Apple has quietly improved Wi-Fi performance on select Macs and iPads with the release of iPadOS 26.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.2. The update increases supported bandwidth on compatible Wi-Fi 6E devices, which can lead to faster speeds on common home and office networks.
The key change involves 5GHz Wi-Fi networks. Several Macs and iPads that support Wi-Fi 6E now allow a maximum channel bandwidth of 160MHz on 5GHz connections. Earlier, these devices were limited to 80MHz. With this update, 5GHz networks can now reach the same theoretical peak speeds as 6GHz networks under ideal conditions.
MacRumors first reported the change, citing updated Wi-Fi connectivity specifications listed in Apple’s platform deployment guide.
Which Devices Get Faster Wi-Fi
The bandwidth increase applies to several recent Apple devices, including:
- M4 iPad Pro models
- M3 iPad Air models
- A17 Pro iPad mini
- MacBook Pro models from M2 through M5
- MacBook Air models with M2, M3, and M4 chips
- Other Macs and iPads that support Wi-Fi 6E
All of these devices can now use 160MHz bandwidth on supported 5GHz Wi-Fi networks.
In good network conditions, a wider bandwidth allows more data to move at once. That translates to faster file transfers, quicker uploads, and smoother video streaming. The benefit matters because most users still rely on 5GHz networks rather than 6GHz.
While Wi-Fi 6E devices already support 6GHz networks, those networks require newer routers and are less common. With this update, users can get near 6GHz-level speeds even when connected to a 5GHz network, as long as the router supports 160MHz bandwidth.
Limits to Keep in Mind
The speed boost depends on router support. Macs and iPads with the updated 160MHz limit will not see improvements if the router only supports 80MHz on 5GHz. In those cases, performance stays the same as before.
Also, 6GHz networks still offer advantages. They face less congestion and provide more available spectrum, which can result in more stable performance in busy areas.
Even so, this update makes Wi-Fi 6E devices more useful on existing networks and brings a noticeable improvement without new hardware for many users.
