Work starts on Apple M6 chip with modems for future Macs
Apple is already looking beyond its next generation of M-class chip, designing the future M6 processor that will include an in-house cellular modem for its anticipated 2027 Mac lineup.
The C1 cellular modem the iPhone 16e uses is only the beginning.
The company is currently planning to update its MacBook Pro lineup to an M5 processorlater this year. Other Mac models will get the M5 upgrade as well, after the reveal and details of the M5 chip emerge during the June WWDC conference.
Current MacBook models rely on Qualcomm-based Wi-Fi chips to connect the devices to wireless internet. Apple has made it clear that it intends to move away from the dependency on Qualcomm for these components as soon as possible, though it will still use those chips in some upcoming products.
The anticipated M5 MacBook Pro is not expected to introduce any changes from the present case design, leaving the M5 chip upgrade as its primary new feature. However, Apple has big plans for its 2026 MacBook Pro update, according to a report from Bloomberg.
The 2026 model, which will mark the MacBook Pro's 20th anniversary, will offer more than just a chip update to the M6. It is also believed to debut a new case design, and is expected to move to a thinner OLED screen.
Cellular modem included
In addition to those changes, Apple is likely to integrate an on-board cellular modem into the 2026 MacBook Pro. This would be based on the existing C1 in-house modem chip used in the new iPhone 16e.
It's possible that the company could offer MacBook models with and without the modem, with the latter option potentially for lower-end options. The built-in modem could also be part of a future MacBook Air upgrade.
Having a built-in modem in future MacBook models would eliminate the need for using cell phones to tether a data connection when Wi-Fi is unavailable. A MacBook model with a built-in cellular modem could also act as its own hotspot, providing signal for other nearby devices.
The modems would also probably include satellite connectivity and GPS, since the C1 modem already incorporates these features. Cellular data plans from providers may eventually need to adjust data limits to encourage users to routinely use cellular data in future Macs.
Mac cellular modems from Apple could become part of the total System-on-Chip (SoC) package for future Apple processors. Apple SVP of Hardware Technologies Johny Srouji described the C1 modem as the foundation of "a platform for generations" that will "truly differentiate" the company's technology from those of competitors.
Rumor Score: Possible
Read on AppleInsider
Comments
Work probably began on the M6 in 2023, not now, including logic boards, modem integration, etc. What they are probably doing now is doing some test runs of M6 on TSMC N2 and N3P. Not even pilot production, just testing how to fab M6, getting some test SoCs in very small quantities. Then, testing them out in the various form factors the M6 is going into. The M6 chip design is probably 6 months away from being "frozen" for mass production, but it has likely been a 3 year process of intensive work, if not more.
And maybe...put one into an ATV? And the ATV becomes the new Airport? drool.
Outside of the obvious laptops, cell modems should go into the Apple TV, Mac mini, Mac Studio, HomePod, HomePod mini and AirPods Max. I'd even say AirPods Pro if I thought one could be put in there. Hmm, maybe it could be in the AirPods case and a Bluetooth connection between the AirPods and case provides Internet service?
This sort of thing makes you think that Apple should offer MVNO services for their buyers too. Have sat-comm, VPN and guaranteed E2EE services as part of the MVNO services product.
"The event also saw Huawei announcing royalty rates for 4G and 5G handsets, Wi-Fi 6 devices, and Internet of Things (IoT) products, all areas where Huawei is a top SEP owner. The rate caps for 4G and 5G handsets are US$1.5 per unit and US$2.5 per unit, respectively. Huawei’s royalty rate for Wi-Fi 6 consumer devices, meanwhile, is US$0.5 per unit. For IoT, the rate for IoT-Centric devices is one percent of the net selling price, capped at US$0.75, while the rate for IoT-Enhanced devices ranges from US$0.3 to US$1 per unit."
https://www.huawei.com/en/news/2023/7/ipr-innovation-horizon#:~:text=The rate caps for 4G,is US$0.5 per unit.
https://opendata.blender.org/benchmarks/query/?compute_type=OPTIX&compute_type=CUDA&compute_type=HIP&compute_type=METAL&compute_type=ONEAPI&group_by=device_name&blender_version=4.3.0
The M6 Mac Studio Ultra would land at the third spot on the current Blender list.
Which brings up another point the excuses made by the so-called AAA gaming industry or the greater Cad industry for their lack of Mac support that time is coming to an end hardware wise in a big way.
doesn't Broadcom make the wifi chips?
Apple will be Qualcomm’s nightmare because Apple isn’t looking to just stand still and collect toll fees. The C1 modem is just a beach head the C2, C3, C4‘s will be even better and more importantly with new Apple devices coming up will have functionalities that Qualcomm, similar the ghosts of tech past like Kodak, Xerox, IBM, Motorola of Schaumburg, Illinois or Intel who also didn’t want to move forward.
This is how the patent system in the USA is designed. They will award as many FRAND, SEP patents as possible, and let the companies negotiate between themselves, and then let the courts decide if the companies can't come to agreement.
Seems inevitable that Apple will be sued for modem chip design too, as well as for the FRAND pool or some non-FRAND patent. The media loves to paint the court stuff as some kind of good versus evil story, but it really isn't. It's the way the patent and court system is designed. It looks stupid because, likely by congressional direction, will let any frivolous and stupid patent application through, and will give the patent as wide as an application as possible. Hence, the language in patents is obtuse and obscure, and not actionable nor implementable.