Intel to Introduce Wi-Fi 7 in 2024 as Apple Plans Imminent Move to Wi-Fi 6E

[MacRumors]

Intel is planning to install its next-generation Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) technology in devices by 2024, ETNews reports.

Wi-Fi 7 is the successor to Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), bringing two times faster data processing speeds of 5.8 Gbps and more stable 6 GHz bandwidth stability, as well as support for up to 36 Gbps when working with data. Intel plans to expand its Wi-Fi 7 development efforts ahead of its introduction to the market in 2024 and intends to apply its technology predominantly in laptops before expanding to other devices.

"We are currently developing Intel's Wi-Fi '802.11be' in order to obtain the 'Wi-Fi Alliance' certification, and it will be installed in PC products such as laptops by 2024. We expect it to appear in major markets in 2025," Eric McLaughlin, vice president of Intel's wireless solutions division, said at a recent press conference in Asia.

"Wi-Fi 7 almost doubles the frequency bandwidth of 802.11ax (170 MHz) to 320 MHz and doubles the speed of Wi-Fi. Since there is more than a year left before the release of 802.11be, there is still a chance that we could improve the processing speed even further," he added.

Meanwhile, Apple is on the cusp of transitioning its devices to Wi-Fi 6E. While it was heavily rumored to debut with the iPhone 13 lineup last year, Apple has yet to release any devices with support for Wi-Fi 6E. That is expected to change this year starting with the iPhone 14.

Apple's long-rumored mixed-reality headset is also expected to feature Wi-Fi 6E. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that head-mounted display devices in 2022, 2023, and 2024 will offer Wi-Fi 6/6E, Wi-Fi 6E/7, and Wi-Fi 7, respectively, but it is unclear if this information was related to Apple's product roadmap specifically.

Wi-Fi 6E offers the features and capabilities of Wi-Fi 6, including higher performance, lower latency, and faster data rates, extended into the 6 GHz band for processing speeds of 2.4 Gbps. The additional spectrum provides more airspace beyond existing 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, resulting in increased bandwidth and less interference.

Last year, the FCC adopted rules that make 1,200 MHz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band available for unlicensed use in the United States, paving the way for the introduction of new devices with Wi-Fi 6E support.

Along with Intel, Qualcomm, Broadcom, and MediaTek are also preparing to release Wi-Fi 7-based products.

Article Link: Intel to Introduce Wi-Fi 7 in 2024 as Apple Plans Imminent Move to Wi-Fi 6E

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

i wonder if the mbp m2 will support 6e,or at the very least 3*3 mimo.

 

[Andrew73875]

It's time for Apple to release new AirPorts with WiFi 7 support 😉

 

[hcherry]

Is it just me, or are the sizes/shapes of these routers getting a tad out of hand?

 

[JippaLippa]

It's time for Apple to release new AirPorts with WiFi 7 support 😉

That's too short. I'd expect a design at least twice as tall.

 

[singularity0993]

I choose ethernet. Always superior stability & speed.

 

[RogerWilco]

Is it just me, or are the sizes/shapes of these routers getting a tad out of hand?

Yeah, lol, the design looks like Darth Vader’s golf cart.

 

[blazerunner]

It's time for Apple to release new AirPorts with WiFi 7 support 😉

Why did Apple stop making routers anyway? Theirs were legitimately great for home use, the only (though major) drawback was the incredibly slow transfer speeds of connected hard drives via USB as well as their Time Capsule routers with a built in drive.

 

[mrr]

Apple has been slow with Wi-Fi 6.

 

[6787872]

apple. always behind.

 

[6787872]

Is it just me, or are the sizes/shapes of these routers getting a tad out of hand?

have you seen modern gaming routers? like a UFO contraption

 

[Andrew73875]

Yeah, lol, the design looks like Darth Vader’s golf cart.

 

[JustSomebody12]

I wonder if it will only be WiFi 6E, or it will be WiFi 6 wave 2.

Anyway the problem isn't the clients, it is the APs (and the household mean speeds).

 

[FNH15]

Why did Apple stop making routers anyway? Theirs were legitimately great for home use, the only (though major) drawback was the incredibly slow transfer speeds of connected hard drives via USB as well as their Time Capsule routers with a built in drive.

Surprised they didn’t reintroduce them with iOS 8 and HomeKit.

