Macbook pro 13/16" 2020 update to have Wi-Fi 6?

[Bars_12]

Do you guys think that Apple will update the specs of the Wi-fi from wi-fi 5 to wi-fi 6 for the 2020 update of the macbook pro 13/16"? Will they have bluetooth 5?

 

[Howard2k]

I would expect so, but no way of knowing for sure.

 

[fandy]

The next processor upgrade is Comet Lake and I heard that comes with WiFi 6. Need someone else to confirm this though. The other question is when the mid refresh is coming. May, June, July, or August?

 

[Howard2k]

The next processor upgrade is Comet Lake and I heard that comes with WiFi 6. Need someone else to confirm this though. The other question is when the mid refresh is coming. May, June, July, or August?

If I understand correctly, Intel doesn’t build the wifi directly into the processor, but they have some of the hardware inside the processor that will interface with a secondary Intel wifi component.

So the manufacturers can use the Intel wifi with very little footprint (and cost?) overhead, or deploy their own wifi.

Apple has typically done stellar deployments of wifi. There are some wifi 6 deployments out there that would perform worse (in throughput capacity) than some Apple MacBooks from the 2013 era. It’s not consistent across all models, but if Apple wants to go with a three antenna system again then I don’t think they can do that based on the current Intel tech. That could change of course.

So even if the processor supports wifi 6, it’s not certain that Apple will use it. Though they probably will. Certainly it’s not quite true to say that Wifi 6 will always be a better choice than Wifi 5. And just like not all Wifi 5 deployments are equal, neither are all Wifi 6 deployments.

 

[ksec]

AFAIK, Apple has always used some form of custom solution from Broadcom. The problem is the PC space is entirely dominated by Intel and Broadcom is now only focusing on Smartphone and Router WiFi SoC.

I will not be surprised if Apple chooses Intel WiFI solution in the 802.11ax update. The problem is Intel does not offer any 3x3 WiFi 6 solution.

May be Apple choose to develop their own.

Note: The whole 802.11ax is just pure mess as I have just learned that OFDMA is not even available.