Pour 26,99 euros par mois, Sosh propose désormais un forfait « Sosh Boost Fibre » avec une Livebox 7 SE en Wi-Fi 7, un débit descendant de 8 Gbit/s et un débit montant de 2 Gbit/s. C'est la première fois que la filiale d'Orange lance une offre sans téléphone fixe.
En 2026, le Wi-Fi 7 n’est plus une promesse marketing ni une technologie en cours de développement. La norme IEEE 802.11be existe depuis 2024, certifiée et progressivement déployée sur les équipements grand public comme professionnels. Mais au-delà des effets d’annonce, que vaut vraiment le Wi-Fi 7 aujourd’hui ? Est-il pertinent de s’équiper ? Et surtout, quels bénéfices concrets peut-on en attendre ?
Le Wi-Fi 7 repose sur la norme IEEE 802.11be. De nombreux appareils affichent leur compatible avec le Wi-Fi 7 : routeurs, téléphones, ordinateurs, cartes réseau… facilitant l’adoption progressive.
Contrairement aux générations précédentes, le Wi-Fi 7 ne se limite pas à une augmentation brute des débits. Il introduit des optimisations profondes au niveau de la couche physique et de la gestion du spectre… afin d’améliorer les performances, la latence et la fiabilité.
Sur le papier, le Wi-Fi 7 affiche des débits théoriques jusqu’à 46 Gb/s, contre 9,6 Gb/s pour le Wi-Fi 6. Cette hausse repose sur plusieurs innovations clés :
À noter : les canaux 320 MHz et la modulation 4096-QAM nécessitent des conditions idéales (signal fort, faible distance) et ne sont pas supportés par tous les téléphones du marché. Certains restent limités à 160 MHz et un MIMO 2×2 pour des contraintes physiques d’antenne.
Résultat :
Ces améliorations sont visibles dans les environnements avec de nombreux appareils connectés, les zones d’habitations denses… ou encore les environnements professionnels.
La principale innovation du Wi-Fi 7 est le Multi-Link Operation (MLO). Cette technologie permet à un appareil d’utiliser simultanément plusieurs bandes de fréquence et canaux. En pratique, cela signifie :
Contrairement aux générations précédentes, où les appareils basculaient d’une bande à l’autre, le MLO permet une utilisation parallèle. La promesse est belle… mais en pratique, le support du MLO reste encore inégal sur les routeurs grand public. Pour le moment, la plupart des appareils mobiles ne l’activent pas pour préserver leur autonomie.
Voici un rapide tableau pour comprendre les différences :
| Caractéristiques | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax étendu) |
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Année de la norme | 2019 | 2020 | 2024 |
| Bandes de fréquences | 2,4 / 5 GHz | 2,4 / 5 / 6 GHz | 2,4 / 5 / 6 GHz |
| Largeur de canal max | 160 MHz | 160 MHz | 320 MHz (6 GHz) |
| Modulation | 1024-QAM | 1024-QAM | 4096-QAM (4K-QAM) |
| MIMO (Entrées-Sorties Multiples) | MU-MIMO | MU-MIMO | MU-MIMO + améliorations |
| OFDMA | Oui | Oui | Oui (plus efficace) |
| Multi-Link Operation (MLO) | |
|
Oui |
| Latence | Réduite | Réduite | Faible (MLO, suivant l’équipement) |
| Débit théorique max | 9,6 Gb/s | 9,6 Gb/s | 46 Gb/s |
| Débit réel attendu | 1 Gb/s | 1,5 à 2 Gb/s | 2 à 5 Gb/s |
| Gestion des interférences | Bonne | Très bonne (6 GHz) |
Excellente |
| Usage cible | Grand public | Environnements denses | Usages intensifs / temps réel |
Le Wi-Fi 7 prend tout son sens avec l’évolution des usages, de plus en plus exigeants :
Des entreprises comme Microsoft ou NVIDIA développent déjà des services qui tirent parti de ces nouvelles capacités réseau.
Les routeurs Wi-Fi 7 sont désormais disponibles chez la plupart des fabricants. Les Box opérateurs (FAI) compatibles sont déjà en cours de déploiement. Comme indiqué précédemment, de plus en plus de téléphones haut de gamme sont déjà compatibles, comme les PC récents.
Le passage au Wi-Fi 7 dépend de votre usage. Si vous disposez d’une connexion fibre (rapide) à la maison et que vous avez des appareils compatibles, vous êtes clairement dans la cible. Si en plus vous utilisez des services exigeants, vous devez sérieusement y penser.
Par contre, si votre usage est limité et que vous êtes déjà en Wi-Fi 6 (voire Wi-Fi 6e), la question peut se poser… mais sincèrement, vous avez encore le temps. Il y aura un gain, mais pas forcément perceptible au quotidien.
