Earlier this week, the Wi-Fi Alliance introduced Wi-Fi 7, offering quicker transfer speeds and reduced latency—perfect for a device like Apple’s Vision Pro. Let’s dig into the details. Right now, we have Wi-Fi 6E, essentially Wi-Fi 6 with added support for the 6GHz band. However, take a look at the significant speed boost Wi-Fi 7 brings compared to Wi-Fi 6E.
While Wi-Fi 6E tops out at a maximum transfer speed of 9Gbps, Wi-Fi 7 takes it up a notch with a maximum transfer speed of up to 46Gbps. That puts Wi-Fi 7 at a whopping five times faster than the current Wi-Fi standard. In countries where Wi-Fi operates in the 6GHz band, Wi-Fi 7 brings a channel size that’s doubled, enabling support for more traffic and reducing interference. Thanks to 4K QAM, transmissions carry 20% more bits compared to the 1024 QAM used in Wi-Fi 6E, meaning more data can be transmitted at once.
Kevin Robinson, president and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance, said, “The introduction of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 7 marks the emergence of the latest generation of Wi-Fi and will be an accelerant to mass adoption of Wi-Fi 7. This certification underscores our relentless commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology that redefines the way users experience Wi-Fi, providing faster speeds, improved efficiency, and increased reliability which expand the horizons of what is possible through Wi-Fi.”
It’ll be a while before you spot smartphones embracing the fresh Wi-Fi standard. According to Haitung Securities analyst Jeff Pu, a few months back, he informed clients that the iPhone 16 Pro and the iPhone 16 Pro Max will lead the pack as the first Apple devices to roll out with Wi-Fi 7 in 2024.
Expect those phones to hit the shelves this September. However, as mentioned earlier, Wi-Fi 7 is tailor-made for mixed reality devices like the Vision Pro. This raises the question of whether Apple can get its $3,499 spatial computer ready to support Wi-Fi 7 in time for its launch on February 2nd.
Given the rumors about the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra supporting Wi-Fi 7, it’s possible that the Vision Pro might follow suit. Keep an eye out for updates!