Overview
- Apple’s platform deployment guide confirms the change, which outlets surfaced this week after the December software releases.
- Support covers recent Wi‑Fi 6E hardware, including M4 iPad Pro, M3 iPad Air, A17 Pro iPad mini, and Macs such as M2–M5 MacBook Pro and newer MacBook Air models.
- The update doubles the prior 80MHz cap on 5GHz connections, enabling throughput that can approach 6GHz peak speeds in ideal conditions.
- Users will see no speed increase on networks where the 5GHz band is limited to 80MHz or where interference reduces usable channel width.
- Installing iPadOS 26.2 or macOS Tahoe 26.2 via Software Update is required, and 6GHz networks still offer advantages like lower congestion and more spectrum.