Communications chip maker Broadcom today announced a new 5G 802.11ac Wi-Fi chip designed for smartphones.
Capable of data throughput speeds of up to 650 Mbps, the BC4358 is Broadcom's second chip to use 2x2 MIMO (multiple input multiple output), bringing up to twice the Wi-Fi performance with 25 percent more power efficiency than 1x1 MIMO chips.
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MIMO is a technology that utilizes multiple antennas for both the transmitter and receiver to improve communication performance. Apple has adopted MIMO technology in the iPad Air and iPad mini with Retina display.
Today's content-centric consumer spends an average of 4–5 hours a day on Wi-Fi1. With 650 Mbps Wi-Fi data throughput and 50 percent better coexistence performance with Bluetooth, consumers can download content two times faster, stream videos with less buffering and connect to multiple Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices concurrently (e.g. listen to music while playing a game) without interference issues.
According to Broadcom, the new chips are already in production and will begin shipping in smartphones during the third quarter of 2014, which means the timing could possibly be right for inclusion in the iPhone 6.
According to Broadcom, its BCM4358 chip includes improved location accuracy that's accurate "down to one meter" for better indoor location-based services, which aligns with Apple's own indoor mapping aspirations. It's also the first chip that enables Angle-of-Arrival direction finding technology, another feature Apple could make use of. Rumors have suggested Apple is working on indoor mapping features for a future iOS 8 update.
It isn't known if Apple's iPhone 6 will use this specific chip, but Broadcom is one of Apple's partners, supplying chips for both its desktop and mobile devices. Apple uses Broadcom chips in its line of Macs that support 802.11ac, including the MacBook Air, Retina MacBook Pro, and iMac.
Rumors have suggested that the iPhone 6 will likely support 802.11ac, which has been included in Apple's Macs since 2013. 802.11ac Wi-Fi is designed to offer speeds up to three times as fast as existing 802.11n wireless networks.
Top Rated Comments
(View all)Seems cool.. not sure how USEFUL it'd be in every day real life, though....
:apple:
faster, better, less battery, no interference isn't that what we want for every day real life?
Cool, but I don't even know where to find a 650Mbps Wi-Fi network. Does this mean using existing networks will get improved performance with this chip?
Go make a friend in Chattanooga with gigafiber and an Airport Express.
"Rumors have suggested that the iPhone 6 will likely support 802.11ac, which has been included in Apple's Macs since 2013. 802.11ac, or "Gigabit" Wi-Fi is designed to offer speeds up to three times as fast as existing 802.11n wireless networks."
I'd definitely NOT use the term "Gigabit WiFi" when talking about 802.11ac in a smartphone form factor. That simple isn't happening, MacRumors shouldn't confuse the readers with careless statements like that.
The only time you'll actually achieve "gigabit" WiFi 1300Mbps handshake is when using 3x3 MIMO AC router + 3x3 MIMO capable device like a laptop/desktop and 80MHz channel. Even then the chances of getting the actual 1Gbps rates is slim to none.
then you're still screwed
/s
"up to', meaning "you'll never see it attain this speed in your lifetime"802.11ac Wi-Fi is designed to offer speeds up to three times as fast as existing 802.11n wireless networks.
Sure would be nice if they would include what we can expect to see during normal use.
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I haven't ever seen anything faster than 2.2 Mbps at any Starbucks.This isn't going to do anything for non-ac networks, though. Don't expect improved performance at Starbucks any time soon.
The only time you'll actually achieve "gigabit" WiFi 1300Mbps handshake is when using 3x3 MIMO AC router + 3x3 MIMO capable device like a laptop/desktop and 80MHz channel, sitting next to each other inside a Faraday cage. Even then the chances of getting the actual 1Gbps rates is slim to none.
Fixed. :)