experience. Quad-band WiFi 7 uses the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands for a smoother, more seamless network experience. New standard WiFi 7 router enhancements include:

  • 4K QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation)
  • 320MHz Channels
  • Multi-Link Operation (MLO)

Don’t let outdated WiFi hold you back. Take a quantum leap into the future of networking with industry leading WiFi 7 routers, whole-home WiFi 7 mesh systems, and mobile 5G Hotspots designed for every price bracket. Make sure to choose WiFi 7 devices to take full advantage of the technology and make 2025 a year for exceptional networking at home, at work, and while on the go.