iPadOS and macOS 26.2 Double 5GHz Wi-Fi Bandwidth for Wi-Fi 6E Devices

[MacRumors]

With the release of iPadOS 26.2 and macOS Tahoe 26.2, Apple has improved the Wi-Fi speeds for select Macs and iPads that support Wi-Fi 6E. Updated Wi-Fi connectivity specifications are listed in Apple's platform deployment guide.

The M4 iPad Pro models, M3 iPad Air models, A17 Pro iPad mini, M2 to M5 MacBook Pro models, M2, M3, and M4 MacBook Air models, and other Wi-Fi 6E Macs and iPads now support 160MHz maximum channel bandwidth when connected to 5GHz Wi-Fi networks, the same theoretical maximum throughput supported by 6GHz networks. Previously, these devices were limited to 80MHz.

In ideal conditions, a 160MHz maximum means that iPad and Mac users should see faster file transfers, quicker uploads, and smoother streaming. Wi-Fi 6E devices can take advantage of 6GHz networks, but 5GHz networks remain far more common. 6GHz networks require new router hardware, along with a machine that can take advantage of a 6GHz network.

With the upgrade, Wi-Fi 6E devices that connect to a 5GHz network can get throughput approaching peak 6GHz speeds without having to connect to a 6GHz network. Users who have a Wi-Fi 6 or 6E setup that supports 160MHz on 5GHz networks will be able to take advantage of the bandwidth improvement. Macs that have the updated 160MHz bandwidth limit will not see improvements when connected to 5GHz routers limited to 80MHz.

Though 5GHz bandwidth has improved on select Macs and iPads, 6GHz networks still have the benefit of less congestion and more spectrum.

(Thanks, Johnie!)

Update: Some users have reported seeing 160MHz bandwidth on 5GHz Wi-Fi 6 networks prior to iPadOS/macOS 26.2, so while Apple updated its documentation shortly after the release of these updates, it is unclear when support for the 160MHz maximum bandwidth was rolled out.

Article Link: iPadOS and macOS 26.2 Double 5GHz Wi-Fi Bandwidth for Wi-Fi 6E Devices

 

[neuropsychguy]

It's always great to see new features added to existing hardware.

 

[swrobel]

Any impact to iPhones, or no since the recent models are WiFi 7?

 

[ikir]

Nice! Thanks

 

[Biro]

Huh. That’s interesting. You’d never notice it on my devices. IOS/iPadOS/macOS 26 slows things down in too many other little ways. Web pages hang up or freeze fairly often.

EDIT: I see that @RMMediccc has given me a “disagree” rating on this post. I am fascinated. Exactly what is it that you disagree with? I assure you that the latest OS is impacting my internet operations as I have described. If you are not experiencing similar issues, you can post and say so. But your disagreement with the facts of my post is meaningless.

 

[cigz]

Umm... I can't tell about iPhones and iPads but wasn't that a thing with every Mac since M2 chip? If I'm not mistaken, when Apple released Macs with M1 chip there were reports that they don't support 160MHz bandwidth.

My MacBook Pro with M3 Pro chip, that's still on Sonoma, is and has always been connected to 5GHz Wifi 6 (I don't have 6E router) and the bandwidth is 160MHz.

 

[macduke]

Nice try, Apple! Trying to get us to upgrade to macOS 26 by luring us with faster WiFi. I see you.

 

[Skyuser]

Any impact to iPhones, or no since the recent models are WiFi 7?

iPhones supporting Wi-Fi 6E already support 160MHz on 5GHz networks since their release.

 

[tweaknmod]

Very cool — especially for game streaming. I’m excited to test it!

 

[Camel993]

For this exact reason, I went back to just 80 MHz on my router because over the 160, my Mac mini kept disconnecting from 5GHz after waking up from sleep… BTW, from the article, it's not clear if the Mac mini is getting this boost as well?

 

[thatsthequy]

Correction: M2 MacBook Air still can only do 80 MHz wide channels on 5 GHz.

 

[Skyuser]

For this exact reason, I went back to just 80 MHz on my router because over the 160, my Mac mini kept disconnecting from 5GHz after waking up from sleep… BTW, from the article, it's not clear if the Mac mini is getting this boost as well?

M2/Pro Mac mini and newer models are all getting the boost. But yes, 160MHz on 5GHz is fairly vulnerable to interference, especially in congested environments. Some WiFi access point manufacturers even recommend against enabling 160MHz over 5GHz on their APs.

But still, for those whose environment permits 160MHz, it’s a nice-to-have. 🙂

 

[Camel993]

M2/Pro Mac mini and newer models are all getting the boost. But yes, 160MHz on 5GHz is fairly vulnerable to interference, especially in congested environments. Some WiFi access point manufacturers even recommend against enabling 160MHz over 5GHz on their APs.

But still, for those whose environment permits 160MHz, it’s a nice-to-have. 🙂

Thanks, I will switch it back and test it. 😊

 

[platinumaqua]

Unless you live in a big lot, or a place with no neighbors, it's best to leave it at 80MHz to be courteous to your neighbors.

 

[metalsiren]

160MHz on 5Ghz is just dumb. at this point your better off with 6Ghz for 6E or 7 as others have mentioned your basically killing the spectrum. there is only 2 non overlapping 160 bonded worth of channels so it can be very messy

 

[Alpha Centauri]

Although my M2 2023 MBP 16" applies to the upgrade, it's just not worth moving to MacOS 26, especially since my Lynksis Tri band Velop mesh routers only support the WiFi 5 standard.

Background limitation to moving to MacOS 26 or iOS 26:

1. upgrading Safari 26 caused severe slow down, reverted to previous version.
2. MacOS 26 forces iOS 18 to upgrade to iOS 26 if local backups to MBP are to be performed via Finder
3. I choose my 13 Mini to stay on iOS 18 (wish stayed on iOS 17).

 

[BatCat]

How about fix the bugs first instead of memory leaks at 2x the speed. Argh

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

but not on m1? **** that

 

[1BadManVan]

Interesting, since going to 26.2 on my M2 air, my wifi speeds have dropped significantly. I even made a post about it lol. I used to get 850/220. Now it's 500/150, happened since the update

 

[bmark]

Correction: M2 MacBook Air still can only do 80 MHz wide channels on 5 GHz.

You missed the selected devices only. The M2 MacBook Air doesn't make the cut.

 

[1BadManVan]

You missed the selected devices only. The M2 MacBook Air doesn't make the cut.

And yet somehow my wifi speeds got killed in this last update lol

 

[Vanarak19]

but not on m1? **** that

The m1 doesn’t support 6E, does it?

 

[xARx2]

M2, M3, and M4 MacBook Air models

You missed the selected devices only. The M2 MacBook Air doesn't make the cut.

according to the MR article, it does. odd.

signed, an M2 MBA owner

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

The m1 doesn’t support 6E, does it?

No but it's limited to 80hz sadly (on the 5ghz band)

 

[bmark]

according to the MR article, it does. odd.

signed, an M2 MBA owner

M2 MBA shows 80 MHz only same as M1 MBA.