For sure, also important. For some more than others. I live in a place with dense coverage.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Already Testing a C2 Modem for iPhones, According to Leaker
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
For sure, also important. For some more than others. I live in a place with dense coverage.
Because most of the time speed doesn’t really matter that much.
You might be doing regular large time sensitive transfers over cellular but you’re probably in the minority. Most aren’t.
But people generally over provision home internet access too, it’s common to focus on speed without genuinely understanding it.
Not saying that’s the case for you, but in general it is.
I'm wondering whether carriers can be convinced (or whatever it might take) to allow more than one device to use a single cell plan.
Oh, oh, I have a report too. Apple is already testing the iPhone 17, the M5 chip, and the 11th generation iPad.
5G is pretty mature at this point and Qualcomm has saturated this standard with patents. Given the expected deployment of 6G in about 5 years as well as the project lead times Apple's design teams will already be focused on the next generation. 6G is restricted with patents yet and the low hanging fruit has not yet been picked. It's where Apple can differentiate themselves not just with 6G performance but integrated features that comes with being so vertical.
But a key 6G requirement is the ability to downgrade to 5G (and 4G LTE) based on network capabilities. So a 6G modem will still HAVE to provide 5G. So Apple will have to address 5G performance even with a new 6G capable modem
And after the C2, Apple will be working on the C3. Remember, you heard it first from me! I want credit where credit is due, MacRumors!
In an interview, Apple's chipmaking chief IHaveToSaySomething Bloviate said "brace yourselves for a game-changing leap in connectivity. The C2 modem is on the brink of revolutionizing performance with lightning-fast speeds and unparalleled efficiency. But wait—there’s more! Behind the horizon of innovation lies another gem: the C3 modem! While still a rumor, this highly credible source hints at something amazing and even better on many levels. Stay tuned, as the tech world buzzes with anticipation for Apple's next C3 big thing!
T-Mobile does this in Europe (well, at least in one country). Unlimited data comes with free 'multisim', and you can get one for smaller plans for 7.50 euros.
Exactly! PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They’re not going to just walk in!
Would be interesting if we get these modems in laptops. I have no idea why Apple never put a modem in their laptops. They are portable computers after all, like an iPad. And iPads have a modem.
For an iPhone, I'm not going to pay flagship prices only to get an Intel modem. I want a flagship modem from Qualcomm which is the best in the market. I think this will be the last drop in the bucket for me switching to Android in the future once my iPhone 15 Pro Max breaks.
For an iPhone, I'm not going to pay flagship prices only to get an Intel modem. I want a flagship modem from Qualcomm which is the best in the market. I think this will be the last drop in the bucket for me switching to Android in the future once my iPhone 15 Pro Max breaks.
Hey guys, just a heads up! You've been mentioning that iPhones have X75 modems, but actually, the latest iPhones come with X71 modems. As a site focused on Apple, let's make sure you're sharing accurate info! Do not spread the misinformation.
When it comes to X71:
Cost, market segment size, and logistics.
Unlike iPads, only a subset of Macs would even make sense to support cellular.
Macs are limited to being used folded out with a keyboard and trackpad/mouse, so some truly unique iPad use cases (field usage for property surveying/inspections for instance) that require cellular connectivity would simply not be done the same with a Mac. You go someplace to sit down, and at that point you are on wifi or can turn on a hotspot (or just automatically connect via your phone).
The Mac is considered to be a more extensible device - it is more acceptable to have a separate device for connectivity and even to connect it via a USB cable. To compare, many people don't realize that you can use USB thumb drives on iPhones and iPads - they expect all extensibility to be wireless or through internet-based services. That makes connectivity an obviously required feature on iPhones, and a viable upsell on iPads.
It also is different than all other BTO options that Apple currently has for the Mac line - rather than just picking between a set of interchangeable panels, keyboards, SoCs and flash options to piece together, the computer would need to be designed for a separate set of antennas, which might mean a modified case design like they have with many iPads.
Finally, 5G hotspots are a broadly available technology and are cheaper than Apple could integrate a modem due to Qualcomm's fee structure. Businesses often get them effectively free because of the expected network usage fees, while laptops today are not something that a cellular network provider would subsidize. Businesses are not likely to spring for integrated 5G as a result, further reducing the market opportunity.
The option also needs to be at least marketable enough to justify extensive international network testing and qualification.
If they can reduce the cost to the point where it becomes viable to bundle a C-series modem into an iPad Pro without a separate "no cellular hardware" set of SKUs - and if that modem provides a more robust featureset - I'd say cellular as an option or default feature in Mac laptops also becomes much more likely.
I think for example offering cellular-by-default in a re-released "MacBook" line of ultraportables would be quite attractive, and they could use activation metrics to justify expansion to the rest of the notebook line.
Or build the modems straight into the SoC so every device will have one, whether it's an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV.