AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content.
Apple plans to adopt the next-generation Wi-Fi 6E protocol in its next flagship iPhone and an as-yet-unannounced head-mounted display, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a note to investors this week, Kuo predicts Apple to integrate Wi-Fi 6E in a so-called “iPhone 14” expected to debut in 2022. The analyst previously tapped the speedy wireless connectivity protocol for inclusion in a rumored AR headset that could see introduction late next year.
“We also believe that both the iPhone 14 and Apple head-mounted displays are equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, which is expected to drive more competitors’ products to adopt Wi-Fi 6E,” Kuo writes (machine translated).
Apple’s current device lineup, like the iPhone 13 series and iPad Pro, integrates 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6. The iPhone 13 and 13 Pro, for example, feature 2×2 MIMO capabilities for faster throughput.
Though its name denotes only a slight variation to the the Wi-Fi protocol, Wi-Fi 6E promises to greatly increase potential bandwidth for supported gateways and endpoints. As Kuo notes, Wi-Fi 6E supports two or three times more channels that Wi-Fi 6, depending on hardware configuration. If Apple chooses to roll out 3×3 or 4×4 MIMO designs in “iPhone 14,” it could cause a supply crunch for the wider industry.
As Kuo explains, each channel in a Wi-Fi 6E setup requires two to four LTCC (Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramics) chips, meaning the overall tally could be 10 to 20 times more than existing Wi-Fi 6 designs. Further, Apple’s adoption of Wi-Fi 6E is expected to drive demand for LTCC substrates as the industry follows suit.
