Cellular Macs Could Change Everything. Or Nothing At All

This blog post was inspired by Joanna Stern from the Wall Street Journal. I was just minding my own business on Threads and came across the video below.

And it got me thinking. Let's talk about cellular on Apple MacBooks really quick.

Introduction

Apple’s MacBooks have long relied on Wi-Fi or tethering for internet, but rumors suggest that built-in cellular connectivity (like LTE/5G) could finally be on the horizon. In this post, we explore what a cellular-capable Mac might mean – looking at Apple’s past pattern of spreading new tech across devices, how other laptops use cellular, the technical and practical hurdles, and what consumers really want.

Most importantly, we’ll balance the excitement of an always-connected Mac with the realistic challenges that come with it; there are quite a few.

Historical Patterns and Precedents

Before we get into cellular, let's review Apple's track record of introducing chips or features in one product line and then extending them to others over time:

• Touch ID & Secure Enclave: Apple’s fingerprint sensor debuted on iPhone 5s in 2013, then appeared on the iPad (2014) and finally the MacBook Pro in 2016. Wired noted Touch ID on Mac was “familiar to anyone with an iPhone,” underscoring how Apple migrated this tech from phone to laptop.
• Face ID: Apple’s facial recognition launched with iPhone X (2017) and reached the iPad Pro by 2018. A Mac with Face ID is still just a rumor, but the pattern shows Apple often starts with the iPhone and eventually brings the innovation elsewhere.
• Custom Silicon (Apple Chips): After years of developing A-series chips for iPhones and iPads, Apple introduced the M1 chip to Macs in 2020. This marked a crossover of mobile chip tech into laptops. Apple even put the Mac’s M1 chip into the iPad Pro (2021) after its success on the Mac. Today, the same Apple-designed silicon architecture powers iPhones, iPads, and Macs, showing a clear trend of unifying technology across categories.

These examples illustrate that Apple often tests and refines new technologies in one device line, then expands them to others once they’re proven. Cellular connectivity has so far been standard in iPhones and iPads, and even Apple Watch, but never in the Mac. If history is a guide, Apple could eventually decide the time is right to make Macs always-connected devices too, especially as it introduces its first in-house iPhone mode, the C1 chip, in the latest iPhone 16e.

Cellular Connectivity in Laptops

Built-in cellular (LTE/5G) isn’t a new idea in the broader laptop market. PC competitors have offered laptops with cellular modems for years: business-class Windows notebooks and 2-in-1s often come in LTE or 5G versions (for example, Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 series, HP’s Elite Dragonfly, Microsoft’s Surface Pro with LTE, etc.). These “always-connected” PCs let you pop in a SIM/eSIM and get online anywhere, just like a phone.

Pros of built-in cellular on a laptop include:

• Always-On Convenience: You can be online as soon as you open your laptop, without hunting for Wi-Fi or fiddling with hotspot settings. It’s great for travelers – no more relying on coffee shop Wi-Fi or insecure public networks.
• No Tethering Hassles: With onboard cellular, you don’t need to drain your phone’s battery by tethering, nor carry a separate hotspot device. Many find tethering less convenient – it can be a pain to manage connections or keep the phone nearby and unlocked.
• More Security on the Road: Using cellular can be safer than jumping on random Wi-Fi networks. For business users dealing with sensitive data, the option to use a vetted carrier network instead of public Wi-Fi is a plus.

But in my experience, cellular connectivity isn’t as game-changing as it seems.

I personally own both a cellular Apple Watch and a cellular iPad, yet I often have to intentionally find ways to take advantage of them rather than them naturally improving my day-to-day usage.

• With my Apple Watch, since my iPhone is always with me, I almost never use its cellular feature. If I’m exercising, I might stream music without my phone, but otherwise, I rarely think about it.
• My iPad with cellular is great when traveling, but when I’m at home, at work, or on an airplane, I default to Wi-Fi. Unless I deliberately go somewhere like a coffee shop just to use it, it’s more of a backup than an essential feature. It’s nice to have, but I only use it a few times a year.

This makes me wonder – would a MacBook with cellular be any different? Would I really change my habits, or would I still default to Wi-Fi most of the time?

Cons and trade-offs of built-in cellular:

• Added Cost: Laptops with cellular typically cost more upfront and require an additional monthly data plan. Given my limited use of cellular on my iPad and Apple Watch, I’d be hesitant to pay for another device’s data plan unless the benefit was clear.
• Data Caps & Limits: Mobile data isn’t unlimited for most. Heavy internet use on a laptop can quickly blow through a data cap. Many cellular plans throttle your speed or cut you off after a certain limit (sometimes after ~20–50 GB in a month).
• Battery Drain: Running a cellular radio can tax battery life. The modem continuously searches for signal or maintains a connection, which uses power. Apple has optimized battery life well in the past, but cellular connectivity could still be a small drain.

Technical and Practical Considerations

I'm no engineer, but I assume that adding cellular to Macs isn't just a matter of sicking in a modem. There are technical and usage challenges Apple would have to address to make a Macs data usage more efficient.

• Data Consumption: macOS is designed for unmetered broadband, automatically syncing large files and downloading updates. Unlike iOS, it doesn’t differentiate between Wi-Fi and cellular, meaning a Mac could unknowingly use large amounts of data. Apple would likely need to implement a “metered connection” mode similar to Windows’ data-saving features.
• High Data Workloads: Macs generally handle more intensive tasks—large file transfers, cloud backups, video streaming—making them more data-hungry than iPhones or iPads. Even with 5G, sustained high-volume usage could push against carrier data limits and throttling policies.
• Cellular Network Constraints: Mobile networks are optimized for smartphone use, not laptops with continuous high-bandwidth needs. Carriers might need to rethink their data caps or introduce dedicated plans to accommodate always-connected Macs.
• Tethering vs. Built-in Cellular: While a 5G Mac would offer seamless connectivity, Apple’s Instant Hotspot already makes tethering convenient. However, a built-in modem would reduce battery drain on an iPhone, offer better reception with larger antennas, and eliminate the minor friction of enabling a hotspot. However, that means the Mac battery would be taking the power consumption hit.

Ultimately, while Apple has the technical expertise to make this work, the bigger challenge is ensuring a cellular Mac is cost-effective, practical, and data-efficient for real-world use. However, based Apple's historical pricing of add ons (looking at you, really expensive RAM upgrade), I can see this being a pricier add-on that prices out those like me who see this is a nice to have.

Consumer Implications and Market Expectations

But let's answer probably the most important question: would people actually want a cellular MacBook? The answer likely varies by audience:

• Digital Nomads & Remote Workers: A cellular Mac would be a game-changer for those who work from anywhere. No need to rely on spotty Wi-Fi or carry extra gadgets.
• Business Travelers & Enterprise: Many corporate users already travel with hotspots, but a cellular Mac would simplify that setup. However, it depends on whether businesses are willing to pay for yet another connected device.
• Creative Professionals: Large file transfers and cloud syncing could be limited by data caps. Would professionals rely on cellular for serious work, or just use it as a fallback?
• General Consumers and Students: Most will continue to use Wi-Fi. Unless carriers offer very affordable add-ons for MacBooks, it’s unclear if casual users will find built-in cellular compelling.

Enthusiasm vs. Realism: Would I Buy One?

There’s no doubt a cellular Mac would be a fantastic convenience. The idea of having my Mac connected at all times without relying on Wi-Fi or a hotspot is appealing. However, my real-world experience with cellular iPads and Apple Watches has shown me that I don’t always use cellular as much as I thought I would.

Would a Mac be different? Maybe, but only if Apple and carriers made it a frictionless experience at a reasonable cost. If I had to pay another $10–20 per month for a Mac’s data plan, I’d seriously question if I needed it, or if tethering my phone (which I already pay for) was good enough.

Apple would need to solve the data cost problem through some creative MacOS updates, offering affordable short-term eSIM options, or working with carriers to make pricing compelling (that's never going to happen).

For now, I remain cautiously optimistic. A cellular MacBook could be a game-changer for some, but for many – myself included – it might end up like my cellular iPad or Apple Watch: nice to have, but not an everyday necessity.

Would you buy a MacBook with built-in cellular? Let me know on Threads, Mastadon, Bluesky and Twitter.