The N1 chip in the iPhone 17 models offers Wi-Fi capabilities that, according to Ookla, are “virtually identical” to those of the iPhone 16’s Broadcom-based chip. Although the N1 is restricted to 160MHz channels and does not fully utilize the faster 320MHz channels of Wi-Fi 7, this limitation does not significantly affect everyday user experience.
Analyzing Speedtest Intelligence data from the six weeks following Apple’s latest smartphone release, Ookla observed that the iPhone 17 series achieved median download and upload speeds up to 40% higher than the iPhone 16 series worldwide. In more demanding Wi-Fi environments, the N1 chip demonstrated even greater improvements, with speeds in the 10th percentile showing a 60% increase over its predecessor, highlighting its enhanced performance in challenging conditions.
In North America, the iPhone 17 models surpassed leading Android competitors such as the Pixel 10 and Galaxy S25 series, even in a region where Wi-Fi 7’s 320MHz channels are more commonly used. The iPhone 17 achieved the highest median and 90th percentile Wi-Fi download speeds, clocking in at 416.14 Mbps and 976.39 Mbps, respectively. While this advantage could shift as more 320MHz-capable Wi-Fi 7 routers become available, it underscores the N1 chip’s ability to provide consistent performance even in less-than-ideal Wi-Fi scenarios.