Il faut également garder en tête que si votre besoin est la bande 6 GHz et ses avantages en termes de congestion, le Wi-Fi 6E y répond déjà très bien pour un coût souvent inférieur.
Le Wi-Fi 7 représente une belle avancée dans l’évolution des réseaux sans fil. Grâce à plusieurs innovations comme le MLO, la modulation 4K-QAM ou le 320 MHz, il ne se contente pas d’accélérer les débits… il améliore profondément l’expérience réseau.
En 2026, il devient un choix pertinent pour les utilisateurs exigeants et les environnements connectés. Pour les autres, le Wi-Fi 6 reste une solution largement suffisante.
Et vous, avez-vous sauté le pas ? N’hésitez pas à laisser un commentaire…
On January 6, 2026, day 1 of CES 2026, Gl.iNet is highlighting the Beryl 7 (GL-MT3600BE) as an upcoming travel router positioned below the company’s more premium Slate 7 in the same Wi-Fi 7 travel category. The device is being presented as a successor direction to the earlier Beryl AX generation, with Gl.iNet focusing its messaging on VPN throughput, portable use, and the practical ports and power features that matter when the router is used on the road. Pricing and a firm release date have not been included in the information shared so far.
In its CES materials, Gl.iNet describes Beryl 7 as a compact, dual-band Wi-Fi 7 model aimed at users who want higher encrypted throughput without stepping up to a larger, more feature-heavy travel router. Key claims include up to 1100Mbps on OpenVPN-DCO and WireGuard, dual 2.5G Ethernet capability, and support for 120+ connected devices, alongside USB Power Delivery compatibility and a 5V/2A power output intended to integrate cleanly with uFi and MiFi devices for primary or backup WAN use.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product name | Gl.iNet Beryl 7 |
| Model | GL-MT3600BE |
| Wi-Fi | Dual-band Wi-Fi 7 |
| Frequency | 2.4GHz, 5GHz |
| Wi-Fi speeds | 688Mbps (2.4GHz), 2882Mbps (5GHz) |
| Wireless protocols | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be |
| CPU | MediaTek, quad-core @ 2.0GHz |
| Memory | 512MB DDR4 |
| Flash | 512MB NAND |
| VPN performance claim | Up to 1100Mbps on OpenVPN-DCO and WireGuard |
| Ethernet | 1x WAN, 1x LAN |
| Ethernet speed | 100/1000/2500Mbps |
| USB | 1x USB 3.0 |
| Power input | USB PD 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/2.5A |
| Power consumption | <12W |
| Power output | 5V/2A |
| Dimensions / weight | 120 x 83 x 34mm / 205g |
| Operating temperature | 0C to 40C |
| Built-in battery | None (USB-C powered) |
| SIM / eSIM | None (no SIM or eSIM Support) |
The Beryl 7 measures at 120 x 83 x 34mm and 205 grams, placing it in the small-router class rather than the pocket-hotspot style. Compared with battery-powered travel routers, the added thickness is consistent with a design that prioritizes full-size ports and airflow while still staying compact enough for a backpack or a small tech pouch. Gl.iNet also lists an operating temperature range of 0C to 40C, which sets basic expectations for typical indoor and travel use, even though performance under sustained load will still depend on ventilation and ambient conditions.
Unlike cellular travel routers, the Beryl 7 is designed to be powered externally rather than running from an internal battery, so it is closer in use to a small plug-in router than a self-contained hotspot. It takes USB-C power via USB Power Delivery and is specified for 5V/3A, 9V/3A, or 12V/2.5A input, which keeps powering simple with common phone and laptop adapters and most power banks that support PD. Gl.iNet also lists a 5V/2A power output, intended to pair with uFi and MiFi devices when you want the router to sit in front of a separate upstream connection and keep that upstream device powered from the same setup.
The Beryl 7 is a dual-band Wi-Fi travel router rather than a cellular router. It does not include a SIM slot or eSIM support, which means it is not designed to connect directly to a carrier network on its own. In practice, internet access is expected to come from an upstream source such as a wired connection, USB tethering, or an external hotspot or modem that provides the WAN link. This approach matches travel setups where the router’s job is to manage your local network and security policies, while a separate device handles mobile connectivity when needed.
On the wireless side, the Beryl 7 supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be and operates on 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The published maximum rates are 688Mbps on 2.4GHz and 2882Mbps on 5GHz, which sets its theoretical peak figures for those bands. Because there is no 6GHz band listed, it will not have access to the cleaner spectrum that some tri-band Wi-Fi 7 routers use to reduce congestion in dense environments. Real-world performance will still depend heavily on client device capability, channel conditions, and how crowded the local RF environment is, especially in hotels, apartments, or event venues.
