Apple Rumored to Be Developing 5G iPad Pro With mmWave Support

[MacRumors]

Apple is developing 5G-enabled iPads with mmWave support, according to sources cited by industry publication DigiTimes.

A paywalled preview of the report claims Taiwan's Advanced Semiconductor Engineering will supply antenna-in-package technology for the 5G iPads, in addition to 5G iPhones. While not specified, it is almost certain that these models would be iPad Pros given 5G is a high-end feature with higher production costs.

While the first 5G iPhones are expected in fall 2020, the report does not indicate when the 5G iPads would be released. Major new features often come to the iPhone before the iPad, but a notable exception was the third-generation iPad receiving LTE support in March 2012, prior to the iPhone 5 in September 2012.

mmWave or millimeter wave is a set of 5G frequencies that promise ultra-fast speeds at short distances, making it best suited for dense urban areas. By comparison, sub-6GHz 5G is generally slower than mmWave, but the signals travel further, better serving suburban and rural areas.

The complete report should be published by tomorrow, and we will update this post if there are any additional details to share.

Update: The full report is now available and it speculates that 5G iPads could be released as early as the second half of 2020.

Article Link: Apple Rumored to Be Developing 5G iPad Pro With mmWave Support

 

[zorinlynx]

I kinda wish Apple would put a cellular chipset into their Macbooks as well. A Macbook with cellular interests me a lot more than an iPad with cellular. It'd be nice to have a true "always connected" laptop no matter where I am!

 

[Jerion]

I kinda wish Apple would put a cellular chipset into their Macbooks as well. A Macbook with cellular interests me a lot more than an iPad with cellular. It'd be nice to have a true "always connected" laptop no matter where I am!

I think this has been a dream for a long time!

Once they can properly get away from Qualcomm IP and run their own mobile components, we'll probably see this happen with an eSIM system like the Watch.

 

[Rychiar]

I still have no interest in paying extra for cellular in any other devices.... the iPhone is a hotspot, who needs this?

 

[Greenmeenie]

Yeah, i am surprised Apple has never put a cellular chipset in their laptops. It’s one of the things that i love about my iPad. I have had cellular since the very first ipad 10 yrs ago. I am still grandfathered in on the original ATT data plan. Unlimited data for $29 And have transfered it to every iPad i have owned since. Currently using the 11” iPad Pro which has replaced my laptop Completely.

 

[zorinlynx]

I still have no interest in paying extra for cellular in any other devices.... the iPhone is a hotspot, who needs this?

If you're on the go a lot, nothing beats having a device that's always connected to the Internet, without having to fiddle with hotspot connections all the time. When I tether my laptop I have to reconnect it every time I wake it up. Sure, it's quick, but it's another step. Meanwhile if it's always connected, I just open it and get to work no matter where I am.

 

[gsurf123]

Yeah, i am surprised Apple has never put a cellular chipset in their laptops. It’s one of the things that i love about my iPad. I have had cellular since the very first ipad 10 yrs ago. I am still grandfathered in on the original ATT data plan. Unlimited data for $29 And have transfered it to every iPad i have owned since. Currently using the 11” iPad Pro which has replaced my laptop Completely.

There is no need for this if you have a phone.

 

[Freeangel1]

YES. I GUESSED THIS IN ADVANCE!!
NOW I HAVE A POWERFUL TOUCHSCREEN COMPUTER FOR MY Toyota Prius
ALWAYS CONNECTED EVEN IN THE DESERTS OF CALIFORNIA!

 

[konqerror]

I still have no interest in paying extra for cellular in any other devices.... the iPhone is a hotspot, who needs this?

It's mainly used for corporate line-of-business applications where you don't want to pay for and manage employee's smartphones, particularly when you have a shared device. The device often is fixed, say in a taxi or delivery vehicle.

Another case is for security reasons where you provide a company device on a locked-down cellular plan that only can connect to the corporate network. For example, the iPads pilots use or for medical records access by a home visiting nurse.

 

[now i see it]

Cuz apple can sell you both an iPhone & laptop. Combining the two loses them money

 

[The Game 161]

I still have no interest in paying extra for cellular in any other devices.... the iPhone is a hotspot, who needs this?

Certainly if you have a big data plan...I have 100GB a month and when I use my iPad mini out I always use hotspot now

 

[hajime]

I kinda wish Apple would put a cellular chipset into their Macbooks as well. A Macbook with cellular interests me a lot more than an iPad with cellular. It'd be nice to have a true "always connected" laptop no matter where I am!

Me too but unfortunately Apple wants us to buy a new device for each addition feature we want. They don't want to make all-in-one device. If you want touch screen, you need to buy an iPad. If you want phone function, you need to buy an iPhone, etc.

 

[IIGS User]

I still have no interest in paying extra for cellular in any other devices.... the iPhone is a hotspot, who needs this?

People with more money than brains?

 

[HandITOVER]

SMH.

 

[Derekjv74]

I am really hoping for a March release. I'm itching to upgrade my 4+ year old iPad Pro 12.9. The keyboard for my ipad keeps giving me errors and due to daily use, the battery doesn't last as long as it used to.

Apple is developing a 5G-enabled iPad with mmWave support, according to sources cited by industry publication DigiTimes.

A paywalled preview of the report claims Taiwan's Advanced Semiconductor Engineering will supply antenna-in-package technology for the 5G iPad, in addition to 5G iPhones. While not specified, it is almost certain that this model would be an iPad Pro given 5G is a high-end feature with higher production costs.

