From your question, I presume you already understand the basic progression of Wi-Fi standards:
Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) → Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) → Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) → Wi-Fi 6E → Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be).
The important point is that your device can only use the highest Wi-Fi standard supported by both the device and the router. Wi-Fi is backwards compatible, so a newer device can connect to an older router, but the connection will operate using the older standard.
For example, the iPhone 11 and later support Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). Therefore, if an iPhone 11 is connected to a router that supports only Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), the iPhone will connect using Wi-Fi 5. If the router supports Wi-Fi 6, the iPhone can use Wi-Fi 6.
The same principle applies to newer standards:
- Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n): Older generation, supporting 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
- Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac): Major improvement in speed and capacity, primarily on 5 GHz.
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax): Improves efficiency, capacity and performance, particularly when many devices are connected.
- Wi-Fi 6E: Extends Wi-Fi 6 into the 6 GHz band, providing additional spectrum and less congestion where supported.
- Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be): Newer generation with higher potential throughput, lower latency, wider channels and technologies such as Multi-Link Operation (MLO).
Consider this setup:
iPhone 13 — iOS 26.6 — Model MLMT3LL/A
MacBook Air — Apple M4 — macOS 26.6.1
Router — TP-Link HB810 — Internet service through Ziply Fiber
The relevant question is not simply “What version of iOS or macOS am I running?” The important question is what Wi-Fi hardware and Wi-Fi standard are supported by each device and by the router.
The iPhone 13 supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). Therefore, if the TP-Link router is operating with Wi-Fi 6, the iPhone 13 can establish a Wi-Fi 6 connection. If the router were configured or operating only with Wi-Fi 5, the iPhone would fall back to Wi-Fi 5.
Likewise, the MacBook Air's Apple M4 platform supports modern Wi-Fi capabilities, but the capabilities and configuration of both the MacBook Air and the router determine the actual Wi-Fi standard used for a particular connection.
The app you are using is not what determines the Wi-Fi standard
This is an important distinction.
If you are checking the Wi-Fi connection using Speedtest, Fast.com, a browser, an Apple app, or another network-testing application, the application itself does not determine whether the connection is Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7.
That is fundamentally a hardware and network-negotiation issue between the Wi-Fi radio in your device and the Wi-Fi radio in the access point/router.
The app can measure the result of the connection—for example, download speed, upload speed, latency and packet loss—but it doesn't change the underlying Wi-Fi generation.
Think of it this way:
Wi-Fi hardware establishes the road.
The network configuration determines which road you use.
The app measures how fast you travelled on it.
Therefore, if someone reports:
“My iPhone is getting different Wi-Fi speeds in different apps.”
that does not necessarily mean that the iPhone has switched from Wi-Fi 6 to Wi-Fi 5. The difference may be caused by the app's server, network path, protocol, background activity, VPN, browser behaviour or other factors.
Another important distinction: Wi-Fi speed ≠ Internet speed
Even if your iPhone is connected to the router using Wi-Fi 6, that does not mean your Internet connection will operate at Wi-Fi 6's theoretical maximum.
For example:
iPhone → Wi-Fi 6 → TP-Link router → Ziply Fiber → Internet
There are several separate components here.
The Wi-Fi link speed is the wireless connection between the iPhone and router.
The Internet speed is determined by the connection from the router through Ziply Fiber and ultimately to the particular Internet server being accessed.
So you could have an excellent Wi-Fi 6 connection but obtain a much lower Internet speed because of the broadband plan, congestion, server limitations or other network conditions.
Conversely, a fast fiber connection can still appear slow if the Wi-Fi connection between the device and router is weak or congested.
The key principle
The most important thing to remember is:
The Wi-Fi capability of the device + the Wi-Fi capability/configuration of the router determine the Wi-Fi standard actually used.
For example:
iPhone XS (Wi-Fi 5) + Wi-Fi 6 router → Wi-Fi 5
iPhone 13 (Wi-Fi 6) + Wi-Fi 5 router → Wi-Fi 5
iPhone 13 (Wi-Fi 6) + Wi-Fi 6 router → Wi-Fi 6
And with newer equipment:
Wi-Fi 6E-capable device + Wi-Fi 6E router → Wi-Fi 6E/6 GHz when conditions and configuration permit
Wi-Fi 7-capable device + Wi-Fi 7 router → Wi-Fi 7 when supported features are negotiated
So simply having the latest iOS, macOS, or a particular app does not by itself make the Wi-Fi connection faster. The Wi-Fi radios, router/access point, configuration, signal conditions and Internet connection are what matter.
