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Apple Still Investigating Cellular MacBook as Microsoft Ships Surface 5G

bluecoast said:
I’d never buy a cellular enabled Mac, yet each year apple ships iPads with cellular - so there must be a market need.

Now they’ve got the C1 modem, it’s surely a matter of time before we see it in the Mac - but probably the c2 or 3.
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My iPad Pro M4 is cellular, as I have very little need for WiFi, and the iPad is on my account with my iPhone. I use the iPad for more than sitting at home, connected to the home WiFi.

I would love to be able to make cellular calls with the iPad, but I suspect Apple will likely never do this as they believe it will cut into the iPhone market. I don't think so, but I would love to have the ability to share my iPhone number with my iPad and receive and make calls on both with the same number.
 
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ZipZilla said:
I worked for one of the big carriers for many years and we sold laptops for awhile that had a built-in cellular modem. Not much interest. In theory, it has the benefit of not running down the battery on your phone when using the hotspot. But like cellular iPads, it's an extra line of service and added cost (when most people have the hotspot on their phone at no extra charge.)
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I also worked for one of the big US carriers when people were paying $50-80/ month for, I think they called them “Air Cards”, to connect up to 3.1 Mbps.

This was also the days of only business people having smartphones but when those became more widely available and the personal hotspot feature emerged, the air cards began to die off.

ARM based laptops make more sense for cellular connectivity but the availability of WiFi, even when there is no WiFi (hotspot) seems like this would be just as niche a product as before unless someone really only needs a laptop and no smartphone.
 
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Anaxarxes said:
0 added value. Every person has their mobile phone glued to their hand, a personal hotspot is super quick to connect, no setup at all is needed.

Who takes their laptop only and leaves their phone at home?
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I mean if that is your argument why have cellular on an ipad either?
 
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I’d definitely select the option on my next company laptop, they would pick up the monthly cell charge. I’ve not had any problems generating a hotspot from my iPhone 16 Pro Max to my traveling MBA but it sure runs down the iPhone battery quickly which means I’ve always got to be on the lookout for an electrical outlet to recharge the phone.
 
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mjs916 said:
I also worked for one of the big US carriers when people were paying $50-80/ month for, I think they called them “Air Cards”, to connect up to 3.1 Mbps.

This was also the days of only business people having smartphones but when those became more widely available and the personal hotspot feature emerged, the air cards began to die off.

ARM based laptops make more sense for cellular connectivity but the availability of WiFi, even when there is no WiFi (hotspot) seems like this would be just as niche a product as before unless someone really only needs a laptop and no smartphone.
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And after all these years/decades, laptop cellular plans are still $80 if you don't already have a specific phone plan on the account. It's a complete rip-off by the cell companies.
 
Anaxarxes said:
0 added value. Every person has their mobile phone glued to their hand, a personal hotspot is super quick to connect, no setup at all is needed.

Who takes their laptop only and leaves their phone at home?
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I agree and with the Apple ecosystem and new betas it automatically connects the iPad or Mac to iPhone. No more clicking into WiFi even.
 
No doubt Apple has data on how many Mac laptop users also own a cellular iPad. If adding cellular to the Mac kills an iPad sale they’re not going to do that.
 
MacRumors said:


Recent reports have suggested Apple is actively considering bringing cellular connectivity to the Mac lineup as early as next year, but arch rival Microsoft isn't waiting around to find out – the company is launching its first 5G-enabled Surface laptop this month.

microsoft-surface-laptop-5g.jpg

The Surface Laptop 5G is part of Microsoft's Copilot+ PC lineup aimed at business customers, featuring a 13.8-inch display and Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors. Microsoft says it has six "strategically placed antennas" that allow it to automatically adjust signal paths and power based on usage. The device includes both Nano SIM and eSIM options, and can also function as a hotspot for other devices.

Starting at $1,700, Microsoft says it will begin shipping its first 5G-enabled Surface laptop on August 26 with support for over 100 carriers worldwide – though its small print notes that 5G will be available "later in 2025."

