Mike Wuerthele
Supply chain sources claim that Apple and other vendors are gearing up to launch a 5G MacBook Pro in 2020, with other vendors looking at production of cellular models utilizing the new network before the end of 2019.
Manufacturers expected to have 5G laptops in 2019 include Dell and HP, according to a report by supply chain monitor DigiTimes. The publication also claims that Apple will have one as well, with a design that is already allegedly complete now — but will likely not show up until the 2020 MacBook Pro model launches.
For 5G specifically, frequencies can be generally categorized into one of two groups — low-frequency sub-6GHz bands, and higher-frequency 6GHz bands. The first low range consists of bands that are currently used for existing mobile network communications, as low as 600MHz and up to 2,600MHz, though it can also include "C-Bands" up to 4,700MHz.
The 6GHz band is referred to as mmWave in the US. It is the part of the 5G specification that delivers the fast speeds — assuming that a handset is within the short range of a mmWave transmitter.
Not clear is what aspects of 5G that Apple may be looking at for a 5G Mac. Any mmWave signals would be completely defeated by an aluminum — or plastic — case, so the venue suspects that any 5G equipped Mac would need more ceramic antennae than an iPhone.
At present, it also isn't clear where DigiTimes is sourcing its information on a 5G Mac. The publication has a poor track record of predicting Apple features and timing, but does have hooks inside the supply chain.
Apple's purchase of Intel's 5G modem technologies won't be as helpful for the Mac as it is for the iPhone. Apple's purchase was for smartphone technologies, and Intel retained desktop and laptop modem patents.
Apple has been rumored for about a decade to be working on a LTE Mac — including some generated by DigiTimes. Obviously, none of the rumors have come to fruition.
Apple's 5G efforts, as its LTE efforts, will likely be focused on the iPhone and iPad. Apple is expected to have 5G connectivity in the 2020 iPhone. It is generally believed that Apple will have three models, all of them OLED-based, in 5.4-, 6.1-, and 6.7-inch sizes, and all of them with 5G support.
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31 Comments
Nice. Finally a MacBook that has cellular chip. I wonder why in the past years laptops in general don't have cellular built-in except mobile devices and tablets only. In today's age, we need it. I used to setup hotspot from my iPhone for my MacBook. But I couldn't now because I upgraded to unlimited cellular data and the hotspot feature is disabled from carrier. A G5 MacBook would fill that need.
We used to look forward to G5 laptops; now we may have hankering for 5G. What an age.
This makes sense...
Why limit a portable computer to certain islands of connectivity?
And, with 5G promising to blanket coverage in urbanized areas, it makes sense that a mobile computer would work anywhere and everywhere, all the time*
* Admitedly, that excludes rural areas. To get them covered, the FCC and congress would have to step in.