Apple introduced the N1 wireless networking chip with the iPhone 17 series and the iPhone Air.
Apple’s N1 reportedly supports only up to 160 MHz channels, not the full 320 MHz bandwidth
Apple introduced the new N1 wireless networking chip with the iPhone 17 series and the iPhone Air in September. The company's in-house chipset replaced the Broadcom-provided processors. At launch, the Cupertino-based tech giant had promised improvements in reliability and power efficiency. Now, a new report has tested the chipset against Android flagships, such as the Google Pixel 10 series, Samsung Galaxy S25 series, and the Xiaomi 15T to determine where its performance stands.
According to crowdsourced data from Ookla, Apple's N1 wireless networking chip delivers a big performance boost when compared to the iPhone 16 series, as well as the current Android counterparts. Notably, the N1 is Apple's first fully custom networking silicon and integrates support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread, a protocol often used for smart-home devices.
Ookla analysed Speedtest Intelligence data collected over six weeks following the launch of iPhones running the N1. Compared to the Broadcom-based wireless chip in the iPhone 16 series, it was found that devices with the N1 show up to 40 percent higher median download and upload speeds globally.
What's more interesting is how the N1 seems to improve consistency, not just peak speeds. According to the data, users in more challenging Wi-Fi environments, for example, with weaker signal strength, saw some of the biggest gains. The 10th percentile (roughly the “worst-case” user experience) on the N1-powered iPhone devices was more than 60 percent faster than the equivalent percentile on the iPhone 16.
Against Android flagships, the N1-powered iPhone 17 devices reportedly hold their ground well. For instance, Google's Pixel 10 Pro recorded the highest global median download speed at 335.33 Mbps, narrowly edging out the iPhone 17 family's 329.56 Mbps in Ookla's dataset. However, at the 10th percentile, the iPhone 17 reportedly outperformed the Pixel 10 Pro, with 56.08 Mbps vs. 53.25 Mbps, suggesting Apple's chip better manages weaker network conditions.
Some Android phones still lead in other areas. For example, Xiaomi's 15T Pro, powered by a MediaTek Wi-Fi solution, is said to deliver particularly strong upload performance and low latency. In contrast, Huawei's Pura 80 family lags somewhat in peak performance due to its lack of 6GHz support in some markets.
Interestingly, Apple's N1 reportedly supports only up to 160MHz channels, not the full 320MHz width that is part of the Wi-Fi 7 standard. On paper, that could limit the maximum theoretical speeds, but as per Ookla's data, that restriction “does not materially affect performance in real-world use for most people.” The implication is that Apple's tuning, hardware integration, and perhaps intelligent radio management are compensating for the narrower channel bandwidth.
In North America, where 320MHz-capable Wi-Fi 7 routers are more common, the iPhone 17 series still managed a median download speed of 416.14 Mbps and a 90th-percentile download speed of 976.39 Mbps, according to the report.
For the end users, this means the iPhone 17 series and the new Air model will deliver higher reliability and better performance in weaker Wi-Fi zones. This means fewer dropouts in crowded homes or during long video calls. Additionally, smarter radio management will also ensure better battery efficiency.
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