As Apple gears up for its annual developer conference, WWDC 2016, many are expecting a new range of MacBook Pros to be announced.
Now, a newly discovered patent has hinted at a particularly exciting feature, which may find its way onto the next raft of Apple’s Pro laptops.
The company has been granted a patent which mentions a laptop with cellular capabilities, meaning the device could get online without the need for a Wi-Fi connection.
As the patent notes: “electronic device #10 [depicted as a laptop in the patent] may contain wireless communications circuitry that operates in long-range communications bands such as cellular telephone bands.”
Related: 8 Apple patents that will shape the next iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
Apple has offered iPads with cellular connectivity for some time, but this marks the first time the company has explored cellular laptops.
The newly granted patent is titled “Electronic device with dual clutch barrel cavity antennas”, which doesn’t sound particularly exciting but could make life much easier for business users looking for an alternative to Wi-Fi hotspots or USB dongles.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that Apple could be planning a Q4 release for the next range of MacBook Pros.
Noted KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that the Cupertino-based firm will be releasing 13 and 15-inch models as always, and that the new range will feature an OLED touch bar above the keyboard.
It remains unclear whether the cellular connectivity will feature in the upcoming laptops, but it’s certainly a possibility.
VIDEO: Take a look at our review of the MacBook Pro 2015:
Would you like to see cellular functionality in the next MacBook Pro models? Let us know in the comments.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.