Apple Still Investigating Cellular MacBook as Microsoft Ships Surface 5G

Recent reports person suggested Apple is actively considering bringing cellular connectivity to the Mac lineup arsenic aboriginal arsenic adjacent year, but arch rival Microsoft isn't waiting astir to find retired – the institution is launching its archetypal 5G-enabled Surface laptop this month.


The Surface Laptop 5G is portion of Microsoft's Copilot+ PC lineup aimed astatine concern customers, featuring a 13.8-inch show and Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors. Microsoft says it has six "strategically placed antennas" that let it to automatically set awesome paths and powerfulness based connected usage. The instrumentality includes some Nano SIM and eSIM options, and tin besides relation arsenic a hotspot for different devices.

Starting astatine $1,700, Microsoft says it volition statesman shipping its archetypal 5G-enabled Surface laptop connected August 26 with enactment for implicit 100 carriers worldwide – though its tiny people notes that 5G volition beryllium disposable "later successful 2025."

The Surface Laptop's 5G capabilities travel arsenic Apple has begun deploying its custom-built C1 modem spot successful immoderate devices. The institution introduced a sub-6GHz mentation of its 5G modem successful the iPhone 16e earlier this twelvemonth and is expected to see it successful the upcoming iPhone 17 "Air," which volition beryllium unveiled adjacent month.

According to a December study by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is "investigating" the anticipation of adding a second-generation C2 modem to a aboriginal Mac arsenic aboriginal arsenic 2026. According to Gurman, Apple's next-generation C2 modem volition enactment faster mmWave exertion and is expected to get successful 2026, debuting successful Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models – with inclusion successful a Mac perchance soon after.

Apple has played with the thought of a cellular MacBook for years now. Back successful 2007, the institution developed MacBook Pro prototypes with integrated 3G connectivity, including a SIM paper slot and an extendable cellular antenna on the close broadside of the lid. Despite these aboriginal experiments, Apple ne'er released a MacBook with built-in cellular capabilities. Here's hoping 2026 volition beryllium the twelvemonth it happens.
This article, "Apple Still Investigating Cellular MacBook arsenic Microsoft Ships Surface 5G" archetypal appeared connected MacRumors.com

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