According to an Engadget analysis, Cat7 Ethernet cable looks like a clear upgrade over Cat6 on paper, with a 600 MHz frequency rating and extra shielding. But for most home networks, Cat6 remains the more sensible choice. Cat6 can handle gigabit Ethernet over a standard 100-meter channel and supports 10Gbps over shorter distances, which covers the needs of typical residential installations.
Cat7 was designed for 10 Gigabit Ethernet over 100 meters, but it was never recognized by TIA, and achieving its rated performance requires more than just plugging a labeled cable into standard RJ45 ports. The entire cabling channel, including GG45 or TERA connectors, must meet Class F specifications. In practice, the speed of a connection is limited by the hardware at both ends, so swapping in Cat7 will not make a 1Gbps router and PC communicate faster.
For homes planning for 10Gbps, the article points to Cat6A as a cleaner upgrade path. Cat6A is rated to 500 MHz and supports 10GBASE-T over the full 100-meter channel, with shielded versions available for noisy environments. Cat7 still has niche uses where Class F design or heavy shielding is required, but no IEEE Ethernet applications require Category 7 cabling.