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sjinsjca

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Oct 30, 2008
2,239
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See the specs:

B17A55D6-AC8B-4384-8774-9F13601A5442.jpeg


it’s a first!
 
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This feature wasn't mentioned in the product announcement event.

There's likely a simple explanation for that: Apple Watch doesn't really gain substantial benefit from 5GHz WiFi connectivity.

5GHz can provide more bandwidth but does so at shorter range than 2.4GHz connections. However it's not like the Watch is streaming 4K@60Hz video via WiFi.

Having access to the 5GHz spectrum might reduce some interference issues compared to the overcrowded 2.4GHz spectrum (which often receives additional problems from microwave ovens, fluorescent lighting and devices that typically need longer range like baby video monitors) but it is unlikely that 5GHz is a game changer for a relatively low bandwidth and low-power device like the Apple Watch, especially the LTE models.
 
5GHz support is literally the only feature of the Series 6 that intrests me.

2.4GHz is *useless* in my condo due to interference from the 20+ networks I see around me, and I've noticed some background connectivity doesn't automatically happen unless the watch is communicating on wifi.

It's not enough to justify replacing my Series 4 though, unfortunate it's not in the SE.
 
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This feature wasn't mentioned in the product announcement event.

There's likely a simple explanation for that: Apple Watch doesn't really gain substantial benefit from 5GHz WiFi connectivity.

5GHz can provide more bandwidth but does so at shorter range than 2.4GHz connections. However it's not like the Watch is streaming 4K@60Hz video via WiFi.

Having access to the 5GHz spectrum might reduce some interference issues compared to the overcrowded 2.4GHz spectrum (which often receives additional problems from microwave ovens, fluorescent lighting and devices that typically need longer range like baby video monitors) but it is unlikely that 5GHz is a game changer for a relatively low bandwidth and low-power device like the Apple Watch, especially the LTE models.
It was on the product slide at the presentation:

Also nice not having to 2.4GHz WiFi running just for AW. More than once I have heard people not understanding why the watch was not able to connect to their home network, even though it worked on iPhone.

In my case I have some other home devices which also only support 2.4GHz, so I need it running anyway.
f1600190414.jpg
 
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