Recent iPads, MacBooks and iMacs contain Thread radio, reason unknown

Apple has equipped recent iPads, MacBooks and iMacs with a Thread radio for use with smart home standard Matter, but the reason for this is unknown. Thread has been included in the manufacturer's HomePod models for some time.

This year's iPad models and last year's MacBooks and iMacs, among others, have the Thread radio on board, reports The Verge based on inspections by the FCC inspection body. The devices can output IEEE 802.15.4 signals, the standard for Thread. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max can also do this, but no function is known for this either.

Apple probably wants to make devices future-proof, the site guesses. Thread is a networking standard for Matter, a standard for connecting smart home equipment that Apple also supports. It is also included in HomePod models. Smart home equipment can connect to a Thread router, which requires less energy than, for example, a connection via WiFi or Bluetooth.