Have a fleet (5) of these in a wired mesh config at my parent’s place. Amazing reliability, only failure in 7 years is a fan failing on a 2015-era unit. Solid hardware indeed.

 

[jimmirehman]

It's time for Apple to release new AirPorts with WiFi 7 support 😉

For the love of everything wireless, PLEASE APPLE step back into the router game!

Mesh Extreme unit
Mesh Express extenders
HomeKit hub
HomePod built in
Hey Siri

 

[RogerWilco]

Why did Apple stop making routers anyway? Theirs were legitimately great for home use, the only (though major) drawback was the incredibly slow transfer speeds of connected hard drives via USB as well as their Time Capsule routers with a built in drive.

If you look at the guts of their router gear (all of mine failed from overheating) it seems to me that they were used to develop and perfect the manufacturing technologies that Apple uses today in iOS devices. Circuit boards with ridiculous numbers of layers, almost microscopic surface mount components, and multiple RF-shielded SOC packages. Apple likely never made a dime of profit on router gear, but they learned how to design and manufacture state of the art SOCs and circuit boards for phones with multiple radios and antennas.

 

[opeter]

Is it just me, or are the sizes/shapes of these routers getting a tad out of hand?

So you didn't see the GUNDAM-themed router from ASUS yet?

RT-AX82U GUNDAM EDITIONï½WiFi Routersï½ASUS Global

WiFi 6 Gaming Router, PS5 compatible, Free Internet Security, Mesh WiFi support, 2.5G Port, Gaming Port, Adaptive QoS, Port Forwarding, NAT setting, 802.11ax

www.asus.com

But hold on! There is a whole series... 😮😄

And here is the black version AX5400 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router (RT-AX82U) with Gundam Tumbler:

Oh and what about the ASUS ROG wireless AX11000 tri-band Wi-Fi 6 gaming router?

For inspiration:

 

[reallynotnick]

Is Wi-Fi 7 just going to use double the bandwidth of Wi-Fi 6E, no other speed improvements?

 

[Somian]

Why did Apple stop making routers anyway? Theirs were legitimately great for home use, the only (though major) drawback was the incredibly slow transfer speeds of connected hard drives via USB as well as their Time Capsule routers with a built in drive.

No idea.

I have a Time Capsule and an airport extreme in my house and I’m not switching. I have this router from my ISP (Frontier) here but only using it as a modem, essentially.

Time Capsules are just so much easier to configure and create extensions with. Also, third party devices kept giving me the “we need to erase all your backups now” error when using time machine.

 

[jezbd1997]

I choose ethernet. Always superior stability & speed.

can’t use ethernet on most devices nowadays. it’s all mobile

 

[Eorlas]

Is it just me, or are the sizes/shapes of these routers getting a tad out of hand?

no. there's a market for everyone. if people don't like the way some of the fancy routers look, stop wasting time and seek out wifi 6 / 6e routers & mesh solutions that are tame, elegant boxes. they exist.

 

[Rychiar]

meh Wi-Fi 5 still going strong here. I have no interest in screwing up my HomeKit setup with a router switch lol

 

[Eorlas]

can’t use ethernet on most devices nowadays. it’s all mobile

???

ethernet dongles exist and function on just about anything.

many non-apple laptops are still shipping with ethernet ports.

all desktop motherboards are definitely shipping with ethernet ports.

"most" is absolutely not true. and "it's all mobile" is factually incorrect.

 

[centauratlas]

I choose ethernet. Always superior stability & speed.

I like ethernet too and ran it around the house inside the walls shortly after we moved in.

On a related note with regard to the VR stuff (not to mention AirPod type things), one thing that concerns me is having a radio transmitter/receiver right next to your brain for long periods. Given the inverse square law, even a low power transmitter being quite close to your brain will expose you to something. While no ionizing radiation is emitted, there may be other vectors for damage. This is one area where I'd prefer to be the control group. Of course ethernet to a VR device etc isn't practical.

 

[Student of Life]

I would gladly pay for some new Apple Airports. They are still kicking strong today but eventually will need to get replaced.

I still cant understand why they stopped making them. It works perfect with the whole it just works mantra. The integration would be second to none. If Apple is serious about some VR stuff they should be looking at one of the main bottleneck issues which is internet connection.