iPhone 16 Pro Don't buy wifi7 router

[macfacts]

According to the story at wccftech, the new iphones don't take full advantage of wifi7, so it isn't worth it to buy a new router.

iPhone 16 Promises Blazing Fast WiFi 7 Speeds But A Hidden 160 MHz Limitation Is Secretly Keeping Performance Stuck At WiFi 6E Levels

The WiFi 7 speeds on the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models is on par with WiFi 6E from last year, as Apple has secretly capped the functionality.

wccftech.com

 

[dave006]

According to the story at wccftech, the new iphones don't take full advantage of wifi7, so it isn't worth it to buy a new router.

Yea it looks like they chose a bad Wi-Fi 7 third-party router. Here are a couple of posts related to Wi-Fi 7 from @jphall

Check out this post: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread....2435483/page-242?post=33443950#post-33443950

Or this post: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread....2435483/page-234?post=33429520#post-33429520

Dave

 

[Lobwedgephil]

I already had the Wifi 7 router, I get a pretty good performance boost on the 16 Pro Max, but probably not noticeable in day to day usage. My 2 gig connection would max out on wifi around 1 gig down on the 15 PM, on the 16 PM I average 1.4-1.5 down, so pretty nice improvement.

 

[btrach144]

Yea it looks like they chose a bad Wi-Fi 7 third-party router. Here are a couple of posts related to Wi-Fi 7 from @jphall

Check out this post: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread....2435483/page-242?post=33443950#post-33443950

Or this post: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread....2435483/page-234?post=33429520#post-33429520

Dave

It’s been confirmed that Apple implemented a poor man’s version of WiFi 7. They’re only allowing 160mhz and not the full 320mhz.

Performance is roughly that of last year.

 

[Reverend Benny]

Get a cheaper 6 or 6E router instead and upgrade when prices come down or the router doesn't get more updates (happens fairly quick for some brands).

 

[dave006]

It’s been confirmed that Apple implemented a poor man’s version of WiFi 7. They’re only allowing 160mhz and not the full 320mhz.

No need to confirm what Apple freely published in this support document.

Wi-Fi specifications for Apple devices

Learn about Wi-Fi specifications for Apple devices.

support.apple.com

Performance is roughly that of last year.

Not exactly but you do you, Do you have a Wi-Fi 7 router and if so which one? Do you have a Fiber connection of 2 Gbps or higher to take advantage of a 320 MHz wide Wi-Fi 7 connection.

I don't find that 1.4 Gbps (iPhone 15 Pro) is equal to 1.9 Gbps (iPhone 16 Pro) in real world testing. I find it funny since most CDN servers limit your connection below 1 Gbps anyway.

Dave

 

[Total Respray]

No need to confirm what Apple freely published in this support document.

Wi-Fi specifications for Apple devices

Learn about Wi-Fi specifications for Apple devices.

support.apple.com

The Apple support document referred to does not mention either the iPhone 16 or WiFi 7.

 

[dave006]

The Apple support document referred to does not mention either the iPhone 16 or WiFi 7.

Hmm it shows me the following paragraph example which clearly shows the iPhone 16 modes and Wi-Fi 7 as shown in bold...

Wi-Fi specifications for all iPhone 16 models are detailed in the table below. All iPhone 16 models support Wi-Fi 7 in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands and Multi-Link Operation (MLO).

Here is the link yet again. Yes I clicked on it again right from my post...

https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/wi-fi-specifications-for-apple-devices-dep268652e6c/web

Or maybe a screenshot will help you out.

Dave

 

[egraphixstudios]

Upgraded my home Cisco AP's ( 8 years old) to Ubiquiti u7 pro max ap's and worlds difference. I get max 1gbps on wifi 7 as thats my internet speed

 

[kitKAC]

Hmm it shows me the following paragraph example which clearly shows the iPhone 16 modes and Wi-Fi 7 as shown in bold...

