Apple to equip 2013 Macs with 802.11ac Wi-Fi, sources say
updated 12:07 pm EST, Wed January 2, 2013
Pact with Broadcom allegedly already signed
Apple is working on implementing 802.11ac Wi-Fi into 2013 Mac models, according to sources for The Next Web. The people say that Apple has signed a deal with chipmaker Broadcom, even as the ac standard is still undergoing some revisions. Modern Apple hardware, such as the iMac, supports Wi-Fi standards up to 802.11n.
The chip to be used in upcoming Macs is still in development, the sources say, and it remains unknown when 802.11ac might arrive on smaller-scale devices like the iPad, Apple TV, or Time Capsule. There are however some major technical advantages to ac, such as better capacity, wider coverage, and more power efficiency. Above all the standard allows for speeds up to 1.3Gbps over three antennas, whereas 802.11n can only peak at 450Mbps.
Although gigabit Internet connections are only common in some countries, 802.11ac should be useful worldwide for Mac features like AirPlay and AirDrop. Once ac does come to Apple handhelds, it should make Wi-Fi sync with iTunes a more viable option.
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Joined: 01-26-05
The issue is that the flash in the handhelds is not particularly fast, and in fact USB 2 may not be the limiting factor in current machines. While ac would make sure wifi wasn't the limiting factor, sync speeds wouldn't improve dramatically.