Presence Tech Showdown: Wi‑Fi Sensing vs. UWB vs. Soli Radar – Who Will Own the Future?
Wi‑Fi Sensing (IEEE 802.11bf) repurposes 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz Wi‑Fi signals to detect movement across a typical home, offering tens of meters of range, millisecond‑level latency, and energy‑efficient operation by piggybacking on existing routers. Ultra‑Wideband (UWB; IEEE 802.15.4z) uses ultra‑wide pulses around 6–8 GHz to measure time‑of‑flight with centimeter‑level accuracy, typically 10–15 meters of range, and newer Apple U2 chips extend reliable range toward 60 meters. 60 GHz mmWave radar like Google Soli provides high spatial resolution, detects sub‑millimeter motions within about 5–10 meters, and can distinguish fine gestures with a 120° field of view. IEEE 802.11bf
