I’ve long wanted a MacBook Pro with a built-in cellular option. A new patent filing for an “Electronic Device Having Clutch Barrel Antenna Arm” hints that this could happen.
About the patent filing
The patent filing relates generally to electronic devices, including electronic devices with wireless communications capabilities. In the patent fiilng, Apple says that to satisfy consumer demand for small form factor wireless devices, manufacturers are continually striving to implement wireless communications circuitry such as antenna components using compact structures.
However, the tech giant says it can be challenging to form electronic device antenna structures with desired attributes. In some wireless devices, the presence of conductive housing structures can impact antenna performance.
Device size can also affect performance. It can be difficult to achieve desired performance levels in a compact device, particularly when the compact device has conductive housing structures. Apple wants to overcome such issues so Mac laptops can offer cellular connectivity.
In December 2024 Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported on Apple’s alleged three-year plan to built and ship its own modems. In a follow-up report (which you’ll need a subscription to read), he says Apple is exploring Macs and headsets with built-in cellular data.
In other words, we could see Mac laptops and future iterations of the Vision Pro that could use cellular data without being tethered to an iPhone. However, Gurman says if this happens, it won’t be until 2026.
This would be a major step for Apple as it’s yet to introduce any sort of cellular capability for its Mac laptop line. Various iPad models have various cellar options, so why not Mac laptops with built-in 5G?
Summary of the patent filing
Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent filing: “An electronic device such as a laptop computer may have an upper housing and a lower housing. The lower housing may have a clutch barrel coupled to the upper housing by a hinge. The upper housing may be rotatable relative to the lower housing between an open position and a closed position. The upper housing may have a curved metal surface facing the clutch barrel.
“The device may have an antenna with a radiating arm on a curved interior surface of a substrate in the clutch barrel. The radiating arm may extend parallel to the curved metal surface. The radiating arm may remain separated from the curved metal surface across its lateral area as the upper housing is rotated from the open position to the closed position. This may ensure that the antenna is provided with a uniform capacitive load from the upper housing at all upper housing positions.”
I hope you’ll help support Apple World Today by becoming a patron. Patreon pricing ranges from $2 to $10 a month. Thanks in advance for your support.
