Apple Is “Investigating” The Possibility Of Adding A Modem Chip In Macs For Cellular Connecitivity, As Its Custom Chips Near Launch

It was recently reported that Apple is working on three variants of its custom 5G modems for the iPhone and iPad models launching in the next three years. If it manages to mass-produce the reported chips, the company will be ahead of the curve. However, the company is not aiming to stop with the iPhone or iPad, as it is also “investigating” the idea of bringing cellular connectivity to the Mac lineup for the first time.

Apple is planning to bring cellular connectivity to Macs, as its custom modems approach launch early next year

Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman recently shared that Apple aims to beat Qualcomm with its custom 5G modem in the next three years. The analyst also reported that the company is exploring the possibility of launching Macs with cellular connectivity in the near future, but it remains to be seen if the company’s ambitions will take shape. Even if the company is planning to launch a cellular Mac, we believe that it will not be available to the public until 2026 at the earliest.

Apple’s modem transition from Qualcomm is simple, based on the recent report. It is working on three different modems, each with a different intent. Next year’s 5G modem will be an entry-level chip with a few perks of its own, including low power usage and the ability to connect to satellite service. However, it will not be the fastest modem on the market, with theoretical speeds of up to 4 Gbps. Since it is an entry-level 5G modem chip, Apple will see fit to integrate it into its budget iPhone SE 4 and the low-end iPad. The analyst also reports that the modem could also make its way to the iPhone 17 ‘Air.’

The second variant will be available in 2026 with the iPhone 18 Pro models, and its performance will be comparable to Qualcomm’s iteration. However, Apple’s 2027 5G modem will aim to beat Qualcomm at its own game in terms of performance and efficiency. We can speculate that if Apple does want its modem on a Mac, 2026 seems like the wise time frame or later.

Cellular connectivity on a Mac will be implemented exactly like the iPhone or iPad and there will not be any technicalities involved. The company could have launched the cellular Mac before, but it must been waiting for its custom chips to replace Qualcomm. Note that Apple will charge a higher price for the cellular variant of the Mac, but the utility is quite extensive for professionals who travel a lot. It was reported last year by Gurman that Apple will launch cellular-enabled Macs in 2028, which means that the company will wait for the technology to be perfected before it can incorporate it. We believe that the next MacBook Pro redesign will support new modems baked onto the Apple silicon chip.