M1 Mac Wifi ONLY 2x2!!! Seriously thinking of returning

[JamieLannister]

Update:
It's a config error - firmware updated settings wiped out back to defaults - enabled VHT80 and it works. BUT, a huge BUT - this garbage m1 mini only supports 2x2!!??!?!?!? wow, this is just so apple-like. I'm seriously contemplating on returning this device, I get 3x3 on my intel 2020 MBP 2.0ghz machine, but this new mini only has 2x2 on top of that, single gigabit ethernet?!?




I just picked up this M1 Mac mini - I have some issues with 802.11ac connection - RSSI is great, -45dBm, noise, -95dBm, but the transmission rate is extremely crap, 156mbps - this is on 5GHz, VHT20 only, while my 2020 MBP 13 (intel 2.0/16GBRam) can connect just fine with full 1300mbps on same channel but supports VHT80.

This Mac mini will not switch to anything other than 5GHz, 20mhz bandwidth. There's got to be a fault with these new M1 wifi?! Anyone with same issues?

This is connected to an UAP-AC-HD with latest firmware - all other Mac devices (intel) has zero issues, except this brand new M1 mini.

TIA!

PS- M1 mini w/8G, 512GB storage. Logitech USB webcam C525 works without a hitch, bluetooth is fine, usb-c output to Dell 2520D display just fine, nothing except this wifi connection rate is piss poor. Unifiy UAP-AC-HD within 5 ft line of sight to new M1 mini, too.

 

[4sallypat]

Have you checked if the DNS server is correctly set ?

Turned off BT and use wired KB/M to see if that helps ?

I don't use wireless for my Mini - it's not as fast as wired so that's what I use Display Ethernet from my 27" Thunderbolt display connected to get almost gigabit speed.

 

[IowaLynn]

I bought wifi 6 with ax and even 4 yr old devices are finally doing fine, seems better using 5Ghz only - no switching or dropouts, actually gets flat even rate AND no more resetting and rebooting modem and router, or the 3PM Netflix slowing or lost connection... MS Surface Laptop use to be worst.

All I care about is it works now after years of being big headache.

 

[JamieLannister]

Thanks guys - it's working fine except I just found out this m1 mini ONLY supports 2x2AC, this is seriously pathetic

 

[Anonymous Freak]

The mini is a low-end system. Apple has always had less-than-full-support for multi-stream WiFi on their lower end systems.

The M1 systems are no exception.

My M1 Mini connects using 80 MHz channels in 5 GHz -AC mode, but only 20 MHz in 2.4 GHz -AX mode. (I don't know why it connects so much slower in -AX. I use Ethernet-connected boosters from my main router, with the closest booster only about 8 feet away in the same room; maybe it doesn't want to connect over 2.4 GHz to the booster, but insists on connecting to the main router further away?)

 

[KPOM]

The mini is a low-end system. Apple has always had less-than-full-support for multi-stream WiFi on their lower end systems.

The M1 systems are no exception.

My M1 Mini connects using 80 MHz channels in 5 GHz -AC mode, but only 20 MHz in 2.4 GHz -AX mode. (I don't know why it connects so much slower in -AX. I use Ethernet-connected boosters from my main router, with the closest booster only about 8 feet away in the same room; maybe it doesn't want to connect over 2.4 GHz to the booster, but insists on connecting to the main router further away?)

I’m getting 1200Mbps on an 80MHz channel from my M1 MacBook Air running on a Wi-Fi 6 router.

 

[JamieLannister]

The mini is a low-end system. Apple has always had less-than-full-support for multi-stream WiFi on their lower end systems.

The M1 systems are no exception.

My M1 Mini connects using 80 MHz channels in 5 GHz -AC mode, but only 20 MHz in 2.4 GHz -AX mode. (I don't know why it connects so much slower in -AX. I use Ethernet-connected boosters from my main router, with the closest booster only about 8 feet away in the same room; maybe it doesn't want to connect over 2.4 GHz to the booster, but insists on connecting to the main router further away?)

I don't know about your AX ap, but the UAP-AC-HD can force VHT20/40 - and you can also force clients at 5GHz VHT20/40/80/160 but 160 won't work for any apple device.

This Mac mini isn't that low end I'm quite happy with performance but seriously having 2 usb-c ports and a 2x2 wifi antenna in 2020/21 is just apple like. The cost won't be that much more but it just makes you look absolutely backwards in tech. The m1 mini fan hardly blows FAST - and the constant stream of air in the rear is so light, you will never notice it. I have it hanging vertically off my wall with a custom bracket.

