How can I connect my 2015 MacBook Air to 5G internet?

I just got a MacBook Air 2025 model and I want to connect it to 5G internet. I've just signed up with a service provider and ordered a 5G modem/router. Do I also need a 5G dongle for my laptop or will I be able to connect directly? Thank you



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Hello, how can I connect my 2015 Macbook Air to 5G internet? Do I just need a 5G modem or do I also need a 5G dongle?

MacBook Air 15″, macOS 15.5

Posted on Jun 29, 2025 02:16 PM

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10 replies

Jun 29, 2025 05:08 PM in response to agnieszka46

If you are by any chance referring to 5 GHz Wi-Fi frequencies, the M4 MacBook Air supports Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), and can operate in 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency bands.


Wi-Fi specifications for Apple devices - Apple Support

Use Wi-Fi 6E networks with Apple devices - Apple Support


5 GHz Wi-Fi channels are not the same thing as 5G ("5th generation") cellular voice/data service.

Jun 29, 2025 06:09 PM in response to agnieszka46

agnieszka46 wrote:

Thank you so much. I guess that is what I was referring to as in 5G internet service and not 5G cellular service. I’m sorry if I didn’t make it clear. I am new to all this.


A router routes data between networks. On the Internet side, a router might connect

  • To your cable TV company's wired network
  • To your phone company's wired network
  • To your phone company's cellular network (no wires). 5G Internet service is a just short way of saying Internet service where the connection to the Internet uses 5th-generation cellular radio technology.


Many home routers let you connect devices via Wi-Fi. 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz are frequency bands in which there can be Wi-Fi channels. Any reasonably recent Wi-Fi router can operate on the 5 GHz frequency band, and your M4 MacBook Air can, too. That would not be 5G service. (It's just that 5G and 5 GHz are "close enough" in spelling that they sometimes get confused.)


If you have an iPhone, and your carrier supports it, you can set it up as a Mobile Hotspot. In that case, the iPhone acts as a portable router. It connects to the Internet via cellular data service (which might be 5G service) – and it provides Internet service to your Mac, iPad, etc. via Wi-Fi (which might be operating on the 5 GHz band).

Jun 29, 2025 03:00 PM in response to KiltedTim

Thank you very much for this and I’m sorry but I just don’t fully understand. I’m not terribly good with these things.

Does this mean that I may have to connect my MacBook to the WiFi access point in the 5G router by cable? Or is there some way to connect wirelessly? For instance by plugging in a dongle into my a MacBook and it could then connect to the WiFi access point in the router?

thank you

Jun 29, 2025 05:27 PM in response to agnieszka46

agnieszka46 wrote:

Thank you so much. I guess that is what I was referring to as in 5G internet service and not 5G cellular service. I’m sorry if I didn’t make it clear. I am new to all this.

5G is not WiFi. 5GZ refers to WiFi speed. 5G refers to fifth generation cellular service. You started off asking about 5G, now you are conflating two separate things. Please be more specific about what you are asking about.

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How can I connect my 2015 MacBook Air to 5G internet?

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