There’s a secret smart home radio in your new Mac
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is one of several of Apple’s newest computers and iPads that FCC reports indicate have a Thread radio. | Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
When Apple announced the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max last fall, the company surprised everyone by putting a Thread radio in its top-of-the-line smartphones. Now, it turns out Apple also quietly added this important smart home radio to several new Macs and iPads released since September 2023.
While the company doesn’t list Thread on the specs of any of these products, FCC reports indicate that many of Apple’s latest devices have had Thread radios tested for compliance. Generally, you don’t test a radio that’s not there.
We found evidence of Thread testing in the following models:
- iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) (Wi-Fi)
- iPad Air 11-inch (M2) (Wi-Fi + Cellular)
- iPad...