New MBP has SLOWER Wifi than last year's MB Air

I would not consider myself a power user. Wifi speeds through Verizon come in about 7mbps, I am able to view YouTube videos at 1440p with zero buffering, I am happy with the new MBP performance with regards to that.
 
The speed of Wireless AC isn't about being able to saturate a super fast 10Gb fiber connection or something folks. It's about file transfers.

For example, I have a NAS (Network Attached Storage) in my home that stores video and photos that I use. I use locally attached storage (USB 3.0 currently; contemplating an upgrade to a Thunderbolt RAID array) for 'working' data, and other data is stored on the NAS. Sometimes I need to move data from the USB 3.0 drives down to the server, or vice versa. Before wireless AC, I had to use ethernet if I wanted to get it done in a reasonable amount of time. Despite the theoretical max, 1.0Gbps ethernet is still faster than 1.2Gbps Wireless AC in my cases (since I can saturate Gigabit ethernet and run right at the max, but can't come close on Wireless AC); but nevertheless, Wireless AC is finally fast enough that it's reasonably useful even without running an ethernet cable.

Losing performance on Wi-Fi is definitely a problem for some users. However, those users are probably less likely to be using the base model 13" MacBook Pro. I'm sure Apple figures, anyone doing content creation and working with lots of data stored on a network, are going to at LEAST be using the Touchbar 13" model with it's faster CPU, et al; and more than likely, the 15" model. Now I'm not justifying this at all. There's never a good reason for less performance. Just saying that I can't imagine many users at all 'noticing' the difference, and those that would, probably won't own this model.

The 13" Base model has become the "Macbook Air", heck, Phil Schiller even said so. I'm curious of the 13" TouchBar model will include the faster wi-fi.
 
Well, for the non-touch MBP its probably ok, if that is the price for getting Bluetooth 4.2. However, I am very concerned about the 15" model now. I have a gigabit connection and I regularly use it to transfer files between various servers over WIFI. Kicking out a steam would actually mean a noticeable regression for me.
 
el-John-o said:
The 13" Base model has become the "Macbook Air", heck, Phil Schiller even said so. I'm curious of the 13" TouchBar model will include the faster wi-fi.
Click to expand...

I think that's the OP's point - the entry level Pro is supposed to be the new Air, but the new Air has slower WiFi than last year's Air.

After seeing how some people are happy to let Apple get away with some of this stuff, it's no wonder why Apple does it.

Apple: "Our research shows that most people use more consonants than vowels, so we're going to sell vowels separately for $100 each."

THAT Apple fan: "That's totally reasonable. The average person only really uses consonants. I don't even need vowels for people to understand what I'm typing. If you need that many vowels, you're typing wrong. It's no big deal! Apple IS a business after all..."
 
How about we check out the technical reasons for this? There's clearly a different radio or controller chip in there, so lets let chip works figure it out.
 
NT1440 said:
How about we check out the technical reasons for this? There's clearly a different radio or controller chip in there, so lets let chip works figure it out.
Click to expand...

I assume that they wanted to have Bluetooth 4.2 in and there were no chips that did both that and three stream WiFi?
 
"But when you dig down to find the root cause of most people's angst, it’s less about the new MacBook Pros individually and more about the way Apple has been treating the Mac lineup in general for the last two or three years."
— per MacRumors, from article


Good article, and assessment.

I'll cut to the chase; the author suggests the better option is a 2015 MBP.

As well, that the iPad—no surprise—remains compromised in getting real work done.
 
That is a bit of a surprise. I wonder if battery life was a factor there too?
I bet there are not many people who would actually be affected by this in real life but it's still surprising. If you're just streaming movies from Netflix it's irrelevant.


How many people here are using NAS?
 
Howard2k said:
That is a bit of a surprise. I wonder if battery life was a factor there too?
I bet there are not many people who would actually be affected by this in real life but it's still surprising. If you're just streaming movies from Netflix it's irrelevant.


How many people here are using NAS?
Click to expand...

Well not many people use the speed of TB3/USB-C either, so lets limit them to 5Gbps.
 
jerryk said:
And how many users see 1.3 Gbps on their Wifi network? Maybe if you are the only one on and you and the access point are in the same Faraday cage. In the real world this difference will have minimal impact.
Click to expand...

i dont live in a F-cage, and my router is not using 100% for antenna at the moment.. this is what i get with mbpr (2014)

IMG_1852.jpg


And definitely i dont want go slower... i move large files via wifi and want having a stable and fast connection.

they should go faster and having mu-mimo support rather than cutting the speed.

Howard2k said:
How many people here are using NAS?
Click to expand...

i do.
 
Last edited:
ginkobiloba said:
yep. While being 500$ more expensive, the NEW entry level MB Pro has slower Wifi than last years MB Air

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2016/1...is-good-but-its-missing-all-the-cool-stuff/4/

"867Mbps 802.11ac Wi-Fi is a downgrade from last year's 1.3Gbps."

If your read french : http://www.macg.co/mac/2016/11/le-wi-fi-du-macbook-pro-sans-touch-bar-est-moins-rapide-96194
Click to expand...

"and 867Mbps 802.11ac Wi-Fi. This is the same speed as the MacBook and the 2015 MacBook Air, and it's a downgrade from the 1.3Gbps Wi-Fi in 2015's 13-inch MacBook Pro"

I think you have misread the article, the wifi is the same speed as the 2015 Air, its a downgrade from last years MBP.
 
mrex said:
i dont live in a F-cage, and my router is not using 100% for antenna at the moment.. this is what i get with mbpr (2014)

View attachment 670092

And definitely i dont want go slower... i move large files via wifi and want having a stable and fast connection.

they should go faster and having mu-mimo support rather than cutting the speed.
Click to expand...

I also have the same LINK speed. But in reality the throughput rate are dramatically slower, maybe 50%. I am going to guess yours are also.

I ado agree about the bonding through. We really should have this everywhere by now.

I run 2 gigabit Ethernet connections on my NAS to increase performance. I would love to have the same effect on wireless.
 
jerryk said:
I also have the same LINK speed. But in reality the throughput rate are dramatically slower, maybe 50%. I am going to guess yours are also.
Click to expand...

downgrade 50% from slower speed what you get from 867. slower, and even slower...
 
jerryk said:
If only it were linear. But it's not.
Click to expand...

it doesnt matter if it was gaussian, it is still slower than earlier that atlease i dont except if im going to buy a new computer to replace the older one. this is supposed to be "future proof" as having 4 usbc replacing all other ports.

but surely.. it is not much in a reality, but usually it goes to the other direction with new stuff. and especially when 4k stuff is at the door.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Back
Top