Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models may feature WiFi 6E connectivity, while their more affordable counterparts, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, will not, according to a leaked antenna design document obtained by MacRumors. The document, a schematic outlining the iPhone 15 line’s antenna architecture, shows that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will continue to use the older WiFi 6 standard.
This feature gap between the iPhone and iPhone Pro models could widen with the 2023 models, as Apple is looking for ways to differentiate its Pro models from their more mainstream counterparts. Apple has yet to roll out WiFi 6E connectivity more broadly, but some of their latest devices, including the recently announced M2 variants of the Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and iPad Pro, already sport WiFi 6E connectivity.
The potential omission of WiFi 6E from the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus probably won’t hurt most consumers, as the majority of homes and businesses are still running older WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 routers. However, for those with a compatible WiFi 6E router, the standard promises faster connectivity speeds and lower latency than WiFi 6.
This is not the first time that Apple has restricted the availability of new WiFi standards to iPhone Pro models. Before the iPhone 14 line, the differences between the Pro and standard models were fairly negligible, unless you had an interest in photography. However, as of last year, only the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max came with Apple’s new A16 Bionic chip, Dynamic Island cutout, and ProMotion display.
Other features that could be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max include Apple’s upcoming A16 chipset, a titanium frame, and more RAM for multitasking. The phones could also sport solid-state volume and power buttons. With the release of the iPhone 15 still a ways off, it remains to be seen which features will be included in the final product.
