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logicpro7

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 25, 2006
726
2
London UK
Is there a wifi speed limit on the iPhone 5?

Speedtest results in the same location and time return...

i5 - 20mbps down / 9mbps up
Mbp - 38mbps down / 9mbps up
 

cruzmisl

macrumors regular
Nov 10, 2012
229
24
I've seen larger numbers over LTE on an iPhone 5 speedtest result, so the maximum speed is whats supported by its hardware.

How many times have you done the test on both? You will get different results each time.
 

wxman2003

Suspended
Apr 12, 2011
2,580
294
Is there a wifi speed limit on the iPhone 5?

Speedtest results in the same location and time return...

i5 - 20mbps down / 9mbps up
Mbp - 38mbps down / 9mbps up

Try changing servers. Oddly, on my iMac I get 58 Mbs DL speeds on wifi while my iPhone got 25 Mbs. I switched servers on my iPhone app and get 50 Mbs DL. Those speed apps are only as good as the servers you are using. Plus, you computer uses a full web site version, while your phone is using a mobile version. Plus your router can also distinguish between a computer and mobile device and that could affect your speeds too.
 

logicpro7

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Sep 25, 2006
726
2
London UK
I've seen larger numbers over LTE on an iPhone 5 speedtest result, so the maximum speed is whats supported by its hardware.

How many times have you done the test on both? You will get different results each time.

I have done tests over the last few days and the results do vary but not by much.

----------

Try changing servers. Oddly, on my iMac I get 58 Mbs DL speeds on wifi while my iPhone got 25 Mbs. I switched servers on my iPhone app and get 50 Mbs DL. Those speed apps are only as good as the servers you are using. Plus, you computer uses a full web site version, while your phone is using a mobile version. Plus your router can also distinguish between a computer and mobile device and that could affect your speeds too.

Thanks for the info. I will try a different server.

Looks like the mbp speed test is correct as that is the same speed that the fibre bband engineer confirmed at installation.
 

schmitt

macrumors newbie
Apr 26, 2010
16
0
I found the following info at:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/features/

"Next-generation cellular and wireless connectivity.

iPhone 5 supports more networks all over the world. That includes advanced networks such as HSPA, HSPA+, and DC-HSDPA. Browse, download, and stream content at ultrafast speeds. Dual-band 802.11n wireless connectivity accelerates your Wi-Fi experience, too — up to 150 Mbps."

Footnote: "3. Based on theoretical peak speeds. Actual speeds will be lower."

I hope this answers your question.

BTW: I get over 90 Mbps on my iPhone 5 and over 190 Mbps on my MacBook Air. I pay for a 150 Mbps connection.
 
Last edited:

KenAFSPC

macrumors 6502a
Sep 12, 2012
626
26
Is there a wifi speed limit on the iPhone 5?

Speedtest results in the same location and time return...

i5 - 20mbps down / 9mbps up
Mbp - 38mbps down / 9mbps up
The iPhone5 maxes out at around 92Mbps (the rest of the 150Mbps is error correction) with a 5ghz router. You need a router that provides a strong signal, because the antennas on the phone are a good deal smaller than those on a laptop.

Here is my iPhone5 result with Verizon FiOS and an Asus RT-N66U 802.11n router.

attachment.php
 

Furifo

macrumors 6502
Jun 1, 2010
277
7
I was also wondering this. I hit around 78 on my MBP but only around 41 on my iPhone 5. I haven't been able to get higher than that in either 2.4ghz or 5ghz mode, even with the phone right next to the router.
 

jonasdamn

macrumors 6502a
Mar 4, 2013
549
1
I was also wondering this. I hit around 78 on my MBP but only around 41 on my iPhone 5. I haven't been able to get higher than that in either 2.4ghz or 5ghz mode, even with the phone right next to the router.

I had old tp link router and within i have only reached max 40Mbps, with apple airport express i reached 68Mbps
 

Menel

Suspended
Aug 4, 2011
6,351
1,356
Is there a wifi speed limit on the iPhone 5?

Speedtest results in the same location and time return...

i5 - 20mbps down / 9mbps up
Mbp - 38mbps down / 9mbps up
You need a better or better configured router; and/or stand closer to it.

this:
The iPhone5 maxes out at around 92Mbps (the rest of the 150Mbps is error correction) with a 5ghz router. You need a router that provides a strong signal, because the antennas on the phone are a good deal smaller than those on a laptop.
 

Huracan

macrumors 6502
Jan 9, 2007
335
281
I only get about 81 or 82Mbps on an iPhone 5s on a 119Mbps Comcast connection, using the latest Airport Extreme. I can get 113Mbps with iMac consistently, using speedtest.net. I can get 105 or so with an iPhone 5. Not sure why the iPhone 5s consistently gets less speed. Perhaps differences in the Wi-Fi hardware, but it is hard to believe that. Antenna? I don't know what it is, but it is consistent (no matter how to position the phone related to the router, or holding, or not holding the phone, etc. using the same speedtest.net app in both phones, both phones running updated software, etc.). Tried multiple times, this is not a one time thing. This is perhaps either a hardware or driver issue.

Now, let me get into conspiracy theories, perhaps Apple is not offering over 100Mbps in their Apple Store Wi-Fi so people cannot easily notice these differences. It would be hard to believe they haven't seen this. This is using their own router.
 

Vangel

macrumors newbie
Oct 26, 2014
8
4
I have 100/100 Mbps bandwith but my router (Asus Rt N-16) goes only to 35/35 over Wi-Fi. On cable it's like 96/94.
 

Spacedust

macrumors 6502a
May 24, 2009
999
160
My tests on my 100M/4M home cable Internet and iPhone 5 and Apple Time Capsule 4th gen.

Via 2.4 GHz it's a bit slow:

10873533_1415311372092751_668005340958233652_o.jpg


Via 5 GHz it's almost max:

10286822_1415311375426084_7060861966027852448_o.jpg
 

PsyOpWarlord

macrumors 6502
Nov 11, 2010
334
26
Colorado Springs, CO
Also a factor when comparing 2.4Ghz vs 5Ghz is distance to the base station (5Ghz doesn't travel as far esp thru walls), and network congestion. A lot of people never look or realize that there could be a lot of other people hogging/clogging the airwaves.

Around my house there are a lot of people using the 2.4Ghz but only me and another are using the 5Ghz.

So check your WiFi congestion and possibly set your WiFi to a channel that doesn't look too filled with other networks.

Screen Shot 2014-12-27 at 4.34.33 AM.png
 
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