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

Unlike iPhone 16 Models, Apple's M4 Macs Lack Wi-Fi 7 Support

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
67,618
38,026


Apple introduced new Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro models this week, adding faster and more efficient M4 chips, along with some other updates like Thunderbolt 5 and nano-texture display options for some models. One upgrade we thought we might see was support for the latest Wi-Fi specification, but the new machines did not get a Wi-Fi 7 upgrade.

M4-MacBook-Pro-Thumb-2.jpg

All of the new M4 Macs continue to offer Wi-Fi 6E, and while it does allow for access to the 6GHz band on supported Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 routers, it's not the latest and greatest technology.

It is surprising that Apple opted out of updating the new machines with Wi-Fi 7 because all of the iPhone 16 models that came out in September feature Wi-Fi 7 chips from Broadcom. The iPhones support the 802.11be Wi-Fi 7 standard with 2x2 MIMO, but there is a caveat with the iPhone 16 models that takes a little bit of the sting away from not getting Wi-Fi 7 in Macs.

Apple's Wi-Fi specifications page confirms that the Wi-Fi 7 chips in the iPhone 16 models have a maximum physical layer data rate of 2400Mb/s and a maximum channel bandwidth of 160MHz, which is the same performance as the Wi-Fi 6E chips in the iPhone 15 Pro models and the M3 Mac models with Wi-Fi 6E on 6GHz networks (Apple's chart hasn't been updated for M4, but presumably the Wi-Fi 6E chips have not changed).

Wi-Fi 7 in the iPhone 16 models does up the maximum data rate when connected to 5GHz bands compared to the Wi-Fi 6E chips used in Macs and iPads, but Apple does not support the full 320MHz bandwidth with its Wi-Fi 7 implementation. Wi-Fi 7 offers up to 320MHz bandwidth to accommodate more devices, but Apple has limited bandwidth to 160MHz, so iPhone 16 models don't take full advantage of Wi-Fi 7 despite having a Wi-Fi 7 chip. That limitation has been a disappointment, but the iPhone 16 models do support Multi-Link Operation (MLO) for connecting to multiple bands at the same time for faster data transmission and lower latency on supported networks.

Apple certainly could have opted for a Wi-Fi 7 chip without limitations in the M4 Mac models, especially for the more expensive M4 Pro and M4 Max machines, but that didn't happen. Given that people often keep Macs for several years, it is curious that Apple opted not to offer this bit of future proofing in the Mac line. MLO would have been nice to have for gaming applications, streaming, and video conferencing, especially as people upgrade their networks in the coming years.

Customers who plan on purchasing one of the new M4 Macs should know that these machines continue to offer Wi-Fi 6E features and lack the faster speeds and the latency benefits that come with Wi-Fi 7.

Article Link: Unlike iPhone 16 Models, Apple's M4 Macs Lack Wi-Fi 7 Support
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/10/30/m4-mac-models-no-wi-fi-7/
Yeah, I was looking to upgrade my Mac mini and MacBook Pro. My Mac mini for sure, my MacBook Pro I was probably going to wait until the display comes out in full OLED. I don't understand why Apple is always the last to release their devices to the latest wifi.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MacKid, Evil Lair, ldenning and 6 others
That is disappointing not to have 7. I recently upgraded my WiFi 6e system to WiFi 7 when Amazon had its last Prime Day. I picked up TP-Link routers for 53% off. WiFi 7 is a major improvement over WiFi 6e even if a device doesn’t support 7. On my previous system, my iPad with 6e would get about 400Mbps over the Internet (I have a 1.2Gbps plan). With 7, that same iPad gets a tiny bit over 1Gbps. The range is also improved with the far corners of the house getting improved reception. We have only one WiFi 7 device on the network, which gets 1.4Gbps Internet speed, the same I get for wired Ethernet. As an aside, my max speed is supposed to be 1.2Gbps, but I guess I’ll take 1.4Gbps.

I don’t have anything to test internal network speed, though I do have a 2.5Gbps network. I’m guessing a WiFi 7 device would be able to reach that fairly easily since YouTubers report getting 7-9Gbps internally with their devices.

Fortunately, I don’t plan to upgrade so it won’t matter. I already have an M3 Max machine and an M4 Max just wouldn’t be worth the expense.
 
  • Like
  • Disagree
Reactions: Numbah One, MacKid, jwilson25 and 16 others
I called this yesterday, and from what I understand, the M4 chip is based on the A17 Pro line, so it shares similar components with the iPhone 15 Pro. To upgrade the Wi-Fi chip, they’d need to redesign a few aspects. This likely means we’ll have to wait until next year’s M5 or A18 Pro line to see Wi-Fi 7. However, if it only matches the iPhone 16 Pro’s Wi-Fi 7 without 320 MHz support, we won’t see much improvement in speed over Wi-Fi 6E at 160 MHz.
 
  • Like
  • Disagree
Reactions: CorePrime, Evil Lair, holmesf and 9 others
Might be a software situation like MBA M2 and BT 5.0 > 5.3.

Seems unlikely Broadcom couldn't supply enough BCM4399 or Apple chose not to buy enough.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Darajavahus
lol. people's complaints. If the item isn't mobile, you are always better off having it hardwired. Yes, it would have been nice for the laptops, but they probably pulled some data and saw most people where still using wifi 6 if not older tech, as their ISPs haven't upgraded their modems... Or any other number of issues.
 
  • Like
  • Disagree
Reactions: amartinez1660, artifex, mdriftmeyer and 24 others
The_Gream said:
lol. people's complaints. If the item isn't mobile, you are always better off having it hardwired. Yes, it would have been nice for the laptops, but they probably pulled some data and saw most people where still using wifi 6 if not older tech, as their ISPs haven't upgraded their modems... Or any other number of issues.
Click to expand...
Laptops aren’t mobile? lol whats upgraded more often, a laptop or an iPhone? If there’s one product that needs future proofing it’s a laptop not a phone.
 
  • Like
  • Disagree
  • Love
Reactions: Scoot65, Evil Lair, Axelle838 and 17 others
maxsquared said:
I called this yesterday, and from what I understand, the M4 chip is based on the A17 Pro line, so it shares similar components with the iPhone 15 Pro. To upgrade the Wi-Fi chip, they’d need to redesign a few aspects. This likely means we’ll have to wait until next year’s M5 or A18 Pro line to see Wi-Fi 7. However, if it only matches the iPhone 16 Pro’s Wi-Fi 7 without 320 MHz support, we won’t see much improvement in speed over Wi-Fi 6E at 160 MHz.
Click to expand...

M4 is based on A18. Both share similar features like the 10-wide decoder. M3 is A17 Pro.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PaladinGuy, T'hain Esh Kelch, holmesf and 5 others
Apple simply don’t have a competent Wifi7 chip made in house to add to these. 160Mhz channel width on 6Ghz for Wifi7 is just shamefully bad. The Wifi performance of our 16 Pro and 15 Pros is also generally poor compared to OnePlus 12. For Mac, Apple still cannot match Intel BE200 or Qualcomm’s QCNCM865 chips which are the best in business currently.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: CatalinApple, Premium1, parameter and 8 others
For most people working in most environments, WiFi 6 is fast enough let alone 6e or 7. Even if you really have a need for that amount of bandwidth (hardwired, anyone) you’ll struggle to get the spectrum you need to max out a 6e or 7 connection. Unless you live so far away from anyone else that your router isn’t sharing spectrum. It’s just not a biggy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: amartinez1660, 68000/030, raybo and 3 others
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