Will newer iMac or MacBook have faster WiFi speeds than my 2013 iMac?

[SPJones]

Apologies if this comes across as a dumb question - I know there are lots of variables at play when it comes to WiFi speeds.

Would getting a more modern iMac or MacBook (my current iMac is late 2013) make much difference to my WiFi speeds? I usually run an ethernet cable into my machine for consistency of speeds on Zoom, but would rather use WiFi. However, when I do so, even just three metres from what is a modern, efficient router, I seem to get lagging on some video calls (which are necessary for my jobs).

Any advice would be appreciated

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Theoretically there should be a slight improvement simply because of the wifi chip but really depends on your wifi setup (e.g. router).

 

[SPJones]

Theoretically there should be a slight improvement simply because of the wifi chip but really depends on your wifi setup (e.g. router).

Thanks. Yeah, it's frustrating as hell to use ethernet cables in this day and age, but I can't seem to find any issues with my router setup.

Unfortunately I need a stable connection as I do interviews with people who have limited English and can't have drop outs or delays.

 

[russell_314]

The newer Macs have Wi-Fi 6 (AX) versus your iMac which I believe has Wi-Fi 5 (AC). It will be faster, but you need to have a modern Wi-Fi 6 router to make that happen.

For something like an iMac, I would just use a cable. Wi-Fi makes sense if you’re using a laptop but for a stationary computer, nothing beats a wired connection. Unless you’re constantly moving your iMac, I don’t see any advantage to using Wi-Fi other than the initial set up of having to connect the cable.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Apologies if this comes across as a dumb question - I know there are lots of variables at play when it comes to WiFi speeds.

Would getting a more modern iMac or MacBook (my current iMac is late 2013) make much difference to my WiFi speeds? I usually run an ethernet cable into my machine for consistency of speeds on Zoom, but would rather use WiFi. However, when I do so, even just three metres from what is a modern, efficient router, I seem to get lagging on some video calls (which are necessary for my jobs).

Any advice would be appreciated

If your router only supports the speeds that your iMac supports (IEEE 802.11ac aka Wi-Fi 5), then getting a new Mac with newer Wi-Fi (either IEEE 802.11ax aka Wi-Fi 6/6E) won't increase your Wi-Fi speeds, since they will be throttled down to the speed of your router. Incidentally, Ethernet will always be more stable. While it might not be as sleek as not having cabling at all, Ethernet usually yields a much better ride overall. I generally have the rule of "If it's stationary, it should be wired". I generally don't do this with laptops, but I always have an Ethernet adapter my MacBook bags should I ever need it. So, yeah, you could get a new Mac and a new router to enjoy not having to plug in a cable, but frankly, I wouldn't spend so much money because I hated using cables. That just seems silly.

That all being said, a late 2013 iMac can't run a supported macOS version anymore. So, unless you're using it with Windows 10 v22H2 (which is supported for another two more years), I'd give thought to a new Mac anyway. But not because you hate wires.

 

[SPJones]

The newer Macs have Wi-Fi 6 (AX) versus your iMac which I believe has Wi-Fi 5 (AC). It will be faster, but you need to have a modern Wi-Fi 6 router to make that happen.

For something like an iMac, I would just use a cable. Wi-Fi makes sense if you’re using a laptop but for a stationary computer, nothing beats a wired connection. Unless you’re constantly moving your iMac, I don’t see any advantage to using Wi-Fi other than the initial set up of having to connect the cable.

Thanks. I just did some searching and my router - delivered late last year - is only WiFi 5

 

[SPJones]

If your router only supports the speeds that your iMac supports (IEEE 802.11ac aka Wi-Fi 5), then getting a new Mac with newer Wi-Fi (either IEEE 802.11ax aka Wi-Fi 6/6E) won't increase your Wi-Fi speeds, since they will be throttled down to the speed of your router. Incidentally, Ethernet will always be more stable. While it might not be as sleek as not having cabling at all, Ethernet usually yields a much better ride overall. I generally have the rule of "If it's stationary, it should be wired". I generally don't do this with laptops, but I always have an Ethernet adapter my MacBook bags should I ever need it. So, yeah, you could get a new Mac and a new router to enjoy not having to plug in a cable, but frankly, I wouldn't spend so much money because I hated using cables. That just seems silly.

That all being said, a late 2013 iMac can't run a supported macOS version anymore. So, unless you're using it with Windows 10 v22H2 (which is supported for another two more years), I'd give thought to a new Mac anyway. But not because you hate wires.

Thanks - I've got the money to buy a new Mac, I'm just too lazy and too tight-fisted to bother. Up until the pandemic (and the need to Zoom), I was using a twelve year-old Asus laptop with Linux Mint. I like squeezing every last penny out of my purchases

I'm trying to get away from the iMac and ethernet and switch to MacBook and WiFi to give more flexibility in where I work around the house, but as you say, probably not worth the outlay.

Thanks again.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Thanks - I've got the money to buy a new Mac, I'm just too lazy and too tight-fisted to bother. Up until the pandemic (and the need to Zoom), I was using a twelve year-old Asus laptop with Linux Mint. I like squeezing every last penny out of my purchases

Well, for what it's worth, that iMac runs Windows 10 v22H2 like a champ and that's supported for another two years and change.

I'm trying to get away from the iMac and ethernet and switch to MacBook and WiFi to give more flexibility in where I work around the house, but as you say, probably not worth the outlay.

Thanks again.

I'm not going to knock flexibility of being able to work anywhere. Just the notion that Ethernet is a subpar way to connect a desktop to the Internet and that there aren't still use cases to do so with a laptop as well.

If using macOS as your primary OS is of importance to you, it's definitely time to get a new computer. No question. Certainly, if you want to be able to move rooms easily, a MacBook is going to be much less inconvenient than an iMac or Mac mini (though, those are pretty portable, all things considered).

 

[bobcomer]

Unfortunately I need a stable connection as I do interviews with people who have limited English and can't have drop outs or delays.

Stay with ethernet then. Wifi will never be as reliable.

 

[Fishrrman]

You didn't tell us HOW OLD your current Macs are.

The answer is a qualified "yes" -- speeds will be faster, but ONLY if you have the router hardware to support faster speeds. If your router can't support the newer hardware of a newer MacBook, it won't help.

If you buy a newer desktop (iMac, Mini, Studio), you want to use ethernet with it, anyway. It generally just works better, nothing more to say about that.

 

[SPJones]

Well, for what it's worth, that iMac runs Windows 10 v22H2 like a champ and that's supported for another two years and change.

Windows?! My life is already boring enough what with having a Toyota estate/station wagon.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

@SPJones

I think you are assuming you have a “modern efficient router”

More details would be required to make a recommendation, but dumping consumer grade [redacted] and installing enterprise class access points might help.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Windows?! My life is already boring enough what with having a Toyota estate/station wagon.

I'd rather boring and stable than exciting and glitchy any day of any year.