Wifi 101

The term "WiFi 101" refers to two main contexts: a retired hardware product line and an ongoing educational framework for networking basics. TeigfamZyxel

1. Product Context: Retired Hardware

Historically, "WiFi 101" was synonymous with the Arduino WiFi 101 Shield (based on the Atmel WINC1500 chip). However, this product is now officially retired and discontinued. Arduino

* Modern Replacement: The industry has shifted to ESP32-based hardware. The Arduino UNO R4 WiFi (with integrated ESP32-S3) is the primary successor, offering higher performance and built-in Bluetooth 5.0. Arduino

* Educational Purpose: Brands like Zyxel and STL Tech use "WiFi 101" as a title for introductory guides explaining radio waves, signal throughput, and the transition from WiFi 4 to WiFi 6/6E. StlZyxel

2. 2026 Market Trends & Insights

The market for WiFi and related consumer electronics is moving toward higher integration and intelligent connectivity:

* WiFi 6 & 5G Convergence: WiFi 6 is increasingly acting as the local area network (RAN) for 5G architectures, enabling seamless connectivity for high-density IoT environments. StlUmich

* Ambient AI & Robotics: By 2026, AI is expected to move from a feature to an integrated core, powering home robots (like LG’s CLOiD) and RGB TV processing. MashableSourceready

* Hardware Innovation: Trends point toward the mainstreaming of Tri-Fold smartphones and Smart Glasses with built-in displays, requiring low-latency WiFi standards. Mashable

I have identified the most relevant B2B hardware options that match the modern successor categories (ESP32 and advanced routers) in the attached files.