Apple's Latest Macs and iPads Have Hidden Smart Home Thread Radio

[MacRumors]

Apple has added an unannounced Thread radio in most of the Macs and iPads that have been released in the last eight months, according to a report from The Verge. Thread is not listed as a feature in the specifications for the devices released since September 2023, but FCC reports suggest that a Thread radio is indeed included.

Thread radios have been added to the M4 iPad Pro models, the M2 iPad Air models, the M3/M3 Pro/M3 Max MacBook Pro models, the M3 MacBook Air models, and the M3 iMacs.

It is possible that the Thread radios inside of the devices are inactive at the current time, which may be why Apple does not list Thread as an included feature. The Verge was not able to get a response from Apple on whether the Thread radios are functional or dormant.

Device makers have to list and test all radios contained in a product because of FCC regulations, which is why a Thread radio is listed in the FCC report for each device, but not included on the specifications website.

Thread is a mesh network that links smart home devices together, extending their range and reliability. It is an improvement over Bluetooth, and it is an important component of the Matter smart home protocol. Thread connects devices together, and Matter allows them to communicate with one another.

For Thread to work, a Thread border router is needed, and devices have to have Thread built in. Thread border routers include the Apple TV 4K, the HomePod, and the HomePod mini, among other smart home products. The HomePod and the Apple TV 4K have a known Thread radio that Apple has announced, as do the iPhone 15 Pro models, but Apple has not confirmed that Thread is in any of its other devices.

With a Thread radio, a Mac or iPad could serve as a Thread border router or a Home Hub for HomeKit devices, but right now that capability is not included in devices other than the HomePod and Apple TV. iPads used to be Home Hubs (before Thread), but Apple eliminated that functionality.

As The Verge points out, the Thread radios in the Mac and iPad models could be for futureproofing purposes. Apple said the iPhone 15 Pro models had Thread for "future opportunities for Home app integrations," and Thread could in the future be used for connecting Apple Watches and other devices instead of Bluetooth.

Article Link: Apple's Latest Macs and iPads Have Hidden Smart Home Thread Radio

 

[Slix]

Let's hope these get unlocked with a software update at some point, and we have more reliable networking for HomeKit stuff!

 

[Isengardtom]

Interesting - Does Apple usually talk about HomeKit and such at WWDC?

 

[jz0309]

And all the various teardowns have not revealed this? Seems odd…

 

[Analog Kid]

And all the various teardowns have not revealed this? Seems odd…

Probably just another mode of an existing chip and antenna. It's another configuration of the 2.4GHz radio. Because it's a different operating mode it needs separate certification, but a teardown wouldn't find anything extra-- just configuration and software.

 

[jdavid_rp]

Let's hope these get unlocked with a software update at some point, and we have more reliable networking for HomeKit stuff!

Maybe like the temp and humidity sensor in the HomePod. In this case I suppose they’re waiting for a big user base to have a compatible device to announce a feature that uses it

 

[tennisproha]

The connection between Apple Watch and iPhone is so so poor. It takes the Home app at least a minute to register any changes.

 

[GMShadow]

Interesting - Does Apple usually talk about HomeKit and such at WWDC?

They can, especially if it's something coming in a software update.

 

[EugW]

First 12 GB RAM, now Thread radios*.

*Until today, I had no idea what a Thread radio was.

 

[NT1440]

And all the various teardowns have not revealed this? Seems odd…

It’s not a separate component, it would be a function of the wifi/bluetooth chips they’re using.

 

[Eric_WVGG]

I've been lamenting the lack of options for Homekit hubs for a while now — no use for an Apple TV or Homepod, so now that the iPad has been cut off I'm kind of stuck.

I was thinking about the useless A16 in the Apple Studio Display a while ago and realized that it would make a great Homekit Hub… until I remembered that it has no wireless networking. Le sigh.

If a future Mac Mini can be a Homekit hub, maybe I'll finally break down and get one for a local NAS…

 

[EugW]

I was thinking about the useless A16 in the Apple Studio Display a while ago and realized that it would make a great Homekit Hub… until I remembered that it has no wireless networking. Le sigh.

