# 📡 Why doesn't the MacBook Pro M5 have Wi-Fi 7 or Thunderbolt 5?

*Published: 2026-03-03 | Updated: 2026-03-03 | Source: https://shopsavvy.com/answers/why-doesnt-the-macbook-pro-m5-have-wi-fi-7-or-thunderbolt-5*

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## Product: MacBook Pro 14-inch M5
**Brand:** Apple

**The Issue:** The MacBook Pro M5 includes Wi-Fi 6E and Thunderbolt 4, omitting Wi-Fi 7 and Thunderbolt 5 despite Apple having these technologies available for other devices.

## What's Included vs. Missing

| Standard | M5 | M5 Pro/Max | Latest Available |
|----------|-----|-----------|------------------|
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 (in iPhone 17) |
| Thunderbolt | TB4 (40Gb/s) | TB5 (80Gb/s) | Thunderbolt 5 |

## Wi-Fi 6E vs Wi-Fi 7

**What you get (Wi-Fi 6E):**
- Up to 2.4Gbps speeds
- 6GHz band access
- Excellent current performance

**What you miss (Wi-Fi 7):**
- Up to 5.8Gbps theoretical speeds
- Multi-link operation
- Lower latency

**Practical impact:** Minimal unless you have Wi-Fi 7 infrastructure and 2+ Gbps internet.

## Thunderbolt 4 vs Thunderbolt 5

**What you get (TB4):**
- 40Gb/s bandwidth
- Current external SSD support
- Dual 4K @ 144Hz displays

**What you miss (TB5):**
- 80Gb/s (2x bandwidth)
- Future high-speed storage support

**Practical impact:** Current hardware rarely exceeds TB4 limits.

## Apple's Apparent Reasoning

- **Feature differentiation:** TB5 reserved for Pro/Max tiers
- **Chip timeline:** M5 development may have preceded N1 Wi-Fi integration
- **Cost management:** Premium connectivity adds component cost

## Bottom Line

These omissions are disappointing for a $1,599+ "Pro" machine but won't impact most users' daily experience. Consider the [M5 Pro MacBook Pro](https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-mac/macbook-pro) if Thunderbolt 5 and future-proof connectivity are priorities.

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*Where this comes from: This answer is based on ShopSavvy's product database, real-time pricing from thousands of retailers, and analysis of user reviews to give you a well-rounded picture.*