diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index f692b1f7d0..0363b5afdf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ jobs:
     if: github.event_name == 'pull_request' && fromJSON(needs.determine-jobs.outputs.component-test-count) >= 100
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
-      max-parallel: 5
+      max-parallel: ${{ (github.base_ref == 'beta' || github.base_ref == 'release') && 8 || 4 }}
       matrix:
         components: ${{ fromJson(needs.test-build-components-splitter.outputs.matrix) }}
     steps:
diff --git a/esphome/components/usb_host/usb_host.h b/esphome/components/usb_host/usb_host.h
index 036c535bd7..43b24a54a5 100644
--- a/esphome/components/usb_host/usb_host.h
+++ b/esphome/components/usb_host/usb_host.h
@@ -58,8 +58,12 @@ static const size_t SETUP_PACKET_SIZE = 8;
 static const size_t MAX_REQUESTS = USB_HOST_MAX_REQUESTS;  // maximum number of outstanding requests possible.
 static_assert(MAX_REQUESTS >= 1 && MAX_REQUESTS <= 32, "MAX_REQUESTS must be between 1 and 32");
 
-// Select appropriate bitmask type based on MAX_REQUESTS
-// uint16_t for <= 16 requests, uint32_t for 17-32 requests
+// Select appropriate bitmask type for tracking allocation of TransferRequest slots.
+// The bitmask must have at least as many bits as MAX_REQUESTS, so:
+// - Use uint16_t for up to 16 requests (MAX_REQUESTS <= 16)
+// - Use uint32_t for 17-32 requests (MAX_REQUESTS > 16)
+// This is tied to the static_assert above, which enforces MAX_REQUESTS is between 1 and 32.
+// If MAX_REQUESTS is increased above 32, this logic and the static_assert must be updated.
 using trq_bitmask_t = std::conditional<(MAX_REQUESTS <= 16), uint16_t, uint32_t>::type;
 
 static constexpr size_t USB_EVENT_QUEUE_SIZE = 32;   // Size of event queue between USB task and main loop
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 8cc2b4ed45..64946263ea 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ platformio==6.1.18  # When updating platformio, also update /docker/Dockerfile
 esptool==5.1.0
 click==8.1.7
 esphome-dashboard==20251009.0
-aioesphomeapi==41.13.0
+aioesphomeapi==41.14.0
 zeroconf==0.148.0
 puremagic==1.30
 ruamel.yaml==0.18.15 # dashboard_import