The latest iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air models are equipped with Apple’s all-new N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity. However, the chip has a Wi-Fi 7 bandwidth limitation.
According to FCC documents reviewed by MacRumors , the N1 chip in all new iPhone models supports up to 160 MHz of channel bandwidth for Wi-Fi 7, not exceeding the standard maximum of 320 MHz. This limitation means that devices can’t reach the maximum theoretical speeds using Wi-Fi 7, but real-world performance is usually already throttled by ISPs and other factors.
This isn’t a question for most customers, but some iPhone users wanted to know if the N1 chip offered 160MHz or 320MHz channel bandwidth for Wi-Fi 7, so we combed through FCC documents to find the answer.
FCC document showing Wi-Fi specifications for iPhone 17 Pro MaxWi-Fi 7 is still very fast. The standard allows data transmission on the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and/or 6 GHz bands simultaneously with a compatible router, resulting in faster speeds, lower latency, and a more reliable connection.
All iPhone 16 models—except for the iPhone 16E—also support Wi-Fi 7 with up to 160 MHz channel bandwidth. These devices are equipped with a Broadcom chip for wireless networking, however, there was hope that Apple’s N1 chip could raise the limit to 320 MHz. Apparently, that’s not the case.
But there are other benefits, too. Apple said the N1 chip improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop, and it also contributes to power efficiency improvements in the latest iPhone models.
Popular stories
Apple announces iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max with new design, bigger battery and more
Apple today introduced the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Both devices feature a new aluminum unibody design, and Ceramic Shield now protects both the front and back. Apple says the front is now Ceramic Shield 2, which offers 3x better scratch resistance, while the rear Ceramic Shield is advertised as 4x more resistant to cracks compared to the back glass on the previous…
iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models are eSIM only in these countries
Apple continues to discontinue the physical SIM card tray in iPhones, with the latest models relying solely on ESIM technology in several countries. The new iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max only support ESIMs in these countries and regions, according to Apple: Bahrain Canada Guam Japan Kuwait Mexico Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates…
AirPods live translation blocked for EU users with EU Apple accounts
Apple’s new live translation feature for AirPods will be off-limits to millions of European users when it arrives next week, and strict EU regulations may be holding up its rollout. Apple says on its feature availability website that “Apple Intelligence: Live Translation with AirPods” will not be available if both the user is physically located in the EU and their Apple account region is in the EU….
iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro: Release date and pre-orders
Apple held its annual iPhone event on Tuesday, September 9, to unveil the iPhone 17, specifically the slim iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max. All of the new iPhone models will be available for pre-order starting Friday, September 12 at 10 a.m. The devices’ release date is one week…
iPhone 17 Pro to be released? Here’s what’s rumored about the iPhone 18 Pro
While the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are still a year away, there are already some rumors about the devices that offer an early look ahead. If you missed the iPhone 17 Pro and want to know what to expect from the iPhone 18 Pro models, we’ve recapped some of the key rumors below. Under-screen Face ID to appear in April 2023, industry analyst Ross Young shared…
Apple lists battery capacities for iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro
Apple has confirmed the battery capacity of the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max models announced today. Apple is required to publish energy labels on its iPhone product pages in the EU, and they are revealing the official MAH battery capacity of the devices. Here are the battery capacities of each model, according to Apple: iPhone 17: …
Haven’t ordered a new iPhone yet? Here’s how long the wait is now
iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air PRE-ORDER began at 5 a.m. Pacific Time in the U.S. and many other countries today. If you haven’t yet placed a pre-order, you may now be in for a longer wait depending on the configuration you want. Starting shortly after 6 a.m. Pacific Time, nearly all iPhone 17 Pro Max configurations on Apple’s online store in the U.S. are facing…
