ZigBee and WiFi do have many differences, but each has its own unique advantages. They also have their own prospects for future development.

ZigBee and WiFi differ in communication standards and features. ZigBee is mainly suitable for low-speed, low-power wireless sensor networks. Although its transmission rate is not high (usually between 20 and 250 kbps), its power consumption is very low, so battery-powered devices can be used continuously for a long time, sometimes even for months. In addition, ZigBee also has the characteristics of low cost, low latency and short-distance transmission. It has a fast response speed, and it only takes 15ms to switch from sleep state to working state.

ZigBee Features:

1. Low power consumption

ZigBee has a low transmission rate, a transmission power of only 1mW, and uses a sleep mode with low power consumption, so ZigBee devices are very energy-saving. It is estimated that a ZigBee device can last for 6 months to 2 years with only two AA batteries, which is far beyond the reach of other wireless devices.

2. Low cost

The initial cost of a ZigBee module is about $6, and it is estimated that it will soon drop to $1.5-2.5, and the ZigBee protocol is free of patent fees. Low cost is also a key factor for ZigBee.

3. Short delay

The communication delay and the delay of activating from the dormant state are very short. The typical search device delay is 30ms, the delay of dormant activation is 15ms, and the delay of active device channel access is 15ms. Therefore, ZigBee technology is suitable for wireless control applications with strict requirements on delay (such as industrial control occasions, etc.).

4. Large network capacity

A star-structured ZigBee network can accommodate up to 254 slave devices and 1 master device. A maximum of 100 ZigBee networks can exist simultaneously in one area, and the network composition is flexible.

5. Reliability

A collision avoidance strategy is adopted, and dedicated time slots are reserved for communication services that require fixed bandwidth, avoiding competition and conflicts in sending data. The MAC layer adopts a fully confirmed data transmission mode, and each data packet sent must wait for the receiver's confirmation information. If there is a problem during the transmission process, it can be resent.

6. Security

ZigBee provides a data packet integrity check function based on a cyclic redundancy check (CRC), supports authentication and authorization, and uses the AES-128 encryption algorithm. Each application can flexibly determine its security attributes.

WiFi is a high-speed wireless LAN technology, with a transmission speed of 11Mbps or even higher, and a relatively wide coverage range, usually up to about 100 meters. WiFi is widely used in homes and offices, providing people with convenient wireless network access services. Simply put, Wifi (Wireless Fidelity) is a network transmission standard. With the popularization of network applications, it has brought great convenience to people and has therefore been widely used. Wifi makes it possible for us to access the Internet anytime, anywhere.

Wi-Fi Characteristics:

1.Radio wave coverage is wide

WiFi has a radius of 100 meters , which is suitable for use on unit floors and inside offices . Bluetooth technology can only cover within 15 meters.

2. Fast speed

High reliability The 802.11b wireless network specification is a variant of the IEEE802.11 network specification . The maximum bandwidth is 11Mbps. When the signal is interfered or weak, the bandwidth can be adjusted to 1Mbps, 5.5Mbps and 2Mbps . The bandwidth is automatically adjusted to effectively ensure the reliability and stability of the network.

3. No need for wiring

The main advantage of WiFi is that it does not require wiring and is not restricted by wiring conditions. Therefore, it is very suitable for the needs of mobile office users and has a broad market prospect. Nowadays, WiFi has expanded from special industries such as inventory control, traditional health care and management services to a wider range of industries, and even began to enter educational institutions and families. 

In terms of advantages, ZigBee, due to its low power consumption and low cost, is particularly suitable for application scenarios that require long-term operation and do not require high data transmission rates, such as industrial control, environmental monitoring, smart home control, etc. WiFi, on the other hand, has the advantages of high speed and wide coverage, meeting people's needs for high-speed network access, especially playing an important role in mobile office and entertainment.

Regarding their future development, with the continuous development and popularization of IoT technology, both ZigBee and WiFi are expected to continue to expand their applications in their respective fields. ZigBee may pay more attention to energy consumption optimization, security and privacy protection, and standardization and interoperability to better meet the needs of IoT devices. WiFi may further improve its transmission speed and coverage, while strengthening its application in the commercial field, such as IoT device access, public safety and emergency response, and industry customization needs.