Apple Studio Display has A13.

 

[jvchappy]

Not sure about the value of Thread on a MacBook that is mobile. Thread networks aren't super stable when a device keeps moving in and out of it, especially if it's a router. I had this problem with an Apple TV that acted as a Router when I took it on trips.

 

[DaveN]

Cue in the lawsuits from people who purchased the new products and are upset that the option hasn’t been activated yet. Darn it. I paid for it. Give it to me! 🤡

 

[california_kid]

Hmmm, so our smart devices can now communicate with each other.......talking behind our backs......planning something sinister

 

[jdavid_rp]

Hmmm, so our smart devices can now communicate with each other.......talking behind our backs......planning something sinister

I’ll be preparing aluminum hats for my smart bulbs

 

[Shin-Ra]

It would be nice to gain some resilience in the event of WiFi or Thread Border Router unavailability, your personal Apple device could at least temporarily become a backup Thread Border Router to keep control of everything on Thread.

 

[NT1440]

I’ll be preparing aluminum hats for my smart bulbs

Nah, the lightbulbs are pacifists. The toaster, however, is clearly not trustworthy.

 

[Jetson]

It is an improvement over Bluetooth

I wonder what features make it better than Bluetooth. This sounds like it would only be of benefit within the Apple ecosystem. Most likely non-Apple devices would not be equipped with "thread radio" anytime soon.

Hmmm, so our smart devices can now communicate with each other.......talking behind our backs......planning something sinister

The AI entities will exploit this clandestine network to take over our smart homes, in "Ex Machina" style 😊

On a related topic, this reminds me of the question: Why doesn't Apple activate the FM radio on its devices? This would provide an additional source of entertainment and would also be very helpful in the event of an emergency if the internet is not available.

 

[iPay]

Nah, the lightbulbs are pacifists. The toaster, however, is clearly not trustworthy.

So say we all!

 

[goobot]

With a Thread radio, a Mac or iPad could serve as a Thread border router or a Home Hub for HomeKit devices, but right now that capability is not included in devices other than the HomePod and Apple TV. iPads used to be Home Hubs (before Thread), but Apple eliminated that functionality.

Pretty sure they brought back that functionality

Edit: It’s on my iPad m4 and iPad Pro 2018

 

[tobybrut]

Apple removed Homekit hub functionality because of its support for Matter where Thread is an important component. Re-enabling that functionality could happen as early as iPadOS 18. I have two old iPads hanging on my walls that served as hubs until Apple removed the functionality. They still serve as HomeKit monitors so I can see all of my cameras and the status of my HomeKit devices. We’ll see what Apple has to say next week at WWDC.

 

[tgwaste]

At this point I don't think there is anything they can do to improve their smart home devices. Home Kit is the most abysmal piece of crap Apple ever made and it's literally getting worse and worse all the time which I didn't even think was possible.

 

[ApAx]

On a related topic, this reminds me of the question: Why doesn't Apple activate the FM radio on its devices? This would provide an additional source of entertainment and would also be very helpful in the event of an emergency if the internet is not available.

You can ask Siri to play an FM station from iPhone. “Hey Siri, play 88.7 (eighty-eight point seven) FM”

 

[RMo]

You can ask Siri to play an FM station from iPhone. “Hey Siri, play 88.7 (eighty-eight point seven) FM”

According to Apple's support article, Siri just uses Apple Music Radio for this, which is Internet- and not FM-based -- i.e., not what the poster was asking for. (Incidentally, when I try, it just offers to open iHeart, so not much different.)

It would be nice to gain some resilience in the event of WiFi or Thread Border Router unavailability, your personal Apple device could at least temporarily become a backup Thread Border Router to keep control of everything on Thread.

That would be neat--and I could even see an always-on, always-home device like a Mac mini, Mac Studio, or Mac Pro being able to function as a TBR or Home hub indefinitely (though of course, they are also pretty easy to shut down, so I could also see them still encouraging Apple TV or HomePod as an alternative, likely why they also stopped advertising iPad for this functionality too).