Apple's latest M4-powered Mac lineup, including the new Mac mini, iMac, and MacBook Pro models, has surprisingly omitted Wi-Fi 7 support, despite the technology's inclusion in the iPhone 16 series. This decision has raised eyebrows among tech enthusiasts and consumers alike.
The new M4 Macs continue to utilize Wi-Fi 6E, which offers access to the 6GHz band on compatible routers. While Wi-Fi 6E is certainly capable, it falls short of the cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 standard that many expected to see in these high-end devices.
Interestingly, the iPhone 16 models released in September feature Wi-Fi 7 chips from Broadcom. However, it's worth noting that Apple's implementation of Wi-Fi 7 in the iPhones is not without limitations. The maximum physical layer data rate and channel bandwidth remain the same as Wi-Fi 6E at 2400Mb/s and 160MHz, respectively.
The absence of Wi-Fi 7 in the M4 Macs is particularly puzzling given the longevity of these devices. Many users keep their Macs for several years, and the inclusion of Wi-Fi 7 would have provided a degree of future-proofing.
Despite this omission, the new M4 Macs boast impressive upgrades. The M4 Pro and M4 Max chips offer significant performance improvements over their predecessors. The MacBook Pro models now feature Thunderbolt 5 ports, providing speeds up to 120 Gb/s. They also come with enhanced displays, including a new nano-texture option, and an improved 12MP Center Stage camera.
The M4 Max chip, in particular, stands out with its 16-core CPU and up to 40-core GPU, offering substantial performance gains over the M1 Max. It supports up to 128GB of unified memory and includes an enhanced Media Engine for video processing.
While the lack of Wi-Fi 7 may disappoint some potential buyers, the M4 Macs still offer robust connectivity options with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3. The decision to stick with Wi-Fi 6E likely won't be a deal-breaker for most users, given the overall performance improvements and new features introduced in these models.
As Apple continues to push the boundaries of chip design and performance, it remains to be seen when Wi-Fi 7 will make its debut in the Mac lineup. For now, users can still enjoy the benefits of Wi-Fi 6E while taking advantage of the impressive capabilities of the new M4 chips.