When the iPhone 15 phones come out, we’re again expecting some differences between the standard two phones and the two more expensive Pro models — one of which could be Wi-Fi support.
Leaked documents released by the leaker unknown z21 (opens in a new tab) on Twitter (via mike rumors (opens in a new tab)) references the antenna architecture of the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
According to the document, the standard iPhone 15 and Plus models will stick to the same Wi-Fi 6 specification as the current iPhone 14 series. However, the Pro and Pro Max will be upgraded to the latest Wi-Fi 6E standard.
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Earlier this week, we heard rumors that Wi-Fi 6E would appear in the iPhone 15 lineup in 2023, but at that stage, we assumed the upgrade was for all models. That doesn’t seem to be the case now.
The difference between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E isn’t huge: it supports an additional 6 GHz band as well as 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, so while the speeds are similar, the capacity is greater and works on more devices. You’ll also need a Wi-Fi 6E router to take advantage of the improved technology.
While not mentioned in this document leak, we assume that if the iPhone 15 Ultra is real, it will also get a Wi-Fi 6E upgrade. It’s unclear whether the phone will be a standalone model or a Pro Max version that replaces the iPhone.
Analysis: More Reasons to Upgrade
Apple has clearly worked hard in recent years to make Pro model upgrades as worthwhile as possible for people, most recently with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. In contrast, the Standard Model seems to have been all but ignored.
Last year, for example, we first saw a speed difference between two pairs of models: the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus were equipped with the A15 Bionic chipset, while the pricier phones were equipped with the latest A16 Bionic upgrade.
A slight upgrade to the Wi-Fi standard might not be the most important spec when choosing a phone, but it’s another reason to pick one of the Pro models when they’re available (in September, if Apple insists on selling them) on its usual schedule).
The danger is that cheaper iPhones will go unnoticed by buyers (it’s rumored that the Plus version doesn’t sell well at all) — but with the Pro models retailing for more, that seems to be a tradeoff Apple is happy to make.