Wi-Fi specifications for all iPhone 16 models are detailed in the table below. All iPhone 16 models support Wi-Fi 7 in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands and Multi-Link Operation (MLO).

Here is the link yet again. Yes I clicked on it again right from my post...

https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/wi-fi-specifications-for-apple-devices-dep268652e6c/web

Or maybe a screenshot will help you out.

View attachment 2429544


Dave

Weirdly, that link doesn't show any info for the 16 series for me either (yet).

 

[GuruGuy]

Shows for me
Wi-Fi specifications for all iPhone 16 models are detailed in the table below.

 

[Broken Hope]

No need to confirm what Apple freely published in this support document.

Wi-Fi specifications for Apple devices

Learn about Wi-Fi specifications for Apple devices.

support.apple.com

Not exactly but you do you, Do you have a Wi-Fi 7 router and if so which one? Do you have a Fiber connection of 2 Gbps or higher to take advantage of a 320 MHz wide Wi-Fi 7 connection.

I don't find that 1.4 Gbps (iPhone 15 Pro) is equal to 1.9 Gbps (iPhone 16 Pro) in real world testing. I find it funny since most CDN servers limit your connection below 1 Gbps anyway.

Dave

Your own table states the 16 series phones can’t use 320MHz channels so why mention it.

I have the ASU’s GT98 and get no faster speeds than I did on my 15 Pro.

 

[GuruGuy]

This part is confusing to me. Says it supports the 802.11be standard, but will join to 6e networks. Doesn’t join the be network? 6e is of course 160MHZ, not 320.

802.11 compatibility and frequency band: 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7), 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E), 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5), 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4), 802.11a, 802.11b/g and frequencies in the 6 GHz, 5 GHz, or 2.4 GHz bands dependent on the physical layer technology (PHY).

Apple platforms supporting Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 6E can join Wi-Fi 6E networks that are discoverable on 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz channels, and on 6 GHz Preferred Scanning Channels, where 6 GHz is allowed by regulatory domain.

 

[Total Respray]

Hmm it shows me the following paragraph example which clearly shows the iPhone 16 modes and Wi-Fi 7 as shown in bold...

Wi-Fi specifications for all iPhone 16 models are detailed in the table below. All iPhone 16 models support Wi-Fi 7 in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands and Multi-Link Operation (MLO).

Here is the link yet again. Yes I clicked on it again right from my post...

https://support.apple.com/guide/deployment/wi-fi-specifications-for-apple-devices-dep268652e6c/web

Or maybe a screenshot will help you out.

View attachment 2429544


Dave

Curious. This is what I get:

 

[nonns]

Yet another area where the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL has it beaten. Dx0 mark gave the not to the Google Pixel Pro camera as well over the iPhone 16 Pro Max. What has Apple been doing for the last year? This is the first time in donkeys years I'm simply not bothering to upgrade (I'll stick with my 15 Pro Max and my AWU2 bought last year. I was thinking of the black one but then I'd lose the Spo2 so again not worth the change just for the colour). Very disappointing. Perhaps they felt that people were so wedded to Apple they could get away with marketing over substance. I am even casting my eyes now towards the google pixel 3 watch or the Garmin Fenix 8.

 

[CatalinApple]

No need to confirm what Apple freely published in this support document.

Wi-Fi specifications for Apple devices

Learn about Wi-Fi specifications for Apple devices.

support.apple.com

Not exactly but you do you, Do you have a Wi-Fi 7 router and if so which one? Do you have a Fiber connection of 2 Gbps or higher to take advantage of a 320 MHz wide Wi-Fi 7 connection.

I don't find that 1.4 Gbps (iPhone 15 Pro) is equal to 1.9 Gbps (iPhone 16 Pro) in real world testing. I find it funny since most CDN servers limit your connection below 1 Gbps anyway.

