Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

so close to buying the 16 but no wifi 6... really!!??

P

pitt1717

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 13, 2007
306
37
so I have a rmbp from 2012 and it still runs well. but I have been itching for a new machine for some time. damn keyboard issues kept me on this one.
anyway I am looking at the 16 and all seems to be good except for 1 thing... the damn wifi. I can't believe they didn't put in wifi6...
question is, I was able to change the wifi card in my 2012 and have ac and newer bluetooth (allows my Apple Watch to open it as well). what do you think the chances are that the wifi card will still be replaceable?
 
wow, that's pretty definitive. is there anything out there that references that
 
pitt1717 said:
so I have a rmbp from 2012 and it still runs well. but I have been itching for a new machine for some time. damn keyboard issues kept me on this one.
anyway I am looking at the 16 and all seems to be good except for 1 thing... the damn wifi. I can't believe they didn't put in wifi6...
question is, I was able to change the wifi card in my 2012 and have ac and newer bluetooth (allows my Apple Watch to open it as well). what do you think the chances are that the wifi card will still be replaceable?
Click to expand...

Probably no chance at all.

Besides, I would never consider any hardware modifications like that while it was still under warranty.
[automerge]1573944480[/automerge]
pitt1717 said:
wow, that's pretty definitive. is there anything out there that references that
Click to expand...

There are no schematics on the new 16" so the only way we would probably know for sure is if someone took one apart and attempted a change.

You could always buy a 16" MBP and be the first one to take it apart and figure out if it can be done.
 
Last edited:
pitt1717 said:
so I have a rmbp from 2012 and it still runs well. but I have been itching for a new machine for some time. damn keyboard issues kept me on this one.
anyway I am looking at the 16 and all seems to be good except for 1 thing... the damn wifi. I can't believe they didn't put in wifi6...
question is, I was able to change the wifi card in my 2012 and have ac and newer bluetooth (allows my Apple Watch to open it as well). what do you think the chances are that the wifi card will still be replaceable?
Click to expand...

Even if you could replace it, there's no gurantee the OS will support (aka, drivers) a different card.
 
According to AppleInsider it’s 2x2 wifi, like the Air and bottom end Pro too. They could well be wrong of course.

Maybe it was intended to be 2x2 ax but because of professor support it’s 2x2 ac.
 
don't need it immediately. was just thinking to buy and in a couple of years update once apple did. (drivers at that point would be baked in)
 
I reckon Wifi 5 is still going to be pretty relevent for the next 3-5 years as wifi 6 was just ratified and its going to be another 3-5 years until its fully adopted by everyone

Wasn't a big deal to me... I just bought a Ubiquiti Amplifi Mesh for my house. I'm very satisfied
[automerge]1573945967[/automerge]
rickeames said:
Um...speed? I have WiFi 6 @ the house and my phone connects at twice the speed as my computer from the same spot.
Click to expand...

The speed is marginal compared to wifi5
 
  • Like
Reactions: raqball
pitt1717 said:
wow, that's pretty definitive. is there anything out there that references that
Click to expand...

Hasn't been upgradable for a long time. Seems very, very unlikely they'd go back on that. USB wi-fi 6 stuff will/is likely available, though of course not an elegant solution. But how fast do you expect your network to get before you'll replace the laptop?
 
I think the question here is why 9th instead of 10th generation Intel processor right now? 10th generation has WIFI6 built in. Could be a completely legitimate reason, so the next upgrade will definitely have it, but when?
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Mercurian
rickeames said:
Um...speed? I have WiFi 6 @ the house and my phone connects at twice the speed as my computer from the same spot.
Click to expand...

What sort of speeds are you seeing? My computers (Macbook pro, windows 10 desktops, etc.) connect at the same speed hardwired or via Wifi. All get about 900 Mbps to the local NAS and when running Speedtest get 450 MB to internet which is the speed of the Cable model. So the internet connection at the cable model is the gating factor, not 802.AC. All network gear is from Unbiquiti. Wifi is through 3 AC-Pro access point wired via cat 6 to switch.
 
ldenning said:
I think the question here is why 9th instead of 10th generation Intel processor right now? 10th generation has WIFI6 built in. Could be a completely legitimate reason, so the next upgrade will definitely have it, but when?
Click to expand...

