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4G LTE / 5G support in future models

BootLoxes

BootLoxes

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 15, 2019
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I was thinking for some time that the AS macbooks would eventually gain support for mobile data plans and while I am surprised they didn’t do it right out of the gate, I still have hopes that we will still see this in the future.

What do you guys think? I believe that arm surface has 4G if I remember correctly. I hope the redesign will introduce this as an option.
 
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With easy iPhone tethering, I’m not sure I see it. It adds cost, complexity to the Macs and a separate sku.
 
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Apple bought Intel's modem business a couple years ago, so they might do that when they can integrate their own modem into their SOCs. But for now, I don't think they are interested in paying Qualcomm a substantially high fee for this.
 
To my understanding the licensing fee of 5G and LTE are a percentage of the final retail price of the product.

It isn't a fixed cost.

So I'd just up up with using an iPhone or other hotspot for data.
 
arn said:
With easy iPhone tethering, I’m not sure I see it. It adds cost, complexity to the Macs and a separate sku.
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I only have 3gb a month for my iphone. I would rather have a macbook with that feature built in. The switch to M1 made them more similar to ipads and iphones so it should be easier in theory to implement this
 
arn said:
With easy iPhone tethering, I’m not sure I see it. It adds cost, complexity to the Macs and a separate sku.
Click to expand...
It does adds royalty fees. I'm not sure if the "added complexity" is an issue.

Apple has always offered a cellular version of their iPads at a substantial premium over the wifi-only models. There is no technical issue why Apple cannot offer cellular-equipped MacBooks. Apple rumor sites have occasionally posted images of prototype Mac with cellular connectivity.

We know that Apple has continued to test these in their labs.

The SKU issue is completely irrelevant. How many colors did the original iPhone come in? How many colors are available today? The number of SKUs it offers doesn't seem to a major issue.

Hell, the M1 Macs have the fewest SKU ever. No choice of color, no choice of processor, just RAM and internal storage. The "separate sku" argument makes zero sense.
 
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BootLoxes said:
I only have 3gb a month for my iphone. I would rather have a macbook with that feature built in. The switch to M1 made them more similar to ipads and iphones so it should be easier in theory to implement this
Click to expand...
In fact it is not. You still need to add an extra modem chip to the device, and that costs money. There is no technical issue here, only business issue.
 
Gnattu said:
In fact it is not. You still need to add an extra modem chip to the device, and that costs money. There is no technical issue here, only business issue.
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Which is why the redesigns would be the perfect chance to bring them into the devices. If an iPad can get it, I don’t see why the M1 macs cant
 
BootLoxes said:
Which is why the redesigns would be the perfect chance to bring them into the devices. If an iPad can get it, I don’t see why the M1 macs cant
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As I said, "Business issue". The prototypes of Macs having Cellular has been spotted couple years ago, but they pulled that from reaching the market for some reason.
 
Gnattu said:
As I said, "Business issue". The prototypes of Macs having Cellular has been spotted couple years ago, but they pulled that from reaching the market for some reason.
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Indeed. I still have faith we will see it though.
 
I believe we will never see a cellular-equipped MacBook. My guess is that Apple has run cellular-equipped MacBook-like prototypes in their labs for the past 10-15 years.

Remember that the iPhone was originally a tablet in concept in Apple's labs.

If Apple really wanted to release a cellular-equipped MacBook, it's probably that they would have offered an option.

Remember that cellular iPads in the past have been the non-cellular version with a small daughter card (which also included a GPS chip). If Apple didn't want to pay the cellular royalty fees, they could easily eliminate the cellular add-on card.

There is zero technical reason why Apple doesn't offer a cellular Mac.
 
arn said:
With easy iPhone tethering, I’m not sure I see it. It adds cost, complexity to the Macs and a separate sku.
Click to expand...
But then why have a cellular iPad? The logic you would apply to the iPad having cellular can also be applied to MacBooks.
 
DeanLubaki said:
But then why have a cellular iPad? The logic you would apply to the iPad having cellular can also be applied to MacBooks.
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It’s arguable, but it makes sense to me to believe that MacBook users would have a cellular capable device with them.
 
arn said:
It’s arguable, but it makes sense to me to believe that MacBook users would have a cellular capable device with them.
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It does make sense, but then again pretty much everyone has a cellular capable device. So those with iPads also do.
 
Eventually the MacBooks will probably have an eSIM so a lot of people will get an unlimited 5G plan and never have to rely on wifi or Ethernet. Perhaps in five years or so.
 
IMO the cellular Macbook exists in the form of the iPad with (Magic) Keyboard. They've been pushing for the iPad to be the laptop replacement and it largely is.
 
BootLoxes said:
I was thinking for some time that the AS macbooks would eventually gain support for mobile data plans and while I am surprised they didn’t do it right out of the gate, I still have hopes that we will still see this in the future.

What do you guys think? I believe that arm surface has 4G if I remember correctly. I hope the redesign will introduce this as an option.
Click to expand...
It adds cost when the iPhone can do the cellular modem duties rather easily.

IIRC the cost of a LTE/5G modem would be a % of the value of the device. This jacks up cost on something like a Mac Pro.
 
Would be great. My city has extensive 5G coverage. Having said that, gigabit fibre is also prevalent for a reasonable price, so the free WiFi is relatively solid anyway.

Sitting in my house now, I get 20 WiFi signals and signals ranging from 2G through 5G from three towers.

Would be useful when travelling though, so I won't need to use the wireless hotspot on my phone.
 
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