Apple Working on Cellular MacBooks Powered By Custom 5G Modems to Reduce Reliance on Qualcomm

Apple recently announced the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M3 chips. While the design is practically the same as the last generation, some notable improvements are under the hood for enhanced performance and better connectivity. According to the latest, Apple plans to introduce cellular MacBooks powered by its custom 5G modems. The machines are slated to be released in 2028, roughly ten years after the company started working on its in-house modems.

Apple’s move to cut ties with Qualcomm will stretch to cellular MacBooks with custom 5G modems

As mentioned earlier, Apple plans to launch cellular MacBooks in 2028 with its custom modems. In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman shared the details, stating that the company aims to reduce reliance on Qualcomm for modems. However, it will not be easy for Apple to move away from Qualcomm as it will be tethered to its supplier longer than expected.

Qualcomm’s 5G modems are currently used in the latest iPhone models, and Apple plans to switch to its custom modems by 2026. Once Apple’s custom 5G modems are ready, Gurman claims it will gradually expand to additional products, including the MacBook. Gurman further anticipates that the company plans to integrate its custom modem into its SoC or System-on-a-chip, allowing it to be part of future MacBooks.

Initially, Apple could offer cellular technology on the MacBook Pro models and gradually trickle it down to the comparatively cheaper MacBook Air lineup. However, the MacBooks will not be the first to use Apple’s custom 5G modems. It was previously speculated that Apple would reduce its dependency on Qualcomm for 5G modems used in the iPhone. However, we have seen various delays in the launch timeframe for Apple’s custom modems. The latest suggests that Apple’s custom 5G modems for the iPhone will be ready by 2026.

Besides the iPhone, Gurman claims that Apple will require two to three more years for the modems to be integrated into the cellular versions of the Apple Watch and the iPad. The company could bring the 5G modem to the MacBooks simultaneously. This is not the first time we have heard details on Apple’s decision to launch a cellular version of the MacBook.

Apple was once rumored to launch a cellular version of the MacBook Air during the Steve Jobs era. However, the company decided to ditch the approach as it would take a lot of internal space. The spatial allocation would be efficient with the modem integrated into the SoC. Apple is also working on its custom micro-LED display technology, which is expected to debut with the Apple Watch.