M2 iPad Pro Supports Wi-Fi 6E for the First Time

[james2538]

Between every device announced today having USB-C and the iPad Pros getting WiFi 6E, it seems like the iPhone 15 Pro/Max next year are fur sure destined to receive both of these features.

Which will make it a Day 1 buy for me, first iPhone since the X that I've felt that way.

 

[alr94]

From 879€ to 1049€...nice. The 12.9 even higher increase. At this pace, many people, myself included, will have to reconsider Apple purchases.

 

[AppleFan1179]

And you have to buy a $9.00 adapter to use the older pencil with the new iPad.....wow

 

[Stratus Fear]

Wrong. The e in 6e stands for 6 Ghz support. It it is still based on the 80211.ax radio interface, but uses 6 GHz where available.

From a reputable router manufacturer TP-Link: https://www.tp-link.com/us/blog/86/what-s-the-difference-between-wifi-6-and-wifi-6e/#:~:text=What is WiFi 6E and,to the 6 GHz band.

In fact, WiFi 6E is identical to WiFi 6 with an addition of “E”, which stands for “Extended” — as in an extended number of the usable wireless band, the 6 GHz band. So simply put, WiFi 6E means WiFi 6 extended to the 6 GHz band.​

6 GHz is the new frequency band ranging from 5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz, allowing up to 1,200 MHz of additional spectrum. Unlike the existing bands on which channels are currently crammed into the limited spectrum, the 6 GHz band exists without overlap or interference. Access to the 6 GHz frequency brings more bandwidth, faster speeds, and lower latency, opening up resources for future innovations like AR/VR, 8K streaming, and more.​

People keep missing this for some reason. That and 6E isn't inherently faster than 6 (that's one I keep seeing a lot of misinformation about). 6E just makes it much easier to use 160MHz channels since the 6GHz band is so much larger than the 5GHz band (which you can fit only 2 or 3 160MHz channels, dependent on your region, and which is also sullied by DFS)

 

[falkon-engine]

People keep missing this for some reason. That and 6E isn't inherently faster than 6 (that's one I keep seeing a lot of misinformation about). 6E just makes it much easier to use 160MHz channels since the 6GHz band is so much larger than the 5GHz band (which you can fit only 2 or 3 160MHz channels, dependent on your region, and which is also sullied by DFS)

I absolutely love this comment. I hate DFS with a passion, and am glad 6 GHz can enable 160 GHz channels (and eventually 320 MHz when Wifi 7 drops) with no need to worry about radar detection interruptions. 5 GHz does have slightly better propagation characteristics than 6 GHz, but I prefer a stable wifi channel that never has to compete with radar...

 

[falkon-engine]

If Wifi 6E is available for the new iPad Pro with M2, then why didn't the M2 2022 Macbook Air/Pro also recievie 6E as well?

 

[RevTEG]

I don't understand why the worst iPad got the best keyboard, but keeps the bad Apple Pencil?

The new pros are a speed bump, and a slight screen/usability improvement?

This is just such a jumbled product lineup.

It's clear the Air basically needs to go, as it's in a middle ground that I don't think needs to exist.

Anyone who cares about power is going to go with a Pro for the extra couple hundred bucks.

Anyone who just wants an iPad for couch surfing and light emailing will just get the cheapest one available.

I just don't understand why anyone buys an iPad Pro right now unless they absolutely have to.

It's clear that Apple knows what people want in a keyboard, and I'd buy that keyboard for my iPad Pro RIGHT NOW if it was available. I hate that I can't lay my iPad down flat. HATE. I love the function keys and the larger trackpad. It's a fantastic design. And yet....only available for the base iPad. Seems dumb.

The camera shift to side of the iPad for use in landscape mode makes perfect sense and is overdue. It makes even MORE sense for the iPad Pro with Face ID that is covered by my thumb 85% of the time when I pick it up. Why in the hell wouldn't they do this for the new Pro? Seems dumb.

So, yeah, don't buy this new iPad Pro unless you absolutely 100% need NEED NEED an iPad Pro. Apple obviously knows what users want, and it's pretty clear where the design direction is going. It stands to reason the next iPad Pro should be a huge improvement. This one is a huge mistake, and should be boycotted out of principle.

Totally agree with all your points. My guess is Apple will introduce these features to the pro models next year. I wonder if Apple needed more time to figure out how to move the camera and still have the gen 2 pencil wireless charge on the iPad pro?

 

[RevTEG]

Entry level iPad gets “pro” features while hard drive options are to small… not to mention a great new keyboar.

Pro model gets a spec bump at best…

This current lineup is confusing.

 

[AppleFan1179]

Maybe? But then just don't put it out until it's ready?

 

[Stratus Fear]

I absolutely love this comment. I hate DFS with a passion, and am glad 6 GHz can enable 160 GHz channels (and eventually 320 MHz when Wifi 7 drops) with no need to worry about radar detection interruptions. 5 GHz does have slightly better propagation characteristics than 6 GHz, but I prefer a stable wifi channel that never has to compete with radar...

Absolutely. I have to use DFS on one of my APs, and that one switches channels 2 or 3 times a week because I live about 5 miles from an airport with a weather radar. 6GHz would be really nice to have.

 

[Marie.D]

Finally they are rolling it out. Not a lot of routers have it, but this is great for future proofing. For the price of the device it was crazy for it not to have the latest wireless tech inside.

