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BT5.3 on M2 Air

M

magicMac

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Apr 13, 2010
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UK
After last weeks event, the M2 Air is now showing BT5.3 on the tech specs, for both the 15.3" and the 13.6" model, whereas before the 13.6" model was listing BT5.0 in the tech specs. I'm really curious if those ordering a 13.6" model this week, if they are now getting units with a different SKU and slight revision of the BT chip inside, or if the newer bluetooth version is simply coming from a software update.

I have an M2 Air 13.6 as a work laptop (~9 months old), so in theory I should be able to find out in some way. The chip in my model is BCM_4387 (from system information -> Bluetooth). It looks like the chip might be upgradable to 5.3.

So if anyone has ordered a M2 MacBook Air (13.6" or 15.3") this week, when it arrives please share with us if the chip is still BCM_4387, thanks! :)
 
magicMac said:
After last weeks event, the M2 Air is now showing BT5.3 on the tech specs, for both the 15.3" and the 13.6" model, whereas before the 13.6" model was listing BT5.0 in the tech specs. I'm really curious if those ordering a 13.6" model this week, if they are now getting units with a different SKU and slight revision of the BT chip inside, or if the newer bluetooth version is simply coming from a software update.

I have an M2 Air 13.6 as a work laptop (~9 months old), so in theory I should be able to find out in some way. The chip in my model is BCM_4387 (from system information -> Bluetooth). It looks like the chip might be upgradable to 5.3.

So if anyone has ordered a M2 MacBook Air (13.6" or 15.3") this week, when it arrives please share with us if the chip is still BCM_4387, thanks! :)
Click to expand...

When the chip allows it I recall Apple being able to update them to a newer standard. In the past Apple had to charge a nominal fee to do this due to accounting legal reasons.

Here's to hoping you get it for free too with a version macOS Software Update.
 
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magicMac said:
After last weeks event, the M2 Air is now showing BT5.3 on the tech specs, for both the 15.3" and the 13.6" model, whereas before the 13.6" model was listing BT5.0 in the tech specs. I'm really curious if those ordering a 13.6" model this week, if they are now getting units with a different SKU and slight revision of the BT chip inside, or if the newer bluetooth version is simply coming from a software update.

I have an M2 Air 13.6 as a work laptop (~9 months old), so in theory I should be able to find out in some way. The chip in my model is BCM_4387 (from system information -> Bluetooth). It looks like the chip might be upgradable to 5.3.

So if anyone has ordered a M2 MacBook Air (13.6" or 15.3") this week, when it arrives please share with us if the chip is still BCM_4387, thanks! :)
Click to expand...
why would they update 2022 model?
 
G46&Fbnth5 said:
Couldn't it be just a mistake in the tech specs page?
Click to expand...
I suspect this is most likely the case !

Bluetooth launch studio doesn’t list the new 15” air yet. Whereas the new Mac Studio and Mac Pro are now showing up - listed on the same entry as the 2023 Mac Mini and 14/16” MacBook Pros.
 
The Bluetooth chip in my 15" M2 Air is: BCM_4387

So maybe it was a typo and the 15" Air is also BT5.0 - or the chip is upgradable as you suggested (this is not my area of expertise).
 
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Chancha said:
The real question then now becomes: since when did Apple start shipping 13" with the updated chip, or, if it was at all possible to simply update firmware on existing 13" to "retrofit" BT 5.3?
Click to expand...
I think it's just a driver change on the chip.
 
chrfr said:
I think it's just a driver change on the chip.
Click to expand...
It makes total sense now.

Because when the WWDC event was done and the store went online, I checked the 13" spec sheet and already saw the BT 5.3 there. But buying the base model shows next day shipping or same day pickup at retail store, this means there must be no real physical SKU change.
 
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Good information people, and great reason for these forums, cheers!

Seems then new driver must have been bundled in a recent macOS update, apple really need to get better at release notes !

my M2 MacBook Air 13.6" from October '23 : BCM_4387
M2 MacBook Air 15.6" : BCM_4387 (reported by Sowelu)

Same chip so the even older 13" models should now have 5.3 in theory. Indeed here is the certification of the chip (but not the MacBook):

Not a big deal, but it would be further interesting if macOS on a MacBook Air uses LC3 audio codec with the AirPods Pro (or other 5.3 headset) during a call / HFP profile! This can be checked on the macOS console filtering bluetoothaudiod. I know apple isn't doing anything with LE audio profile yet though.
 
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Sowelu said:
The Bluetooth chip in my 15" M2 Air is: BCM_4387

So maybe it was a typo and the 15" Air is also BT5.0 - or the chip is upgradable as you suggested (this is not my area of expertise).
Click to expand...
My 13" MBA also shows as Chipset: BCM_4387.

Don't know how to find out the bluetooth version, though?

My MBA was delivered on 12 December.
 
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The M1 Air reports its BT chip as BCM_4378 (not 4387). Without digging further I assume that's an older and less capable hardware.

I got no Touch Bar 13" on hand so I can't check, but, seeing it is an really old design maybe the BT chip also lags behind.

But the 2021 14" 16" have pretty good chance of getting driver update to gain 5.3 as well, just that Apple may not even advertise it or note it anywhere since they are already officially off shelf.
 
Chancha said:
The M1 Air reports its BT chip as BCM_4378 (not 4387). Without digging further I assume that's an older and less capable hardware.

I got no Touch Bar 13" on hand so I can't check, but, seeing it is an really old design maybe the BT chip also lags behind.

But the 2021 14" 16" have pretty good chance of getting driver update to gain 5.3 as well, just that Apple may not even advertise it or note it anywhere since they are already officially off shelf.
Click to expand...
Very cool! Was going to say, my 16' MBP has:

1688402604581.jpeg


Also, I have no idea how to test via specs whether or not it has 5.3 or 5.0. Obviously, technical specifications page still shows 5.0 but I imagine Apple won't update that even if they did via driver update.
 
I know this is kind of an old post but I was just looking into this myself, and no one has linked this page yet, which seems to indicate that its hardware is based on 5.2. It doesn't appear to be an official page, but the BCM4387 is not listed on Broadcom's website.

According to the Wikipedia page 5.3 seems to be a minor update, not sure if it's hardware compatible with 5.3.

This is on a 14" M1 MacBook Pro, 2021.

BCM4387
 
Alright guys get ready for the final ultimatum of this issue closure:
(1) So I found out that the MBA 2022 has a completely different model# than the one that was updated in 2024;
i.e. 2022: MLY23LL/A; 2024: MC7W4LL/A;
(2) Although both carry the same reference regulatory i.e. A2681, and same chipset for bluetooth on them - BCM_4387;

Concluding the chip was probably a firmware upgrade to 5.3, and wifi left at 6.0 on both these models irrespective of when they were purchased!

Hope this research is helpful for folks that have been looking for these answers endlessly on the internet (including myself until now) and nobody including Apple being transparent about these changes to consumers.
 
traderse said:
Alright guys get ready for the final ultimatum of this issue closure:
(1) So I found out that the MBA 2022 has a completely different model# than the one that was updated in 2024;
i.e. 2022: MLY23LL/A; 2024: MC7W4LL/A;
Click to expand...
Of course these are different. Apple uses these model numbers for specific configurations- the MLY model number is an 8GB model which is no longer sold new by Apple but the MC7 part number is for the base 16GB configuration, which used to be a configure to order model that would not have had a standard Apple part # like that. This not necessarily indicative of any other component changes in the computer.
 
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