A router can advertise Wi-Fi 6E while an older laptop continues on 5 GHz without any fault. The “6” in Wi-Fi 6 and the “6 GHz” band are related concepts, but they are not interchangeable labels.
Both ends need compatible radios
Wi-Fi 6E extends compatible Wi-Fi devices into the 6 GHz band. The router or access point must support it, and so must the phone, tablet or computer. Check the exact model, not only the product family name. Regional availability and local rules also affect use of the band.
Apple’s current compatibility list, for example, includes specific recent models rather than every device sold under a familiar name. A device that lacks 6E can still use the router’s 2.4 or 5 GHz bands.
Network setup affects the result
Apple recommends one network name across the 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz bands for best compatibility with its devices. When names are separated, a device may warn about limited compatibility or offer the corresponding 5 GHz network.
Do not change every router setting solely to make a logo appear. Record the current configuration first and follow the router manufacturer’s guidance, especially on a shared or provider-managed network.
Verify the actual connection
Stand reasonably near the router, connect normally and inspect the device’s connection details if they show the band or channel. Repeat the check in the place where you actually work. Six-gigahertz signals can behave differently through walls, so falling back to another band can be the sensible connection.
A faster band also cannot make an internet plan or remote server faster than its own limit. Judge the result by a stable connection and the task you care about, not only by the generation printed on the box.