Sources: with its own modem in the pipeline, Apple is investigating bringing cellular connectivity to the Mac and headsets like Vision Pro for the first time
7 biggest rumors so far Sagar Naresh Bhavsar / Neowin : iPhone 17 Slim/Air could be 2mm thinner than iPhone 16 Pro, thanks to the in-house modem David Nield / TechRadar : New leak predicts just how thin the iPhone 17 Air is going to be Abdullah Mustapha / Gizchina.com : Apple Plans to Ditch Qualcomm Modems for In-House Chips Nick Soong / Appleosophy : Apple's second-generation 5G model to debut on iPhone 18 Pro and iPad Pro, bringing back mmWave on iPad Pro Ananya Gairola / Benzinga : Apple Working On In-House Modems To Replace Qualcomm, Will Slim Down iPhones Further And Bring Cellular Connectivity To Macs: Report GSMArena.com : Three generations of Apple modems detailed in new report, iPhone SE marks debut Juli Clover / MacRumors : iPhone 17 ‘Air’ Expected to Be ~2mm Thinner Than iPhone 16 Pro Maria Deutscher / SiliconANGLE : Report: Apple will ship custom 5G modem chip with the 2025 iPhone SE Jack Purcher / Patently Apple : Apple began work on a Cellular MacBook back in 2010 and now it appears that this concept is being reconsidered due to their new 5G modems Ed Hardy / Cult of Mac : MacBooks with 5G cellular might actually happen Malcolm Owen / AppleInsider : Apple's ongoing modem push rumored to result in cellular MacBooks Ian Carlos Campbell / Engadget : The next iPhone SE's new modem reportedly won't be as capable as Qualcomm's Brad Bennett / MobileSyrup : Apple's iPhone modem is almost ready for prime time Emma Roth / The Verge : Apple's custom modems could put 5G in Macs and Vision Pro Chance Miller / 9to5Mac : Bloomberg: Apple ‘investigating’ bringing cellular to the Mac for the first time iClarified : Apple Aims to Surpass Qualcomm with In-House Modem by 2027, Debuting in iPhone SE Next Year [Report] Nirit Abermann / Wall Street Pit : Breaking Free: Apple's Three-Year Plan to Outpace Qualcomm in Modem Technology Mark Gurman / The Economic Times : Apple plans three-year modem rollout in bid to top Qualcomm Bluesky: Harry McCracken / @harrymccracken.com : The iPad's built-in cellular has being a hugely unappereciated feature from the start, and one of the biggest benefits I've gotten by being iPad-first for 13 (!) years now. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/ articles/2024-12-06/apple-s-modem-chips - pave-way-for-slimmer-iphone-cellular- macs-and-headsets Dewbie-Dewbie-Doo / @dewbert.social : I'd buy a 5G MacBook Air in a heartbeat. It's the main reason I use an iPad Pro as my main device. [embedded post] X: Vadim Yuryev / @vadimyuryev : How do you make the Mac better? THIS! First the iPhones and iPads get Apple's custom all-in-one modem which includes 5G Cellular, WiFi and Bluetooth. Then Macs will get it shortly after. Justin Ryan / @justinryanio : Mark Gurman reports Apple's in-house modem could power cellular Macs, Vision Pros, and glasses! This could mean always-on internet for Vision Pro, perfect for outdoor AR, mobile workstations, and real-time collaboration anywhere untethered from Wi-Fi. [video] Brad Lynch / @sadlyitsbradley : So I will be able to blame my public Vision Pro hiking adventures on the HMD having cellular, instead of me just fully being a weirdo Nice 😇 Aaron Levie / @levie : This will be game changing [image] Mark Gurman / @markgurman : NEW: The Apple in-house modem push could pave the way for cellular-enabled Macs, Vision Pros and glasses in the future. The first devices to be built around the new modem will be the 2025 iPhone SE and iPhone Air. https://www.bloomberg.com/... Forums: r/VisionPro : Future Apple Vision Pro Could Have 5G Modem r/apple : Apple's Modem Chips Pave Way for Slimmer iPhone, Cellular Macs and Headsets MacRumors Forums : iPhone 17 ‘Air’ Expected to Be ~2mm Thinner Than iPhone 16 Pro
Context & Ripple Effects
The report extends Apple’s reported modem roadmap beyond iPhones. A day earlier, related coverage said the first Apple-designed modem was slated for a new iPhone SE, while an earlier account described a gradual replacement of Qualcomm components across the lineup the first reported in-house modem rollout Apple’s staged modem transition.
That progression matters because Macs and Vision Pro represent product categories where Apple has not offered its own cellular option; the story is about investigating a new use for a component it is developing for broader device control.
First-order effects
- Apple can evaluate cellular-equipped Mac and Vision Pro designs around its own modem rather than a Qualcomm-supplied part; the report does not establish a launch commitment.
- Qualcomm’s potential exposure broadens from iPhone modem supply to any Apple expansion of cellular connectivity into Macs and headsets.
Second-order effects
- A successful move would make connectivity a product-design variable across more Apple hardware, including trade-offs among battery life, physical design, and standalone use.
- Carrier-facing distribution and data-plan arrangements could become more relevant to Apple’s computer and headset categories if cellular versions proceed.
Third-order effects
- If Apple carries its modem program across device classes, cellular silicon becomes another strategic layer of vertical integration rather than an iPhone-specific replacement effort.
- The pattern points to a more self-contained Apple hardware stack, though the reported investigation leaves timing, product scope, and modem performance unresolved.
The trend: Apple’s custom-modem effort is evolving from supplier substitution in iPhones toward a platform capability that could enable always-connected computing devices.