Apple’s latest software enhancements are delivering a significant boost to Wi-fi performance on a range of its devices. Specifically, recent updates are unlocking faster speeds on the 5 GHz band for compatible Macs and iPads, even without the latest Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 routers. This advancement is particularly noticeable when the 6 GHz band isn’t available, a common scenario for many users.
Enhanced Wi-Fi Performance: Which Devices Benefit?
Currently, the performance gains are available on Mac mini M2 and M4 models, as well as Mac Studio computers equipped with an M2 chip or newer. Interestingly, the Mac Pro is not included in this initial rollout. For iPad users, the iPad Air M2 and M3, iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip, and iPad Pro models utilizing the M2 and M4 chips are all seeing improvements.
It’s crucial to note that this functionality isn’t solely tied to macOS Sonoma 14.3. I’ve found that it’s already active on macOS Sonoma 14.2, though initial testing on the very first release of macOS Tahoe didn’t confirm its presence.
Why Does This Matter?
The real advantage of this update becomes clear when you’re using older Wi-Fi routers. If you have a standard Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 router that doesn’t support the 6 GHz band – a common situation with routers provided by internet service providers – your compatible Mac can now significantly improve its performance on the 5 ghz network. You can potentially exceed 1 gigabit per second, with a theoretical maximum around 2.4 Gb/s, although real-world speeds typically reach around 60% of that.
Checking your current channel width within macOS is straightforward. Simply click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar while holding down the option key to reveal detailed connection information.
| Device | Chip | Wi-Fi Improvement |
|---|---|---|
| Mac mini | M2, M4 | Yes |
| Mac Studio | M2 or newer | Yes |
| Mac Pro | N/A | No |
| iPad Air | M2, M3 | Yes |
| iPad mini | A17 Pro |