Dave

Wifi 7 supports 320 MHz ultra-wide bandwidth. I don't see any mention of the 320 MHz ultra-wide bandwidth in the support document that Apple has published regarding the iPhone 16 models.
Does it mean that they used the draft from Wifi 7 before it was certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance?

The ultra-wide 320 MHz has a throughput that’s 4 times that of 80 MHz and 2 times that of 160 MHz. This means that WiFi 7 has doubled the transmission capacity of last-gen WiFi 6 and 6E technologies.

Second, the wider channel reduces delays and further improves the transmission rate. The maximum theoretical rate can even reach an outstanding 46 Gbps.

Third, 320 MHz channels are set on the more open 6 GHz band. This avoids the most common wireless transmission protocol bands, resulting in less interference to the signal.

 

[HouseLannister]

If you are upgrading a router, it should be for better traffic management and lower latency, not speed. No one should be buying new routers hoping for huge generational speed boosts.

 

[donawalt]

I have found WiFi 7 is a disappointment on the iPhone 16 Pro Max so far. I have a Netgear WiFi 7 capable router, I verify that the phone is connected at WiFi 7 (which shows as WiFi 5 + WiFi 6 combined), yet the speed is only about 10%-15% better than WiFi 6E speed. That's still worth something, but as others have said don't jump through hoops to buy a 7 router if you have no other reason to buy a router, you won't see much from the iPhone at least. Maybe this is something they fix in an update.

 

[dave006]

Curious. This is what I get:

If you only see the iPhone 15 and older models then you are looking at an old cached page. What web browser are you using?

Dave

 

[dave006]

I don't see any mention of the 320 MHz ultra-wide bandwidth in the support document that Apple has published regarding the iPhone 16 models.

And that was my exact point. Apple tells us exactly what they support and since there is no mention 320 MHz they don't support it today.

Dave

 

[dave006]

I have found WiFi 7 is a disappointment on the iPhone 16 Pro Max so far. I have a Netgear WiFi 7 capable router, I verify that the phone is connected at WiFi 7 (which shows as WiFi 5 + WiFi 6 combined), yet the speed is only about 10%-15% better than WiFi 6E speed.

Yes real world Wi-Fi speeds are never going to match "Lab" tests. There are just too many variables. Not sure why anyone needs a theoretical link speed of 46 Gbps when your Internet WAN speeds are always the limiting factor. It makes nice bragging rights but that's about it.

If someone wants to have a Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) I say go spend your money. This thread reminds me of the other thread where there is a discussion on the Subject of "Stop Purchasing and Returning iPhone".

Oh and with a theoretical link speed of 46 Gbps the actual data link will be at best 50% of the link speed.

Dave

 

[klasma]

Wifi 7 supports 320 MHz ultra-wide bandwidth. I don't see any mention of the 320 MHz ultra-wide bandwidth in the support document that Apple has published regarding the iPhone 16 models.
Does it mean they used the draft from Wifi 7 before it was certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance?

I believe that this is a USB 3.x type situation where not every Wifi 7 client should be expected to support the maximum features.

 

[Cobold]

I believe that this is a USB 3.x type situation where not every Wifi 7 client should be expected to support the maximum features.

This! And WiFi7 is much much more that just plain speed.
When it comes to a crowded WiFi environment with many foreign WiFi-networks overlapping or whenmany many clients are active at the same time, WiFi7 has huge advantages over WiFi6.

 

[CatalinApple]

I believe that this is a USB 3.x type situation where not every Wifi 7 client should be expected to support the maximum features.

That's disappointing, but that is just my opinion.

 

[klasma]

That's disappointing, but that is just my opinion.

Wifi 7 is a combination of many features, not all of which make sense for all devices, due to power usage, antenna requirements, achievable bandwidth within the device itself, etc. Many of the Wifi 7 properties also don’t primarily target the bandwidth of a single device, but are more about multiple devices playing more nicely together on the same AP or within the same mesh, resulting in reduced latency and higher combined bandwidth.