Overview

• Internal macOS Tahoe beta code references an unreleased MacBook Pro model powered by an M5 Pro chip and Apple’s first in-house C1 “Centauri” 5G modem.
• The C1 modem debuted in the iPhone 16e and is designed to balance performance and power efficiency, addressing Apple’s past battery-life and design constraints for a cellular Mac.
• Additional code identifiers for a future C2 modem (C4020) and an M4 Ultra model reveal broader ambitions for multi-stage modem integration across Apple’s product roadmap.
• Analyst reports now place the M5 MacBook Pro launch in early 2026 rather than fall 2025, updating earlier timing expectations.
• Apple’s existing Qualcomm supply agreements through 2027 and plans for C2/C3 modems and eventual SoC integration point to a gradual transition toward fully self-designed cellular hardware.