The iPhone 16 Pros could support Wi-Fi 7 for much faster wireless data speeds and optimized integration with smart devices, AR/VR headsets and other devices.
Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu wrote in the latest research note to clients, seen by MacRumors, that next year’s iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models should pick up support for the latest Wi-Fi 7 wireless networking protocol.
Wi-Fi 7 will greatly expand wireless bandwidth in offices and public spots like airports and stadiums. Smart devices are expected to significantly benefit from Wi-Fi 7 thanks to improved latency and response time.
Wi-Fi 7 could be coming to the iPhone 16 Pros
Wi-Fi 7 can send and receive data over the 2.4GHz, 5GHz and 6GHz bands simultaneously, bringing a 4× increase over Wi-Fi 6E in terms of peak data transfer speeds when using a Wi-Fi 7 router. It’s capable of a theoretical data transfer speed of 40 Gbps—the same bandwidth offered by Thunderbolt 4 over the wire.
Wi-Fi 7 also lowers latency and improves connection reliability over Wi-Fi 6E.
Of course, you’re going to need a Wi-Fi 7 router to enjoy the speed boost at your home. With a Restricted Target Wake Time feature included in the Wi-Fi 7 specifications, compatible routers can optimize network performance by reserving bandwidth for specific types of data usage, like video streaming or gaming.
Just don’t confuse Wi-Fi 7 with Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 6.
Which iPhones have Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7?
Regarding this year’s iPhone 15 family, Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Tom O’Malley predicted support for the Wi-Fi 6E protocol on the iPhone 15 Pros. The non-Pro models should stick to the good ol’ Wi-Fi 6 like the entire iPhone 14 lineup.
- iPhone 14 Pros: Wi-Fi 6
- iPhone 15 Pros: Wi-Fi 6E
- iPhone 16 Pros: Wi-Fi 7
Adding Wi-Fi 7 support to the iPhone 16 Pros could have much to do with the Vision Pro headset, launching in early 2024, as analysts have suspected that the AR/VR device uses Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7. Reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted earlier that Wi-Fi 7 will be “more conducive” to integrating Apple products on the same local network while providing “a better ecosystem experience.”