 

[JamieLannister]

I’m getting 1200Mbps on an 80MHz channel from my M1 MacBook Air running on a Wi-Fi 6 router.

You can reach higher speed on 802.11ac with 3x3 and even faster with 4x4. This is even pathetic for ax!

 

[KPOM]

I don't know about your AX ap, but the UAP-AC-HD can force VHT20/40 - and you can also force clients at 5GHz VHT20/40/80/160 but 160 won't work for any apple device.

This Mac mini isn't that low end I'm quite happy with performance but seriously having 2 usb-c ports and a 2x2 wifi antenna in 2020/21 is just apple like. The cost won't be that much more but it just makes you look absolutely backwards in tech. The m1 mini fan hardly blows FAST - and the constant stream of air in the rear is so light, you will never notice it. I have it hanging vertically off my wall with a custom bracket.

They are Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 ports, and Apple was quite open about built in connectivity.

 

[JamieLannister]

They are Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4 ports, and Apple was quite open about built in connectivity.

Means absolutely nothing to me for I don't use TB3 devices at all. I didn't hear apple mention 2x2 antennas on this m1 mini in any of their videos. But it was my fault because I was too quick to view the intel model online and saw 4 ports - not remembering if the presentation spoke of only having 2 ports.

 

[Maconplasma]

Correct me if I'm wrong but there aren't many 3X3 or 4X4 clients out there as of yet. The majority are 2X2. Aren't the iPhone 11 and 12 both 2X2 clients? I don't see the problem personally. I have an iPhone 11 with a full Wifi 6 system and a 1Gig plan with Xfinity. My speeds are very high wirelessly. The Mac mini is a low end product. In fact it's the lowest of the low end. Perhaps the upcoming 16" will be a 4X4 client if necessary. You have to keep in mind about cost along with what the majority is using.

 

[JamieLannister]

Correct me if I'm wrong but there aren't many 3X3 or 4X4 clients out there as of yet. The majority are 2X2. Aren't the iPhone 11 and 12 both 2X2 clients? I don't see the problem personally. I have an iPhone 11 with a full Wifi 6 system and a 1Gig plan with Xfinity. My speeds are very high wirelessly. The Mac mini is a low end product. In fact it's the lowest of the low end. Perhaps the upcoming 16" will be a 4X4 client if necessary. You have to keep in mind about cost along with what the majority is using.

no iPhone supports 4x4, 3x3. 2020 mbp (intel 2.0ghz+) models support 3x3 wireless AC. MBAir's all support 2x2. I will end up keeping this m1 mini after all - I will connect an ethernet to it.

 

[raknor]

Thanks guys - it's working fine except I just found out this m1 mini ONLY supports 2x2AC, this is seriously pathetic

Why? It’s the entry level model.

 

[JosephRedfern]

The mini is a low-end system. Apple has always had less-than-full-support for multi-stream WiFi on their lower end systems.

The M1 systems are no exception.

My M1 Mini connects using 80 MHz channels in 5 GHz -AC mode, but only 20 MHz in 2.4 GHz -AX mode. (I don't know why it connects so much slower in -AX. I use Ethernet-connected boosters from my main router, with the closest booster only about 8 feet away in the same room; maybe it doesn't want to connect over 2.4 GHz to the booster, but insists on connecting to the main router further away?)

The mini may be a low end system in some respects, but given the Intel minis support 10gb Ethernet, it doesn’t seem crazy for it to support full speed 3x3 wireless.

 

[raknor]

The mini may be a low end system in some respects, but given the Intel minis support 10gb Ethernet, it doesn’t seem crazy for it to support full speed 3x3 wireless.

The M1 mini doesn’t support 10GigE either. The intel mini is still on the catalogue if you need higher RAM and networking specs. The M1 mini is the entry level model which just happens to have a crazy fast SoC.

 

[Chompineer]

2x2 AX outperforming 3x3 AC. I see no issues here.

 

[Anonymous Freak]

The mini may be a low end system in some respects, but given the Intel minis support 10gb Ethernet, it doesn’t seem crazy for it to support full speed 3x3 wireless.

The M1 mini is the low end of the low end. You'll notice they're still selling the Intel mini.

