During Apple’s “Awe dropping” event, when Apple introduced the iPhone Air, the thinnest iPhone Apple designed, the company touted iPhone Air as the power-efficient iPhone ever as it packs the most Apple Silicon chips ever. One of the new Apple Silicon chips introduced was N1, Apple’s first wireless networking chip. Since Apple introduced N1 when it showcased the iPhone Air, some of us initially assumed that it was only on the iPhone Air. However, if you take a look at the press releases for both the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro, you’ll see that the N1 chip is also available on all iPhone 17 models.
To recap, the N1 chip is Apple’s custom-designed wireless network chip that integrates Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Threads technologies onto one chip. Since Apple designs the hardware, the software, and now its own silicon, Apple is always able to create an unparalleled, tight integration across all its products by optimizing its software and features to take full advantage of the hardware and silicon to provide the most optimal performance and experience. Apple’s N1 chip is no exception as it now brings improved performance and reliability of wireless-related features such as AirDrop and Personal Hotspot.
One thing to keep in mind is that according to FCC documents reviewed by MacRumors, the N1 chip’s channel bandwidth is capped at up to 160 MHz, rather than the standard’s peak 320 MHz benchmark. Note that those speeds are theoretical, maximum speeds that Wi-Fi 7 is capable of, so it likely that you won’t be able to achieve those speeds as internet service provides and other factors have already bottlenecked Wi-Fi speeds. However, there’s nothing you should worry about because Wi-Fi 7 is the latest standard, and it will become the industry standard as the provides faster speeds, improved range, and more robust connectivity with a compatible router.
Compatible iPhone 16 models (sans the iPhone 16e), iPhone 17 models, and iPhone Air feature Wi-Fi 7, and many more Apple devices will adopt this standard in the near future.