 

[BWhaler]

Updates are a nothing sandwich.

Shocking Apple is making these upgrades. stinks of Adobe and Intuit “upgrades”

 

[ConfusedChris]

And you have to buy a $9.00 adapter to use the older pencil with the new iPad.....wow

It’s ridiculous. It’s impossible to pair your existing Pencil to your new iPad without it.

 

[ands8]

Will 6E be used on the VR Goggles to stream content or will another, maybe less power hungry streaming tech be introduced?

 

[SactoGuy18]

If Wifi 6E is available for the new iPad Pro with M2, then why didn't the M2 2022 Macbook Air/Pro also recievie 6E as well?

They haven't announced the M2-based MacBook Pro 14" and 16" models yet. Very likely they will get WiFi 6E support.

 

[*MacBook*]

Wi-Fi 6E should have been included on iPhone 14 Line up. But, I guess Apple is saving that for iPhone 15.

Congrats on your masters degree and reaction scores! Wow!

 

[fazalmajid]

Is it a Typo? Apple's specs says Wifi 6E, but then says it only supports 2.4 and 5 Ghz. No mention of 6 Ghz.

Very worrisome, WiFi6E without 6GHz is just WiFi6.

They do stipulate WiFi6E is not available in China and Japan (which presumably have not allocated any of the 6GHz spectrum unlike the US or Europe), so I am leaning towards a typo.

Wi-Fi 6E should have been included on iPhone 14 Line up. But, I guess Apple is saving that for iPhone 15.

You mean the iPhone 13S or 12SS, an iPhone 12 with paltry improvements. The 15 will bring USB-C, so there will finally be a reason to upgrade.

I would hope that people use Apple TV over ethernet but it seems a bit odd that WiFi-6E is missing from the new one.

Only the higher-spec AppleTV 4K has Ethernet (and Thread), the base model had it yanked. Nickel-and-diming at its finest.

 

[xpxp2002]

Given that this includes 6E before the iPhones, I wonder what cellular modem they're using. Anybody know if it's still the X65 or if they were able to include the X70?

 

[xpxp2002]

Only the higher-spec AppleTV 4K has Ethernet (and Thread), the base model had it yanked. Nickel-and-diming at its finest.

I mean, the HomePod mini with no Ethernet connectivity, running on the S5 SoC (same as in Apple Watch S5) supports Thread. There really is no technological reason that this Apple TV shouldn't be able to, too.

It is kind of offensive how frequently they are now locking out capabilities in software solely to upsell. Personally, I have all of my ATVs wired and wouldn't use them any other way. But I imagine some people would drop to the Wi-Fi-only model if they knew they wouldn't/couldn't wire it in, but would still want and use the Thread support.

 

[_Spinn_]

Cool! Too bad the iPhone 14 didn't get this. I guess we wait for next year.

 

[Menel]

Wi-Fi 6E should have been included on iPhone 14 Line up. But, I guess Apple is saving that for iPhone 15.

Meh, iPhone14.5 usbc refresh in the spring refresh to coincide with the AR Headset.

 

[Menel]

I don't understand why the worst iPad got the best keyboard, but keeps the bad Apple Pencil?

The new pros are a speed bump, and a slight screen/usability improvement?

This is just such a jumbled product lineup.

It's clear the Air basically needs to go, as it's in a middle ground that I don't think needs to exist.

Anyone who cares about power is going to go with a Pro for the extra couple hundred bucks.

Anyone who just wants an iPad for couch surfing and light emailing will just get the cheapest one available.

I just don't understand why anyone buys an iPad Pro right now unless they absolutely have to.

It's clear that Apple knows what people want in a keyboard, and I'd buy that keyboard for my iPad Pro RIGHT NOW if it was available. I hate that I can't lay my iPad down flat. HATE. I love the function keys and the larger trackpad. It's a fantastic design. And yet....only available for the base iPad. Seems dumb.

The camera shift to side of the iPad for use in landscape mode makes perfect sense and is overdue. It makes even MORE sense for the iPad Pro with Face ID that is covered by my thumb 85% of the time when I pick it up. Why in the hell wouldn't they do this for the new Pro? Seems dumb.

So, yeah, don't buy this new iPad Pro unless you absolutely 100% need NEED NEED an iPad Pro. Apple obviously knows what users want, and it's pretty clear where the design direction is going. It stands to reason the next iPad Pro should be a huge improvement. This one is a huge mistake, and should be boycotted out of principle.

Air is for the M1 chips, middle ground.
But as I did last week, ipad pro m1 is cheaper than Air M1. Yea Air makes no sense. But Pro M1 if you are looking for that middle tablet.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Honestly, this leaves a sour taste, coming so soon after iPhone 14 "Pro" that doesn't support it.

Further confirmation that this is a skip year. Maybe they'll have everything lined up properly next year.

Maybe the iPhone 15 will have something where the SIM slot was besides a block of plastic. I hear each block has a tiny image of Tim Cook giving you the finger, though.

 

[Apple_Gabe]

Didn't even catch that the iPhone 14 models didn't support Wifi 6E, really perplexing that it doesn't.

 

[btrach144]

This makes it very strange that iPhone 14 does not support 6E.

Either way, looking forward to my new iPad Pro and finally having a device to use on my 6E router.