Apple plans to equip MacBooks with in-house cellular modems
Apple’s reported plan to add its own cellular modems to MacBooks around 2028 is seen as both overdue and strategically important, letting the company escape Qualcomm’s costly licensing model and deepen its hardware integration. Commenters weigh the convenience and enterprise benefits of always-connected laptops—better UX, tracking, and reduced tethering friction—against extra data-plan costs, niche demand, and privacy concerns around “always online” hardware. Many note that cellular-enabled laptops already exist in the business PC world, and speculate Apple will treat MacBooks as a safer first platform to prove its in-house modem technology before pushing it into iPhones.
Existing cellular laptops & history
- Commenters recall earlier Apple prototypes (e.g., a 2011 MacBook Pro with 3G) and say this has been “long overdue.”
- Many PC vendors already ship WWAN/4G/5G laptops (ThinkPads, Latitudes, EliteBooks, Surfaces), usually as expensive business options.
- Some users love built‑in modems and won’t go back; others had them and never used them, preferring tethering or Wi‑Fi.
Why Apple waited / Qualcomm & economics
- Qualcomm’s licensing model (percentage of total device price, plus “no license, no chips”) is cited as a major deterrent for high‑priced MacBooks.
- Apple’s in‑house modem effort (boosted by acquiring Intel’s modem division) is seen as a way to avoid Qualcomm fees and control the stack.
- Laptops are viewed as a low‑risk “warm‑up” platform for an immature in‑house modem: more space, power headroom, and lower expectations than phones.
Pros vs tethering / Wi‑Fi
- Arguments for built‑in cellular:
- Zero‑friction connectivity vs. hotspot setup that can be flaky or slow to appear.
- Avoids draining the smaller phone battery; can keep phone free for calls.
- Better reception possible due to larger antennas and power budget.
- Seamless tracking/MDM/“Find My” for enterprise and anti‑theft.
- Arguments against:
- Tethering is already one click in Apple’s ecosystem and works well for many.
- Public Wi‑Fi is common enough for a lot of business travelers.
- Cellular is often slower, more variable, and more contended than good Wi‑Fi.
- Feature is seen as niche; most users don’t want another line or plan.
Carrier plans, data caps, and MVNOs
- Concern that laptops will require extra paid lines; some plans do offer free data‑only SIMs sharing the same pool.
- “Unlimited” often means throttling after ~50 GB; caps are problematic for full OSs that assume abundant bandwidth.
- macOS has “Low Data Mode” and metered‑connection APIs, but support and granularity vs. iOS are debated.
Privacy, control, and surveillance
- Some fear an always‑on modem embedded in the SoC could enable uncontrollable tracking or data exfiltration, like in cars/IoT.
- Others argue phones already pose the same (or greater) surveillance risk; if you distrust the vendor at that level, the battle is largely lost.
- A few say they would physically disconnect antennas or avoid such machines entirely.
Impact and future
- Some hope Apple normalizing cellular laptops will push PC vendors to do it more and with better UX (eSIM, easy signup, phone‑like plans).
- Others think cellular may eventually displace Wi‑Fi in many contexts, while some strongly disagree and see Wi‑Fi as an “excellent” technology that shouldn’t be replaced.