For wired networking, the Beryl 7 includes 1x WAN and 1x LAN, with both ports rated at 100/1000/2500Mbps. Having 2.5Gbps capability on both sides can matter if you are connecting to faster-than-gigabit service, or if you want to avoid bottlenecking a wired client such as a laptop dock, mini PC, or NAS while the router is also handling wireless clients. The dedicated WAN and LAN labeling also suggests a straightforward topology for travel use, where the router can sit between a wired uplink and your personal devices without requiring additional switches. Specific options like port re-assignment or multi-WAN behavior are still dependent on the final firmware feature set.
For tethering and peripherals, the router includes 1 USB 3.0 port. Gl.iNet’s positioning also references pairing it with uFi and MiFi devices for primary or backup WAN use, which aligns with common travel workflows where a hotspot provides the upstream connection and the router distributes it to multiple devices. Depending on software support, USB can also be relevant for other functions such as attaching storage for basic file sharing, but those capabilities are not confirmed solely by the presence of the port. The practical takeaway is that the Beryl 7’s connectivity design focuses on managing and distributing an external internet source rather than replacing that source with built-in cellular hardware.
The Beryl 7 is specified with a MediaTek quad-core CPU clocked at 2.0GHz. Gl.iNet has not stated the exact chipset model in the material provided, so it is difficult to compare directly against specific MediaTek families used in other routers, but the listed clock speed and core count indicate it is intended to handle routing and VPN workloads beyond basic hotspot sharing. How that translates in practice will depend on the final firmware feature mix and how much processing overhead is added by enabled services. Memory is listed as 512MB of DDR4. That capacity is typically sufficient for a travel router doing standard routing, firewalling, and VPN duties, but it can become a limiting factor if heavy logging, multiple concurrent services, or more advanced packages are enabled. In practical use, headroom will depend on how Gl.iNet tunes the stock firmware and whether the router is expected to run additional features beyond its default configuration. Storage is specified as 512MB of NAND flash. This is a smaller onboard footprint than some higher-end travel routers that use multi-gigabyte eMMC, and it generally implies a tighter space budget for the base firmware image, installed packages, and retained logs. It also means features that rely on persistent local storage may be more constrained unless Gl.iNet provides options to offload data to external storage via USB.
Gl.iNet is presenting the Beryl 7 as part of its travel router lineup, which typically uses the company’s GL.iNet firmware with a web-based management interface. That software approach tends to balance simplified setup for common tasks with access to more detailed configuration when needed, which is relevant for travel scenarios where you may want quick changes without digging through advanced menus.
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For this model in particular, VPN is the main emphasis in Gl.iNet’s CES messaging. The company is making a specific performance claim of up to 1100Mbps on OpenVPN-DCO and WireGuard, positioning encrypted throughput as a headline reason to choose the Beryl 7 over older Beryl models or lower-end travel routers. Actual results will still depend on factors such as upstream bandwidth, server performance, encryption settings, and network conditions.
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Gl.iNet also highlights Amnezia VPN support as part of the Beryl 7’s privacy and censorship-bypass positioning. That places the router within the company’s broader direction of expanding VPN tooling and privacy-related options across its travel lineup, though the exact implementation details for the Beryl 7 will come down to the shipping firmware and how features are exposed in the final interface.
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Beyond VPN-related claims, Gl.iNet has not published a complete, model-specific list of software functions for the Beryl 7. Features that appear across other Gl.iNet travel routers, such as traffic controls, DNS and filtering options, remote access services, and package-style add-ons, may be present, but they are not confirmed by the hardware spec sheet alone. For ownership considerations, the missing pieces remain the update cadence, support window, and any limitations imposed by the device’s relatively small flash storage.
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As presented on day 1 of CES 2026, the Beryl 7 (GL-MT3600BE) is positioned as a more affordable Wi-Fi 7 travel router option that sits below the Slate 7 in capability and likely in price, while serving as the next step after the Beryl AX generation. Its core proposition is a compact, USB-C powered router that focuses on high VPN throughput, dual-band Wi-Fi, and practical wired networking for travel setups. The specification sheet outlines a MediaTek quad-core 2.0GHz platform with 512MB DDR4 and 512MB NAND, paired with 2.5Gbps-capable WAN and LAN ports, plus a USB 3.0 port. It does not include an internal battery and it has no SIM or eSIM support, which means it is designed to sit behind an external internet source such as hotel Ethernet, phone tethering, or a dedicated hotspot. Power is handled through USB Power Delivery, and Gl.iNet also lists a 5V/2A output intended to keep an upstream mobile device powered in a single-cable travel arrangement.
The remaining unknowns are mostly around launch details and how the final firmware is packaged for a device with limited flash storage. Gl.iNet has not published pricing or a release date, and it has not provided a full, model-specific breakdown of software features beyond its VPN and privacy positioning. Those details will likely matter most to buyers deciding between the Beryl 7 and higher-end travel routers, especially if they plan to rely on add-on services, extensive logging, or other features that place more demand on storage and memory.
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