Apple's new M5 MacBook Air laptops rumored with in-house Wi-Fi chip, Bluetooth also possible

Apple's next-gen M5-based MacBook Air in 13-inch and 15-inch laptops rumored with new in-house Wi-Fi chip, in-house Bluetooth chip is also possible.

Anthony Garreffa

Gaming Editor

Published Aug 14, 2025 6:06 AM CDT

2-minute read time

TL;DR: Apple plans to integrate a new in-house Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip into upcoming M5-based 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models, enhancing power efficiency and saving logic board space. This follows Apple's 2023 strategy to unify wireless components, boosting battery life and reducing production costs.

Apple is rumored to be baking in a new in-house Wi-Fi chip onto its new M5-based MacBook Air laptops in both 13-inch and 15-inch MBA laptops in the future.

The big plan of Apple transitioning to its own in-house wireless solution started in 2023, where Apple would combine Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular (4G/5G) into a single package. This move would free up valuable space on the logic board, as well as boost power efficiency (leading to longer battery life).

The way it works now is that these components are separately soldered onto the logic board, increasing production costs and removing the benefits of using less space + less energy than using in-house solutions. The first important step for Apple will start with the upcoming iPhone 17, while the next phase would see the same in-house Wi-Fi chips on the M5 MacBook Air series refresh.

Read more: Apple reportedly delays M5 MacBook Pro to 2026, OLED M6 MacBook Pro in 2027
Read more: Apple's future-gen MacBooks leaked: new M5, M6 laptops + A18 Pro MacBook
Read more: Apple M5 chips enters mass production: for next-gen iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, Vision Pro

In a post on X from @aaronp613, the upcoming M5 MacBook Airs -- codenamed J813 (13-inch) and J815 (15-inch) will get new Apple-made wireless chips. Aaron adds that "this is very likely combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip previously reported on by [Bloomberg insider] Mark Gurman".

Read more: Apple has 7 different in-house chips teased in iOS 18 code: A19, A19 Pro, C2 5G modem

We have been having numerous leaks regarding new in-house Apple Silicon chips, including the new A19, A19 Pro, M5, M5 Pro, and C2 5G modem over the last few months, which will power next-gen MacBook laptops, iPhones, and Apple Watch wearables. One of those big steps was the in-house C1 5G modem, with the next step being an in-house Wi-Fi + Bluetooth chip inside of the M5 MacBook Air laptops.