Apple has launched its first custom connectivity chip, the N1, with the iPhone 17, aiming to integrate Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other wireless communications under a unified design. This move marks a strategic step toward the company’s technological independence, but it’s not without nuances: the N1 does not support the 320 MHz channel of the Wi-Fi 7 standard, sticking at 160 MHz.
In a context where competitors boast this feature, the inevitable question arises: Is Apple falling behind compared to Google Pixel 9 or the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, which have already announced full support for Wi-Fi 7 at 320 MHz?
What does the 320 MHz channel in Wi-Fi 7 mean?
The Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) standard has introduced the ability to double the maximum channel bandwidth compared to Wi-Fi 6E: from 160 to 320 MHz. This, on paper, allows doubling data throughput and reaching speeds of up to 40 Gbps, provided both the device and access point support it.
Additionally, Wi-Fi 7 offers benefits like ultra-low latency, multi-link operation (combining multiple bands simultaneously: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz), and increased efficiency in congested environments—crucial for applications such as cloud gaming, augmented reality, 8K video streaming, and edge AI.
Apple: pragmatism versus lab figures
The iPhone 17 supports Wi-Fi 7 but is limited to 160 MHz. Apple argues that, although this cuts the theoretical maximum, no operator or home router currently delivers speeds close to the 320 MHz maximum.
Instead, the company has focused the N1 on improving other aspects:
- Faster and more reliable AirDrop, with reduced latency.
- More stable personal hotspot, with fewer disconnections.
- Superior energy efficiency, translating into longer battery life during intensive usage.
For Apple, investing in 320 MHz today would be more of a marketing exercise. They prefer to wait until the ecosystem (carriers, routers, infrastructure) justifies the move.
Google and Samsung: supporting 320 MHz
However, competitors have taken a different route.
- Google Pixel 9 Pro: launched in summer 2025, it features a Qualcomm FastConnect 7900 chip with full support for Wi-Fi 7 at 320 MHz and Multi-Link Operation. Google promotes it as essential for the “Pixel Gaming Hub” and to enhance AI on the device through rapid model downloads and cloud synchronization.
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra: Samsung’s flagship claims to be one of the first phones to utilize 320 MHz alongside Galaxy Home series routers. In lab tests, the company reports reaching peaks over 30 Gbps under controlled conditions.
In practice, these speeds rarely translate to real-world household or mobile network use, but they showcase each manufacturer’s strategy: offer all the available features even if their practical use is still limited.
Does this difference really matter?
In the everyday experience of an average user, the difference between 160 and 320 MHz today is almost imperceptible:
- A fiber connection of 1 or 10 Gbps is usually bottlenecked by the operator’s infrastructure before the mobile device.
- Most current Wi-Fi 7 routers are still sold with 160 MHz channels as the standard configuration, reserving 320 MHz for premium models.
- The most popular apps (social media, 4K streaming, video calls) already work flawlessly with 160 MHz.
The advantage will be more noticeable in high-density environments (businesses, events, smart homes with dozens of connected devices) and in niche applications like extended reality, cloud gaming, or real-time AI connections.
Apple vs. Google and Samsung: two philosophies
- Apple: pragmatism. Prioritizes energy efficiency, hardware-software integration, and control of the actual user experience. Prefers to wait for the ecosystem to mature before jumping in.
- Google and Samsung: maximalism. Incorporate all the standard’s features even if their actual utilization remains limited in 2025. This reinforces their image as “tech innovators” and adds marketing pressure.
Conclusion
The N1 chip in the iPhone 17 is a historic step for Apple in integrating its own connectivity processors, though it declines support for Wi-Fi 7’s 320 MHz. In the short term, this decision has little impact on the average user but could make Apple appear more conservative compared to rivals like Google and Samsung, which are already exploring the full potential of the standard.
The key question remains: when will Apple decide it’s time to fully embrace 320 MHz? If history is any guide, the company tends to arrive later but with polished, widespread implementations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the iPhone 17 support full Wi-Fi 7?
It supports Wi-Fi 7 but is limited to 160 MHz channels, not utilizing the full theoretical maximum of 320 MHz.
Which current phones support 320 MHz Wi-Fi 7?
Devices like the Google Pixel 9 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra already feature full support for 320 MHz.
Is the difference between 160 and 320 MHz really important?
Not much in 2025. Internet infrastructure and home routers haven’t yet reached those speeds. The difference will be more apparent in the future, with advanced networks and high-demand applications.
Why has Apple limited the N1 to 160 MHz?
Pragmatism: they believe the actual benefits are minimal today and have prioritized energy efficiency, stability in AirDrop and hotspot, and better integration with iOS.