On October 1, 2024, Apple introduced Wi-Fi 7 technology on its iPhone 16, promising faster connectivity and lower latency. However, many users expressed disappointment as the actual performance did not meet their expectations.
Speed tests conducted by the online community revealed that the Galaxy S24, utilizing Wi-Fi 7, achieved download speeds of up to 3.8 Gbit/s, with the Galaxy S24 Ultra even reaching 4.2 Gbit/s, far surpassing the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which uses Wi-Fi 6E.
Similar tests on the iPhone 16 Pro Max showed a maximum download speed of only about 1.7 Gbit/s, a modest figure compared to its Android counterparts. Although 1.7 Gbit/s is still a high speed, it does not represent a significant improvement over Wi-Fi 6E.
This raises questions about why Android users can achieve higher Wi-Fi 7 speeds while the iPhone 16, equipped with a compatible chip, cannot. The likely reason lies in Apple's management of the Wi-Fi chip specifications. Despite being equipped with a Wi-Fi 7 chip, Apple has imposed a strict limit, allowing a maximum bandwidth of only 160 MHz, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra can utilize bandwidth up to 320 MHz. This limitation results in reduced download speeds, potentially losing up to 50% of performance.
Apple has not provided an official explanation for the bandwidth limitation, but it may relate to managing power consumption and ensuring a more stable connection in congested environments. Regardless of the reason, this has led to significant frustration among users who feel they are not able to fully utilize the potential of their iPhone 16 with compatible routers.
Users argue that they deserve full access to the technology they have invested in. It may be prudent for Apple to consider offering an option in iOS 18 to remove this limitation, optimizing the Wi-Fi 7 experience on the iPhone 16 and allowing owners to truly enjoy the benefits of this new technology.