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RELAY R1USB-C / 5G
Relay R1, showing its pearl polymer enclosure and integrated USB-C connector. Design visualization.

Explore the hardware from every angle.

DESIGN VISUALIZATION

Meet Relay R1

Your MacBook
online.
Your phone free.

A USB-C cellular card for MacBook.
Powered by your Mac.

Join the waitlist Explore R1

In development. Supported cellular coverage and service required.

Give your phone
a break.

R1 is designed to take your laptop’s connection off your phone.

Phone Wi-Fi hotspot compared with the Relay R1 design
The differencePhone hotspotRelay R1
HeatHotspot use can add heat.Overheating can limit performance or connectivity.Leave hotspot duty to R1.Your phone no longer handles your laptop’s data.
BatteryDraws on your phone’s charge.Less left for the rest of your day.Powered by your Mac.No separate battery to charge.
RangeKeep your phone close.Out of Wi-Fi range, your laptop disconnects.Take your phone with you.R1 stays connected to your Mac through USB-C.
ReconnectingIdle can mean disconnected.iPhone hotspots disconnect when unused to save battery.No hotspot to rejoin.R1 uses your Mac’s built-in wired networking.
ConnectionCellular. Then Wi-Fi.Two wireless links to depend on.Cellular. Then USB-C.A direct connection to your Mac.

Heat

Phone hotspot

Hotspot use can add heat.Overheating can limit performance or connectivity.

Relay R1

Leave hotspot duty to R1.Your phone no longer handles your laptop’s data.

Battery

Phone hotspot

Draws on your phone’s charge.Less left for the rest of your day.

Relay R1

Powered by your Mac.No separate battery to charge.

Range

Phone hotspot

Keep your phone close.Out of Wi-Fi range, your laptop disconnects.

Relay R1

Take your phone with you.R1 stays connected to your Mac through USB-C.

Reconnecting

Phone hotspot

Idle can mean disconnected.iPhone hotspots disconnect when unused to save battery.

Relay R1

No hotspot to rejoin.R1 uses your Mac’s built-in wired networking.

Connection

Phone hotspot

Cellular. Then Wi-Fi.Two wireless links to depend on.

Relay R1

Cellular. Then USB-C.A direct connection to your Mac.

Compares Wi-Fi hotspots. Auto-join can ease reconnection. R1’s thermal performance and full compatibility remain unvalidated. Supported cellular coverage and service required.

Explore R1

One port.
Power and data.

Designed for USB-C MacBooks from 2018 onward. macOS 12 or newer. Full compatibility validation pending.

Relay R1 plugging into the USB-C port of a 2024 MacBook Pro.
Design visualization. MacBook Pro.

For agents on your Mac

Work beyond Wi-Fi.

R1 is designed to connect local agents over cellular. Keep your Mac powered and awake, with sleep prevention enabled and supported service.