When looking at WiFi specs for routers or devices, you might see terms like 1x1, 2x2, or 3x3. These numbers sound technical — and they are — but once you understand the basics, it’s easy to see how they impact your internet speed and performance.
The PHY rate (short for physical layer rate) is the maximum speed your device and router can talk to each other — kind of like the top speed of a car. But it’s just the theoretical maximum. Real-life speeds are usually lower.
The PHY rate depends on:
- How wide the WiFi channel is (like how wide a road is)
- How many antennas do your device and router have
- The WiFi technology used (like Wi-Fi® 4, 5, or 6)
- How many devices are using the WiFi at once
These numbers represent how many data streams your WiFi device can send and receive at once. It’s written like this:
[# of sending antennas] x [# of receiving antennas]
So:
- 1x1 = One antenna for sending, One for receiving
- 2x2 = Two for sending, two for receiving
- 3x3 = Three for sending, three for receiving
- And so on…
More streams = more data moving at the same time = faster speeds and better multitasking.
Imagine your WiFi connection as a highway for your data.
- A 1x1 connection is like a one-lane road — only one car (or data packet) can go each way at a time.
- A 2x2 connection is like a two-lane road — more cars, faster traffic.
- A 3x3 or 4x4 connection is like a multi-lane expressway — your data moves fast and doesn't get stuck.
Many people upgrade their router expecting blazing speeds — but forget that the device (like your phone or laptop) has its own WiFi limits.
For example:
- If you have a 2x2 router but a 1x1 phone, you’ll be stuck with 1x1 speeds.
- If both the router and device are 2x2, you’ll get much faster performance.
Your WiFi is only as fast as the slowest piece in the connection.
Here’s a quick look at how many antennas are typically found in common WiFi devices:
This table shows the maximum and realistic WiFi speeds for devices using Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), based on their number of streams and channel width:
For devices using Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) — often older laptops, printers, or smart devices — here’s what speeds look like:
Final Thoughts
- More antennas = more speed, but only if your device and router both support them.
- The PHY rate shows the maximum speed between your device and router, not your actual internet speed.
- Most phones and tablets are 2x2; IoT devices are often 1x1.
- Even if your router is super-fast, your device limits how much speed you can actually use.