While the first 5G iPhones are expected in fall 2020, the report does not indicate when the 5G iPad would be released. Major new features often come to the iPhone before the iPad, but a notable exception was the third-generation iPad receiving LTE support in March 2012, prior to the iPhone 5 in September 2012.

mmWave or millimeter wave is a set of 5G frequencies that promise ultra-fast speeds at short distances, making it best suited for dense urban areas. By comparison, sub-6GHz 5G is generally slower than mmWave, but the signals travel further, better serving suburban and rural areas.

The complete report should be published by tomorrow, and we will update this post if there are any additional details to share.

Article Link: Apple Rumored to Be Developing 5G iPad Pro With mmWave Support

 

[barkomatic]

I still have no interest in paying extra for cellular in any other devices.... the iPhone is a hotspot, who needs this?

On most carriers, the hotspot feature tops out around 25-50GB at full speed data even on an unlimited plan. If you have already hit that then its easier to just buy additional data on the iPad itself.

 

[salukimike]

People with more money than brains?

More like people who appreciate convenience and who's budget isn't really impacted by an extra $20-30 a month

 

[EugW]

That 5G is coming to the iPad Pro is no big surprise. What I want to know is if that iPad Pro is coming sooner (Q1-Q2 2020) or later (Q4 2020 or later). However, some people here think that if the new iPad Pro comes sooner, it won't be with 5G.

I still have no interest in paying extra for cellular in any other devices.... the iPhone is a hotspot, who needs this?

iOS 13 / iPadOS 13 was supposed to have brought Automatic Hotspot and Persistent Hotspot, but unfortunately, it doesn't work reliably for me with my iPhone, so tethering my iPad Pro gets really annoying on the road. We're already at iOS 13.3.x / iPadOS 13.3.x and it still doesn't work reliably. The other problem is that tethering from my iPhone really kills the iPhone's battery. This latter problem is a killer if you're not near power.

I'm thinking for my next iPad Pro, I'd rather just pay the CAD$10 / US$7.65 per month for 4 GB data for always-on internet support for my iPad Pro. That's the price of just one fast food lunch per month, for the sake of convenience.

Obviously 4 GB per month won't help me for watching video or whatever, but it's good for quick surfing and email.

 

[Greenmeenie]

There is no need for this if you have a phone.

yes, you can use a hotspot...but then you drain your iphone battery insanely fast. So although i get your point, there is something to be said to have a dedicated ipad with cellular to get work done on. For me personally, I love having cellular on my iPad. It is why I first ditched my laptop for an iPad. And now with the iPad Pro, i don’t need a laptop at all for my artwork, photography & video editing. But everyone is different. So whatever works for you. It’s all good.

 

[name99]

I still have no interest in paying extra for cellular in any other devices.... the iPhone is a hotspot, who needs this?

Maybe take this as a teachable moment? The world is full of different people...
YOU don't think the hassle of slight delay, confirming the hot spot, and iPhone battery usage are worth ~$100. (Neither do I.) But SOME people do...
Just like some people don't think a bottle of wine is worth $500 rather than $20, while other people do. Or that a hotel night is worth $400 rather than $60.

Depends on how much money you have. Depends on how often you need to perform the operation. Depends on how your telco charges for hot-spots vs adding another device to the plan. etc etc

The world is big...

 

[Appleman3546]

Two shots at Digitimes in the one article! Is MacRumors doing well enough to pay past the paywall, instead of coming off as being salty about it?

 

[JagdTiger]

I kinda wish Apple would put a cellular chipset into their Macbooks as well. A Macbook with cellular interests me a lot more than an iPad with cellular. It'd be nice to have a true "always connected" laptop no matter where I am!

Yeah but iPads are more portable even though a Mac with that is a good idea.

 

[Alan Wynn]

I kinda wish Apple would put a cellular chipset into their Macbooks as well.

From my understanding, it has never happened because there is not really enough demand for it. It costs too much from a battery life perspective.

A Macbook with cellular interests me a lot more than an iPad with cellular. It'd be nice to have a true "always connected" laptop no matter where I am!

I have not had a laptop since my last MacBook Pro died a few years ago, but instead use my 12.9” iPad Pro with the Smart Keyboard Case and the Pencil. I have had ATT data for longer than I have had an iPad (I knew that AT&T was going to eliminate the unlimited plan, so I went and got 4 SIMs, borrowed a friend’s iPad 1 and created 4 accounts. Did not get my first iPad for about a month or two after that) and I know that I would never give it up.

I would not be shocked to see 5G on an Apple A-series chip based laptop, especially after they have their own integrated modems.

 

[macfacts]

Wired connections are obviously faster than wireless, yet the experience on home wifi is not that much better than LTE, so I find it hard to believe 5g would have a usable difference that I would want.

 

[Alan Wynn]

Me too but unfortunately Apple wants us to buy a new device for each addition feature we want.
They don't want to make all-in-one device. If you want touch screen, you need to buy an iPad. If you want phone function, you need to buy an iPhone, etc.

Are you arguing that you would not buy an iPhone (or any mobile phone) if you had a laptop with a mobile data connection? Do you really think that there are enough people like you to make them care about that? Your position is absurd. Very few companies make mobile data connected laptops because there is very low demand - not because they want to sell more devices.