Apple Still Enlivens MacBooks With Cellular Connectivity, While Microsoft Launches 5G Surface

Microsoft Surface, 5G Laptop which is part of the Copilot+ PC line (photo: x @rosesana)

JAKARTA - Apple is reportedly considering bringing mobile connectivity to their Mac lineup as early as next year. However, its main competitor, Microsoft, will not wait long for the company to launch its first Surface laptop with 5G support this month.

The Surface Laptop 5G is part of Microsoft's Copilot+ PC line aimed at business customers. This laptop has a 13.8-inch screen and is powered by an Intel Core Ultra processor (Seri 2).

Microsoft claims the device has six antennas strategically located, allowing automatic customization of signal and power lines based on use.

This laptop supports Nano SIM and eSIM, and can serve as a hotspot for other devices. The 5G Laptop Surface is priced from $1,700 and starts shipping on August 26, with the support of more than 100 operators worldwide, although a small note states that the new 5G feature will be available "at the end of 2025."

Meanwhile, Apple has started implementing their own C1 modem chips on several devices. The sub-6GHz version of this 5G modem has been used in the iPhone 16e which was released earlier this year, and is expected to be present on the iPhone 17 "Air" which will be announced next month.

According to a Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman in December 2024, Apple is "investigating" the possibility of adding a second-generation modem, C2, to Mac no later than 2026. This C2 modem will support a faster mmWave technology and is expected to debut on the iPhone 18 Pro, with a possible entry into the Mac shortly thereafter.

Apple has actually been experimenting with mobile-capable MacBooks for a long time. In 2007, they developed a prototype MacBook Pro with 3G connectivity, complete with SIM card slots and extended mobile antennas on the right side of the screen. However, until now Apple has never released a MacBook with built-in cellular connectivity. Hopefully 2026 will be the turning point.