Your phone might not connect to WiFi due to a mismatch between the WiFi standards supported by your device and those of your router. Modern iPhones support the latest WiFi standards, such as WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and WiFi 6E, while older routers may only support earlier standards like WiFi 4 (802.11n) or WiFi 5 (802.11ac). This incompatibility can prevent phone from establishing a stable connection and delivering the best speeds.
WiFi standards
Here are WiFi standards, their typical speeds, starting from WiFi 3
| WiFi Standard | IEEE Standard | Frequency Bands | Max Data Rate (Theoretical) | Year Introduced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi 3 | 802.11g | 2.4 GHz | 54 Mbps | 2003 |
| WiFi 4 | 802.11n | 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz | 600 Mbps | 2009 |
| WiFi 5 | 802.11ac | 3.5 Gbps | 2014 | |
| WiFi 6 | 802.11ax | 9.6 Gbps | 2019 | |
| WiFi 6E | 802.11ax | 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz / 6 GHz | 9.6 Gbps | 2020 |
| WiFi 7 | 802.11be | 46 Gbps | Expected 2024 |
iPhone WiFi standards
iPhone models including their Wi-Fi standards and the highest 802.11 standard they support
| Models | Wi-Fi Standard | Highest 802.11 Standard |
|---|---|---|
| 11 - 15 | Wi-Fi 6 | 802.11ax |
| SE | Wi-Fi 6 | |
| 15 pro, 15 pro max | Wi-Fi 6E | |
| future 16 | Wi-Fi 7 | 802.11be |
discontinued iPhones
iPhone models and their Wi-Fi standards that have been discontinued from support since 7.
Models 7,7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus and X all have 802.11 WiFi 5
Samsung phones WiFi standards
Samsung models feature Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax starting from the Galaxy S20 series, including the S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, S20 FE, Note 20, and Note 20 Ultra.
Samsung's older models, including the Galaxy S7, S7 Edge, S8, S8+, Note 8, S9, S9+, A10, A20, and A40, use Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac
Google Pixel phones WiFi
Starting from the Pixel 5, models including the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, and 7a feature WiFi 6 802.11ax.
Older Google Pixel models, including the Pixel 1, 2, 2 XL, 3, 3 XL, 3a, 3a XL, 4, and 4 XL, use Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac.
WPA3 issue
WPA3 is a security feature not part of the IEEE standard but has been required for certification since 2020. As a result, device compatibility can be inconsistent. For example, iPhones have supported WPA3 since the iPhone 7, but will not connect to some latest routers using WPA3.
Conclusion
Any mentioned brand phone, even discontinued models, should achieve 600 Mbps WiFi speed, which exceeds most NBN plans. For security, ensure both your device and router are released from 2020 onwards.
To achieve maximum theoretical WiFi speeds, users need AX routers (WiFi 6) as well as AX models of phones, not older then iPhone 11, Samsung Galaxy S10, or Google Pixel 6.
But if a pre-2020 device fails to connect, you may disable WPA3 and other latest protocols in the router.
June 2024