Render distance limit from 28 to 9??

Before the update my render distance limit was about 26-28 chunks, now the limit is 9!!! The recommended limit even is 6 chunks which makes no total sense at all! My iPad 7th gen could handle the 26 chunks, I get it you needed to lower it bc of the new caves but seriously from 28 TO 9?!? I heard some people’s max didn’t change, if they did it only changed from 26 to 18 or smth. This has to be some sort of bug.