The Surface Laptop's 5G capabilities come as Apple has begun deploying its custom-built C1 modem chip in some devices. The company introduced a sub-6GHz version of its 5G modem in the iPhone 16e earlier this year and is expected to include it in the upcoming iPhone 17 "Air," which will be unveiled next month.

According to a December report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is "investigating" the possibility of adding a second-generation C2 modem to a future Mac as early as 2026. According to Gurman, Apple's next-generation C2 modem will support faster mmWave technology and is expected to arrive in 2026, debuting in Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models – with inclusion in a Mac potentially shortly after.

Apple has played with the idea of a cellular MacBook for years now. Back in 2007, the company developed MacBook Pro prototypes with integrated 3G connectivity, including a SIM card slot and an extendable cellular antenna along the right side of the lid. Despite these early experiments, Apple never released a MacBook with built-in cellular capabilities. Here's hoping 2026 will be the year it happens.

Article Link: Apple Still Investigating Cellular MacBook as Microsoft Ships Surface 5G
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Not needed.
 
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dubiousgif said:
Most hotspot data is limited significantly though. If you need fast data directly on the laptop then this could be useful.
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Wouldn't it just make more sense to pay for the cell plan that offers higher speed data? I mean you'll probably have to do that with a laptop anyway.
 
Cellular is not about the cost; it is about the convenience. If someone cannot afford the money for it, or have a need, then do not buy it. Possibly, they should leave the Apple hardware and look for less expensive hardware. If you can afford Apple, then don't complain. Sounds harsh, but no one buying Apple, especially those who change phones and devices yearly, should be complaining.

For those of us who frequently find ourselves away from WiFi networks, cellular is the only way to go.
 
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Anaxarxes said:
0 added value. Every person has their mobile phone glued to their hand, a personal hotspot is super quick to connect, no setup at all is needed.

Who takes their laptop only and leaves their phone at home?
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I had to give my phone up for some repairs. I then had some business to attend to but wasn’t around a WiFi signal. Having a cellular iPad was the savior then. I bought a 1 day ESim for under $10 and all was well.
 
MayaUser said:
buy a power bank, buy a cable buy etc etc etc and convenience is becoming 0
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Life must be hard for you. How about this, instead of the charger and cord that you ALREADY have in your laptop bag, you instead carry the power bank and cord. ZERO difference.
 
I've done a lot of travelling and working on non-permanent internet connections and never needed an actual cellular connection in the macbook. Tethering to iPhone has always worked fine for me. And it's one contract to manage.

(around Europe and Central Asia mostly for ref)
 
Anaxarxes said:
0 added value. Every person has their mobile phone glued to their hand, a personal hotspot is super quick to connect, no setup at all is needed.

Who takes their laptop only and leaves their phone at home?
Click to expand...
Hotspot experience on iPhone is battery intensive and famously unreliable.
 
I say it every time. If Apple makes a cellular Mac it’s an instant buy for me. i hate hotspot, it’s never as fast as I want. Apple give me a cellular Mac and I’ll upgrade from my M1 Pro today.
 
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I'd buy for the same reason I get a cellular iPad...not for the cellular data, since you can get data through a Wi-Fi hotspot, but for the built-in GPS (assuming the Mac cellular upgrade works like the iPad). Even using an iPhone as a Wi-Fi hotspot doesn't transmit your location. Ever tried to use a Wi-Fi iPad for guided navigation? It doesn't work. A Wi-Fi iPad can show an estimate of your position based on the known location of nearby Wi-Fi routers only (hotspots don't transmit their location). Wi-Fi only iPads can't be used for guidance without an external GPS.

Something like guided navigation you can only get currently by adding an external bluetooth GPS which costs ~$100 or more anyway, and adds external bulk to your setup. Admittedly, the cellular data option is a plus too, but for some people the built-in GPS adds just as much value.
 
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