And the latest Intel mini is in "pro system gray", where the M1 mini went back to "consumer silver".

The M1 mini is purely a low end system, without even the illusions of being a "Pro" system.

 

[JamieLannister]

The M1 mini is the low end of the low end. You'll notice they're still selling the Intel mini.

And the latest Intel mini is in "pro system gray", where the M1 mini went back to "consumer silver".

The M1 mini is purely a low end system, without even the illusions of being a "Pro" system.

This makes zero sense when its the exact same SoC in the MacBook Pro so you'd think the Pro in MacBook means nothing? The Mac mini is more than capable and nowhere close to "low end" - just because it's priced the way it is (without display, keyboard, accessories) does not mean it is low end.

 

[raknor]

This makes zero sense when its the exact same SoC in the MacBook Pro so you'd think the Pro in MacBook means nothing? The Mac mini is more than capable and nowhere close to "low end" - just because it's priced the way it is (without display, keyboard, accessories) does not mean it is low end.

It makes perfect sense. Have you been living under a rock for the past 4 years?

When the 13” 2 port model was released in 2016 Apple clearly said that model was meant to be a better Air in the same body as the 4 port model.

Pro is marketing for better. In computer terms “workstation” is the term you are conflating with professional systems.

It is more than capable is because the M1 chip redefined what performance and performance per watt means compared to intel CPUs. However, for Apple it is still the baby processor for Macs, which means the chips that will go into the bigger systems will be much better and have the I/O and options higher end users demand.

 

[mcnallym]

well on the intel you maybe getting 3x3 however you are also only getting 802.11ac / wifi5. On the new m1 then getting 2x2 but is 802.11ax or wifi6.

I would be more upset at shipping 802.11ac in 2020.

 

[MGLXP]

Update:
It's a config error - firmware updated settings wiped out back to defaults - enabled VHT80 and it works. BUT, a huge BUT - this garbage m1 mini only supports 2x2!!??!?!?!? wow, this is just so apple-like. I'm seriously contemplating on returning this device, I get 3x3 on my intel 2020 MBP 2.0ghz machine, but this new mini only has 2x2 on top of that, single gigabit ethernet?!?




I just picked up this M1 Mac mini - I have some issues with 802.11ac connection - RSSI is great, -45dBm, noise, -95dBm, but the transmission rate is extremely crap, 156mbps - this is on 5GHz, VHT20 only, while my 2020 MBP 13 (intel 2.0/16GBRam) can connect just fine with full 1300mbps on same channel but supports VHT80.

This Mac mini will not switch to anything other than 5GHz, 20mhz bandwidth. There's got to be a fault with these new M1 wifi?! Anyone with same issues?

This is connected to an UAP-AC-HD with latest firmware - all other Mac devices (intel) has zero issues, except this brand new M1 mini.

TIA!

PS- M1 mini w/8G, 512GB storage. Logitech USB webcam C525 works without a hitch, bluetooth is fine, usb-c output to Dell 2520D display just fine, nothing except this wifi connection rate is piss poor. Unifiy UAP-AC-HD within 5 ft line of sight to new M1 mini, too.

I was also super disappointed that it is running 2x2 802.11ac (866Mbps). I was expecting the 3x3 (1300Mbps) I got with the previous Intel systems (*well it was the MBP). 2x2 is the same as the iPhone.

 

[Zazoh]

Wait till you find out the clock speed of the M1. Apple hasn’t ever been one to impress with tech sheets. If the device is smooth, snappy and responsive who cares how they get there?

 

[Luposian]

well on the intel you maybe getting 3x3 however you are also only getting 802.11ac / wifi5. On the new m1 then getting 2x2 but is 802.11ax or wifi6.

I would be more upset at shipping 802.11ac in 2020.

Count yourselves lucky... we're still living in the antiquated age of 802.11n!!! Thankfully, we're using our dual-band Asus (four antenna) router for Cox Internet (yeah, getting 20-25Mbytes/sec. downloads is just unbearable! NOT!) and not in-home networking, where we might actually be complaining! 😆

 

[Pressure]

Why don’t people use Ethernet with their desktop computers?

Especially if you live in a Wi-Fi congested area (apartments etc.) then you are just fighting for the available bandwidth.

 

[Wortak]

Why don’t people use Ethernet with their desktop computers?

Because the M1 Mini only has Gigabit Ethernet, but people want higher speeds?