Intel doesn't offer 10th Gen chips as powerful as their 9th gen chips. The 10th gen has better iGPU but less powerful CPU.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Danny Nava and Sanpete
ldenning said:
I think the question here is why 9th instead of 10th generation Intel processor right now? 10th generation has WIFI6 built in. Could be a completely legitimate reason, so the next upgrade will definitely have it, but when?
Click to expand...

Assuming the processors are available in proper configuration, an updated MBP 16 could appear in less than a year.
 
I have ubiquity ac pros also. cat 6 to Cisco switch. I push pull vm's and lab type work to keep up with my IT job. so its not so much to utilize my gig internet as it is to move things around on the internal network
 
And when wifi 6 is available, ARM macs will be around the corner, or mini LED, or higher resolution, etc. Something will ALWAYS be around the corner making the current mac a "crap" purchase.

Personally I'd rather give up wifi 6 than something that to me is more tangible like a sweet display. I've literally never complained about my wifi 5, so having a new computer with identical wifi performance wouldn't bother me one bit.

Today's 16" is a buy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: raqball and Sanpete
Howard2k said:
According to AppleInsider it’s 2x2 wifi, like the Air and bottom end Pro too. They could well be wrong of course.

Maybe it was intended to be 2x2 ax but because of professor support it’s 2x2 ac.
Click to expand...
Pretty sure it is 3x3. Any way to confirm? I get the same wifi speeds on my 16" as I did on my 2019 15" that I sold a month or two ago. 600/400 fiber connection. Tx rate normally around 1300 mbps according to MacOS.

Edit: Doesn't a Tx rate over 877mbps show that it is 3x3?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Howard2k
uecker87 said:
Pretty sure it is 3x3. Any way to confirm? I get the same wifi speeds on my 16" as I did on my 2019 15" that I sold a month or two ago. 600/400 fiber connection. Tx rate normally around 1300 mbps according to MacOS.

Edit: Doesn't a Tx rate over 877mbps show that it is 3x3?
Click to expand...

yeah, over 867Mb/s and it’s 3x3, or 160Mhz channel sizing, which the MBPros have not supported.

If you can opt-click the wifi icon and show a screenshot we can determine for sure.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MareLuce
Howard2k said:
yeah, over 867Mb/s and it’s 3x3, or 160Mhz channel sizing, which the MBPros have not supported.

If you can opt-click the wifi icon and show a screenshot we can determine for sure.
Click to expand...
Yeah it is 3x3 at 80MHz.

Screen Shot 2019-11-16 at 9.13.44 PM.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: terraphantm, Lobwedgephil and Howard2k
junkw said:
why do you need wifi6?
Click to expand...
Because it's 2019 machine, and could be used till 2025+
[automerge]1573972070[/automerge]
ldenning said:
I think the question here is why 9th instead of 10th generation Intel processor right now? 10th generation has WIFI6 built in. Could be a completely legitimate reason, so the next upgrade will definitely have it, but when?
Click to expand...
Because 10th gen H processors are not out yet.
[automerge]1573972142[/automerge]
jerryk said:
Pretty sure AC Pros do not support 802.11ax (Wifi 6). https://www.ui.com/unifi/unifi-ap-ac-pro/
Click to expand...
shame that ubnt does not have wifi6 yet.
 
Nacho98 said:
And when wifi 6 is available, ARM macs will be around the corner, or mini LED, or higher resolution, etc. Something will ALWAYS be around the corner making the current mac a "crap" purchase.

Personally I'd rather give up wifi 6 than something that to me is more tangible like a sweet display. I've literally never complained about my wifi 5, so having a new computer with identical wifi performance wouldn't bother me one bit.

Today's 16" is a buy.
Click to expand...
Although I want wifi6 so bad, I agree with you. 16' mbp is a great buy as it has fixed many issues, as well as bringing reasonable GPU upgrades.
Having late 2013 with 750m, the previous GPUs are literally the same if not downgrades, except vega 16 and 20. Also, I can finally get a 64gb ram on a laptop.

I think we will be seeing arm macs with wifi6, 5g, u1 chip, micro/mini led 'XDR' displays, faceIDs in 4 years.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back