LTE in Macbooks

[razmonster]

Has anyone else ever wondered (or know) why Apple has never put cellular radios in macbooks?

 

[svanstrom]

Has anyone else ever wondered (or know) why Apple has never put cellular radios in macbooks?

They sort of have; there were some computers with ExpressCard slots, where I'm pretty sure you could have put a cellular radio if you wanted to. So you definitely could have had that if you wanted; but it's not like the world cried out with emotional pain when they removed that possibility. 🤷

 

[ISKOTB]

If Apple had the will to prioritize this, I think we could’ve seen cellular MacBooks years ago. Once again, the cellular iPad colors my thinking here. Its existence suggests that Apple isn’t philosophically opposed to building LTE into every mobile device it makes.

 

[velocityg4]

Probably just low demand for such a feature. It's not like adding it would be a herculean task. They could make it a build to order option. I can only assume they've done the market research and found it's not yet worth bothering with making it an option.

 

[Audit13]

With so many free WiFi hotspots and the ability to tether off another device like a phone or tablet, I don't see cellular adding any benefit.

 

[GumaRodak]

Bcs you dont have to buy iphone then as an access point 🙂 i know you can buy other brand, but if you have already mb, there is a good chance you will buy iphone to make it easier 🙂

 

[velocityg4]

With so many free WiFi hotspots and the ability to tether off another device like a phone or tablet, I don't see cellular adding any benefit.

Yea there aren't too many people using laptops who don't carry a phone with them. It's often cheaper to just boost the phones data plan too. To handle the increased load from the laptop, if needed. At least some carriers don't charge extra for tethering anymore either. You just have to read the fine print about a separate tethered data limit.

 

[rorydaredking]

They prototyped them

https://www.macrumors.com/2011/08/14/photos-of-a-prototype-macbook-pro-with-integrated-3g-cellular-data/https://www.macrumors.com/2011/08/14/photos-of-a-prototype-macbook-pro-with-integrated-3g-cellular-data/

 

[Audit13]

Yea there aren't too many people using laptops who don't carry a phone with them. It's often cheaper to just boost the phones data plan too. To handle the increased load from the laptop, if needed. At least some carriers don't charge extra for tethering anymore either. You just have to read the fine print about a separate tethered data limit.

I have been working from home for almost a year and my cellular data usage has been really low.

Luckily, my carrier doesn't charge extra for tethering which is good. When I have tethered, it has not been very often or used much data.

 

[deeddawg]

They heyday so to speak of cellular equipped laptops was back when wifi was nascent and not nearly as ubiquitous as it is today.

I think (opinion) the demand for actual in-laptop cellular connectivity would be extremely low - and that the lost sales/revenue from not having the capability likely exceeds the costs inherent in designing the capability into the laptop lineups.

Seems Apple took the alternate track of making it easy to tether your macbook via your iphone. Solves the problem for a substantial portion of folks who need connectivity while away from wifi, helps drive sales and increase platform stickiness, all at minimal R&D cost.