Embodiments of MIMO symbol decoders and methods for decoding spatially multiplexed symbols using combined linear equalization decoding and maximum likelihood decoding are generally described herein. In some embodiments, one group of symbols (y) received through two or more spatial channels is decoded using a linear equalization decoding technique and another group of symbols is decoded using a maximum likelihood decoding (MLD) technique to generate a soft-bit output. The symbols may be grouped for either linear equalization decoding or MLD based on channel orthogonality or signal-to-interference and noise ratios (SINRs).