Microsoft Surface Book could beat Apple's MacBooks with the 5G hit

Microsoft has an innovative concept for how it could bring 5G connectivity to its Surface Book (or perhaps even other Surface devices), and the company could aim to do so before Apple figures out the same thing to exploit with its MacBooks.

Apple has clearly floated the idea that Tim Cook's company is in a technological race with Microsoft to get 5G support on board its laptops, after spotting a Microsoft patent.

Remember that Apple has been rumored to bring 5G to MacBooks for quite some time, and back in August 2019 there was speculation that it would happen in 2020.

Obviously, that didn't turn out to be the case, though Apple does have a new batch of M1-powered MacBooks coming in 2021, with rumored versions of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, so maybe those - here they could get 5G (and they could also come with the much-talked-about Mini-LED display).

However, the theory is that Microsoft could beat Apple to the punch on 5G, given a patent that has surfaced for a removable 'box panel' for a future Surface Book.

The idea here is that much of the chassis can be removed and replaced, with two different panels supplied: one providing just standard Wi-Fi connectivity, and the other providing 5G.

When you're on the go, you can switch to the latest 5G module for fast cellular connectivity, but if not, you can opt for Wi-Fi (which will consume less battery). These panels could easily be swapped out using some sort of 'receptacle port', and it would be a bit like putting a keyboard cover on the Surface device (or at least Microsoft would try to make it convenient in the same way).

Microsoft vs. Apple

It’s certainly an interesting concept, but as always, the presence of a patent isn’t a guarantee that this technology will ever be used in a Surface Book (or indeed any other Microsoft device). It’s possible that the technology won’t make it past the prototyping stage, though it’s certainly a pretty clear indication that Microsoft is working on bringing 5G support to Surface devices, as you’d expect.

Apple could still be the first to launch 5G-equipped MacBooks, of course, but the fact that we haven’t heard anything rumored recently about progress in this direction casts doubt on a 5 debut of 2021G with Apple’s laptops. Especially since there’s already a lot going on with these machines, by all accounts, in terms of Apple’s design overhaul and the aforementioned Mini-LED display.

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Via T3.com