QCN9074 (4x4) vs MT7915 (2x2): What Hardware Developers Need to Know in 2025

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QCN9074 (4x4) vs MT7915 (2x2): What Hardware Developers Need to Know in 2025

As wireless connectivity continues to evolve, choosing the right WiFi chip is more critical than ever—especially for hardware developers designing routers, access points, or industrial WiFi solutions. Two popular choices today are the MediaTek MT7915 and Qualcomm QCN9074. While both support WiFi 6 and offer robust performance, they differ significantly in design, throughput, and application scenarios.

1. Key Technical Differences

Feature	MT7915	QCN9074
MIMO	2x2	4x4
WiFi Standard	WiFi 6	WiFi 6E
Frequency Bands	2.4GHz / 5GHz	2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz
Max Throughput	~1.2 Gbps	~4.8 Gbps
Target Market	Consumer / Small Office	Enterprise / Industrial

The MT7915 is a 2x2 solution, suitable for consumer devices, small office routers, and lightweight access points. Its dual-stream design ensures reliable performance for typical home and office environments.

In contrast, the QCN9074 is a 4x4 solution that supports WiFi 6E, adding the 6GHz band for less interference and higher capacity. Its higher number of streams makes it ideal for high-density networks, industrial environments, and scenarios demanding low latency and high throughput.

2. Practical Applications

• MT7915 (2x2)
  
  • Home mesh routers
  • Small office WiFi APs
  • Low-to-mid-range IoT gateways
    
• QCN9074 (4x4)
  
  • Industrial WiFi solutions (factories, logistics centers, ports)
  • Enterprise-grade access points
  • High-density public networks (airports, stadiums)
    

3. Why MIMO Streams Matter

The number of MIMO streams directly impacts network capacity and multi-user performance. A 2x2 chip like MT7915 handles two simultaneous data streams per client, which is adequate for average household or office use. A 4x4 chip like QCN9074 can handle four streams per client, improving throughput, reducing congestion, and enabling more devices to connect simultaneously—crucial for industrial and enterprise environments.

4. Considerations for Hardware Developers

When choosing between MT7915 and QCN9074, consider the following:

• Target Market & Environment: Consumer vs industrial, low-density vs high-density.
• Required Throughput: Will your application need multi-gigabit performance?
• Future Proofing: WiFi 6E (QCN9074) provides access to the 6GHz band, which will be increasingly relevant.
• Cost & Integration: MT7915 is typically more cost-effective and easier to integrate into compact consumer devices.
  

5. Conclusion

Both MT7915 and QCN9074 have their strengths. MT7915 shines in cost-sensitive consumer and small office solutions, while QCN9074 dominates in high-density, high-performance, and industrial WiFi scenarios. Hardware developers must carefully match chip capabilities to the intended application to ensure optimal performance and future scalability.

For teams exploring industrial WiFi solutions, Wallys offers modules and router boards based on QCN9074 and MT7915 that can be customized for your project needs.

Contact us: sales1@wallystech.com

Q&A: MT7915 vs QCN9074

Q1: Can MT7915 support high-density networks like QCN9074?
A: Not really. MT7915 is 2x2, suitable for home or small office environments. QCN9074’s 4x4 design handles more simultaneous connections, making it better for high-density networks.

Q2: Is QCN9074 necessary for a small office router?
A: Usually not. For small offices or homes, MT7915 provides sufficient speed and reliability at a lower cost.

Q3: Why choose QCN9074 over MT7915?
A: If your project requires WiFi 6E, higher throughput, low latency, or support for more devices (industrial or enterprise scenarios), QCN9074 is the better choice.

Q4: Can MT7915 and QCN9074 coexist in the same network?
A: Yes. You can mix devices, but keep in mind each will perform according to its specs. High-density areas will benefit more from QCN9074 APs.

Q5: What about cost differences?
A: MT7915 modules are generally more affordable and easier to integrate for consumer devices, while QCN9074 offers higher performance at a premium, suited for enterprise or industrial applications.