Apple could be working on a laptop-tablet hybrid with ARM-based processor, touchscreen display and 4G LTE connectivity, among other things. There are a few good reasons why a report like this may turn out true.
Apple could be working on a laptop-tablet hybrid with ARM-based processor, touchscreen display and 4G LTE connectivity, among other things. There are a few good reasons why a report like this may turn out true. Apple has been reported in the past to be working on moving away from Intel chips to its own processors for Macs by 2020, and it has also been rumored that the company is working on universal apps that can run across iPhone, iPad and Macs. All of this combined could be the reported MacBook hybrid being spoken of this week.
9to5Mac reports that the new device, codenamed Star, comes with a model name N84. This, the report adds, could be the first Mac with an ARM processor running a version of iOS. Before going ahead, we should add that Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who also happens to be a notable Apple reporter, tweeted that the N84 name is associated to a low-cost LCD iPhone that is designed on the iPhone X. Gurman's tweet doesn't counter 9to5Mac's report so it the mystery device could indeed be true.
The device under the Star project is reportedly in its prototype stage and the prototypes are being manufactured by Pegatron, a China-based partner which also manufacturers iOS devices for Apple. The report adds that the prototypes have been in production since January 2018 and a few units have been sent to Cupertino for testing. As per sources in the supply chain, the device is said to come with a touch screen, SIM card with 4G LTE support, GPS, compass, water resistance and runs EFI.
EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface), which is a boot system used by Macs. It's still unclear whether this will be a detachable device like the Surface Book, although Apple does have a patent for it.
Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported that Apple could come out with Macs with custom processors by 2020. This means that the reported Star device is not likely to come out before that. It is possible that Apple will start working on its universal app system first to set the road for the hybrid device. We could hear something on this new software platform, internally called Marzipan, at the upcoming WWDC 2018 that will kick off on June 4.