iPhone 5 vs. iPhone 4S: 5GHz 802.11n vs. 2.4GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi Speed Test [Video]

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Posted September 23, 2012 at 6:00am by Shalom Levytam

We've posted a Wi-Fi speed test comparing the iPhone 5 on 802.11n (5GHz) versus the iPhone 4S on 802.11n (2.4GHz).

The video below shows the transfer of three files (10MB, 50MB, and 100MB) from a local wired server over Wi-Fi.

The iPhone 5 with its 5Ghz 802.11n support clearly blows away the iPhone 4S by transferring at over double the speed. If you previously tried iTunes Wi-Fi sync but thought it was too slow, you might want to give it another try.

The 2.4GHz band is far more congested and thus prone to interference resulting in slower speeds. While the 5GHz band is less congested and can offer faster throughput, its disadvantage is shorter range and difficulty penetrating solid objects.

Take a look at the video below...

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Comments (27)

Comments are closed for this article.

James Paul Mallon - November 25, 2012 at 12:50pm

Please, post the app in your website so we can test our device how fast.. Thanks.. :D I Am a iClarified Fan.. :D We are waiting to post the app here in your website or just email us when you post it in here. ManyMany Thanks.. iClarified the Most amazing Clarified Community yet! :)

selena - October 19, 2012 at 11:34am

Regardless if anyone is using the iphone 4 or 4s, the iphone 5 is a signfiicant enough improvement that it warrants upgrading, whether or not your free upgrade is available from your carrier. If it isn't you could try selling your old phone for around $356.56 http://www.movaluate.com/apple/iphone-4s-16gb-att-black According to Movaluate's fair price appraisal, you should be able to easily sell your phone for that much, which could help pay for the $750~ y ou will need for teh iphone 5 off contract.

Feranz - September 24, 2012 at 8:52pm

is this just because the 2.4GHz radio is using a 20MHz channel and the 5 GHz radio is using a 40MHz channel.

nettraptor - September 24, 2012 at 6:45am

You are comparing different things. Surely the speeds you get on 4s are 2.4 g band. 5GHz is less congested, speed is dependent on hardware since packets you sent from your phones are generated on them, routers might be different for each test, so on and so forth. 5GHz is not a good choice for indoor use and you won't find it in other public areas because its not that good for covering this sort of devices in that way. If you have problems in your house try a good n router or a combination of APs in your house. For as little as 200$-300$ you can get a full set of 3 APs all packed with software controlling them. dlink Ubiquiti and others have sets like that. Good luck

DSS_Sniffer - September 24, 2012 at 12:20am

This test is make with two wifi routers and diferent network and diferent file server ? Thank's Dss_Sniffer

Abdulmajeed - September 24, 2012 at 12:02am

The app is cool!

izwan - September 23, 2012 at 11:54pm

searched the app in appstore but could find. u sure it's real app and not those using After Effects thinggy??

anthonykash - September 23, 2012 at 7:31pm

iClarified, can you please put your app on the app store for us to use?

rakk - September 23, 2012 at 5:11pm

yes , what the app name?

iClarified - September 23, 2012 at 5:28pm

We wrote the app just for the video since we couldn't find an app on the App Store to perform the test. (Most speed test apps measure Internet speed).

grizli123 - September 23, 2012 at 6:03pm

Can you post it on APP Store?

Leo - September 23, 2012 at 2:07pm

need to show they're using the same wifi

Xavy - September 23, 2012 at 1:16pm

What app did you use to test

tdtran1025 - September 23, 2012 at 10:21am

One thing I have observed is that for whatever reason, some people choose to vent out their frustration over some silly devices. It is really not healthy for them to keep on like this because Apple has so much money right now with nearly the best brains in the business. The result will be such that their products will pull so far ahead of the competition in terms of customer satisfaction. This in turn will make "the other camps" more crazy. Take my advice Apple haters, save yourself and stop reading any news about Apple products. After all, they are just inanimate objects and not worth your sanity.

Dd - September 23, 2012 at 10:13am

Doing both at the same time is a bad idea.. Might screw up results

NoGoodNick - September 23, 2012 at 9:39am

If that's the case, then why do you get so offended that people appreciate this one brand over others? Yes Apple is a brand. Just like Coke is a brand. There will be plenty of people who like Pepsi, but it doesn't make much sense to stand on a street corner by a vending machine and berating everyone who chooses to buy a Coke simply because YOU like Pepsi. People aren't "sheep" simply because they like dependable quality in a familiar package. If you want new, go ahead and buy it, and wrestle with the inherent problems with it--one of which is that people simply won't appreciate it!

SaSh72 - September 23, 2012 at 11:30am

Actually Nick got a very good point

damion - September 23, 2012 at 12:00pm

Look at the last computer you bought especially if it was a laptop. Was it 20% thinner? Was it 18% lighter than than your last device? Was it's effective processing speed doubled? No it probably wasn't. If you owned a business that began to exponentially increase and take over the competition would you slow down just so as not to seem like you're making an unfair competition. Now go look at how many "NEW AND IMPROVED" devices a company like Samsung puts out or HTC or Windows. They make minor updates at 4 times the rate of Apple's annual update. I want you too take good look at this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Android_devices Look at how many "minute updates" are made BY EVERYBODY AND THEIR BROTHER. Quit hating apple because you can't appreciate an asthetically well designed physical appearance and an intuitive UI that is actually super low latency response.

NoGoodNick - September 23, 2012 at 9:35am

Although I like the speed, I don't like the shorter range, as I already have trouble getting access to different parts of my house. Guess I'll need some range extenders!

grizli123 - September 23, 2012 at 8:15am

What/How is this APP called?

iClarified - September 23, 2012 at 4:46pm

We wrote the app just for the video since we couldn't find an app on the App Store to perform the test. (Most speed test apps measure Internet speed).

Tovid - September 23, 2012 at 7:21am

They both testing in n!! 4s in 2.4 5 in 5 (dual band)

Gg2012 - September 23, 2012 at 6:23am

WTF ??? The iPhone 4 and 4S ARE already 802.11n why don't make a test with both on 802.11n or 802.11g ???

Yakir - September 23, 2012 at 9:34am

there are both on N according to the video test.

Bigbang001 - September 23, 2012 at 6:19am

Since iPhone 4s already supports 802.11n why you try to check it with 802.11g?! If you want to compare you should set both of them on 802.11n

fakir - September 23, 2012 at 9:35am

They are both on N according to the video test.

Bigbang001 - September 23, 2012 at 11:57am

You didn't read the post? "We've posted a Wi-Fi speed test comparing the iPhone 5 on 802.11n versus the iPhone 4S on 802.11g."