There is likely a small subset of users who want cellular connectivity on their laptop but the overwhelming majority of users are not willing to pay for an extra cellular line just to avoid tethering to their phone.
Why would you assume it's a small subset when even the lowest end $349 iPad offers a modem option as a $150 upgrade, which is a 43% upcharge (!) PLUS the cost of a monthly data plan? Apple isn't making that available if there isn't a significant number of people buying it. If there's any group that should be content with simply tethering their iPad to their phone for cellular connectivity, it should be the group buying the cheapest iPad possible--and yet that is not the case. So I'm sure the desire for this option among Macbook users, especially the Pro crowd, would be significant--and clearly no big deal for Apple to offer it if it can do so for all six models of iPad it sells, which means dual inventory for each model.
I was looking for a reconditioned cellular iPad recently - they are very hard to find. So yeah - it’s a small subset.
I think folks are forgetting a few things: - 6G network speeds might be a compelling reason to feature this as hotel, hospital, and other hotspots still suck.
- Additionally, iPhone hotspot throughput isn’t stellar, esp in the default low-data mode.
- The security improvements that might be gained by cutting out attack vectors.
- Energy consumption improvements - just drawing on one battery instead of two seems good. - If modems are on-die, makes sense to include it on all models. Yeah? Anyone knowledgeable enough to answer that? - Even if not wrapped into the die, prices might go down once certain 3rd parties are removed. - Who knows what Apple is cooking up with future network enhancements? - Clearly they think they can get something out of this that’s worthwhile — more than just preventing Q and B from piggybacking their R&D off iPhone sales. Perhaps contributing to the standards in some way could turn Apple from a renter of IP into a landlord. - It’d be nice to tell Siri to do things through my AirPods, even just playing a playlist … and not have to carry my phone everywhere or own a Watch.
Just some thoughts.
agree with FA2. The additional impediment was that Apple had to pay licensing fees to Qualcomm with putting cellular modems in a traditional computing device. I could see Apple doing this in a very Apple way…offering a version of this service themselves (bundled in with Apple Services) with the benefit of offering privacy and security (telecoms suck at both).
Did Apple remove mmWave 5G from iPad Pro 2024 to make way for this less capable modem?
Doubtful since Apple’s modem isn’t ready yet. It was likely a cost saving decision. mmWave is all but useless anyway so the cost-benefit equation doesn’t make much sense.
Did Apple remove mmWave 5G from iPad Pro 2024 to make way for this less capable modem?
It’s probably the other way around. They probably saw that people with cellular iPads didn’t connect to mmWave networks much at all. So, for the M4 iPP, it would be ok to drop, if for only one model.
The rumors are that the 2nd generation Apple cell modem will have mmWave and is slated for devices in 2026. An M5 iPP model could easily wait for that, but I think it would be perfectly fine with Sub-6 for the next couple of models.
But why tho? Do that many people want to pay for an entirely different line of service, when we can just hotspot on our existing paid line? What am I missing
Conditions in the market change. Remember when, back in the 1990s, Americans were lagging behind in cell phone use because of exorbitant charges? Providers can offer discounted pure data plans for devices like laptops, for example.
There is likely a small subset of users who want cellular connectivity on their laptop but the overwhelming majority of users are not willing to pay for an extra cellular line just to avoid tethering to their phone. There are a signifiant number of cellular iPad users out there. Some of them may prefer to use a MacBook over an iPad but again, I suspect it's not a huge number. I'm with @StrangeDays, @yyzguy & @M68000 - until the carriers allow bundling I have no interest in paying an extra $30 per month just to avoid tethering.
Out of curiosity, do any PC laptop makers have a built in cellular modem? Assuming there are no royalties involved this may be a case where the incremental cost for Apple to add their own modem to every device is trivial, essentially the production cost of the chips.
Some Lenovo ThinkPads and HP Elitebooks have 5G connectivity. But, at least in my customers, they don't ask for that option.
My old work HP dragonfly and my current Dell latitude (don’t get me started) both had an external sim slot and work pay for the cellular service. For when I travel as it is more secure than random wifi. The dragonfly wasn’t too bad for travel except for woeful battery life, but the latitude is heavy crap. If only I could use a MacBook.
The use case for cellular in a MacBook would be very low as IT at most workplaces won’t have them (if it ain’t MS ain’t interested). Private users would just hotspot.
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