Options for cellular connectivity - MacBook Pro

[jjudson]

I continue to be baffled over the years why Apple has cellular data connectivity on phones and tablets, but don't offer it as an add-on for MacBooks. In today's mobile world -- coupled with the fact that the MacBook (as a laptop) is a mobile device -- it makes no sense.

That said, my business travel has increased substantially and I need a solution.

I have tried hot-spotting my Verizon iPhone and iPad Pro to my MacBook, but the speeds are abysmal. Even though on my iPad Pro I'm seeing cellular speeds of 20 Mbps down and 4 Mbps up, when I hotspot that device to my MacBook, my speeds are less than 1Mbps down. There's obviously throttling going on (which I'm not understanding the reason of, either).

If I stuck with Verizon, are there any recommendations to get faster hotspot speeds? I've heard that other providers have the same issues, and I've also heard that the external "Jet Pack" style units aren't any faster. Any thoughts?

 

[tstafford]

When you say the speeds are abysmal, what kind of speeds are you getting when you measure on something like www.fast.com? I'm asking because I find hotspot to my MBP on ATT iPhone is pretty good unless I'm in a place where coverage is quite bad.

 

[jjudson]

When you say the speeds are abysmal, what kind of speeds are you getting when you measure on something like www.fast.com? I'm asking because I find hotspot to my MBP on ATT iPhone is pretty good unless I'm in a place where coverage is quite bad.

It’s far less than 1Mbps.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I don’t know why you’d be getting such poor performance from iPhone hotspot. I’ve used my iPhone on Verizon with my Macs over the years, with good results. Of course the trick with troubleshooting - is it Apple’s issue or Verizon’s?

Either way it should be solvable.

 

[someoneoutthere]

I have used my Verizon iPhone(s) and iPad(s) as hotspot (wired and wireless) with a variety of Macs and PCs over the course of the years even in the most remote settings and I have never had any connectivity and speed issues. Perhaps check and see the plan you are on & if you have outdated SIMs in your devices that need to be brought up to date?

 

[jjudson]

I don’t know why you’d be getting such poor performance from iPhone hotspot. I’ve used my iPhone on Verizon with my Macs over the years, with good results. Of course the trick with troubleshooting - is it Apple’s issue or Verizon’s?

Either way it should be solvable.

I have used my Verizon iPhone(s) and iPad(s) as hotspot (wired and wireless) with a variety of Macs and PCs over the course of the years even in the most remote settings and I have never had any connectivity and speed issues. Perhaps check and see the plan you are on & if you have outdated SIMs in your devices that need to be brought up to date?

Can both of you run a speed test using your hotspot and let me know what you're seeing? My speeds on Ookla are running at less than 0.5 Mbps download.

 

[someoneoutthere]

Can both of you run a speed test using your hotspot and let me know what you're seeing? My speeds on Ookla are running at less than 0.5 Mbps download.

I just did.
DOWNLOAD Mbps 372.41
UPLOAD Mbps 2.14
iPhone connected to MacBook with 6ft USB-C to Lightning cable.

 

[jjudson]

I just did.
DOWNLOAD Mbps 372.41
UPLOAD Mbps 2.14
iPhone connected to MacBook with 6ft USB-C to Lightning cable.

Was it straight cellular or was your phone connected to the wifi? That seems a fast speed for cellular hotspotting.

 

[someoneoutthere]

Was it straight cellular or was your phone connected to the wifi? That seems a fast speed for cellular hotspotting.

It was straight cellular. I get 5G UW where I live.

 

[M5RahuL]

I'm with TMobile and get upwards of 650 down and around 70-90 up ( depending on the time of day ) .. I also always have 5G UC on my devices ( iPhone, iPad, Pixel, Galaxy S22Ultra etc.. )

 

[M5RahuL]

But yea, I would love to see cellular capabilities natively built in to MacBooks!!

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I actually switched from Verizon to T-Mobile a few weeks ago, but on TMo I’m seeing 54 down / 4.3 up on wireless hotspot from MacBook Pro to iPhone 12 Pro. That’s on par with what I used to get from Verizon.