Apple-Designed 5G Modem Said to Debut in All 2023 iPhone Models

[MacRumors]

Apple's custom-designed 5G cellular modem will likely debut in all 2023 iPhone models, according to Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Thomas O'Malley. In a supplier-focused research note shared with MacRumors, the analysts said chipmakers Qorvo and Broadcom should be among the companies that benefit from the shift to Apple's in-house solution.

Fast Company's Mark Sullivan and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman are among several sources who have reported that Apple is working on its own modem for future iPhones. Apple reportedly began development of the modem in 2020, after acquiring the majority of Intel's smartphone modem business a year earlier to bolster its efforts. Barclays previously said the modem will support both sub-6GHz and mmWave bands of 5G, as to be expected.

Apple currently uses Qualcomm modems, including the Snapdragon X55 modem in iPhone 12 models. In 2019, a legal settlement between Apple and Qualcomm revealed that Apple will likely use the Snapdragon X60 modem in 2021 iPhones, followed by the Snapdragon X65 modem in 2022 iPhones. The roadmap did mention the possibility of 2023 iPhones using an unannounced Snapdragon X70 modem, but this now appears less likely.

Apple's modem would likely be manufactured by its longtime chipmaking partner TSMC.

Article Link: Apple-Designed 5G Modem Said to Debut in All 2023 iPhone Models

 

[JohnStrass]

Who cares when T mobile now gives me fake 5g ?

 

[interessiert]

Then we hope the 2022 Phones are tough enough to buy – still with QUALCOMM chips

 

[Cosmosent]

A Call made by two Analysts who do NOT have a Technical Background !

Clearly they are Dumb & Dumber !

 

[GeoStructural]

Does this mean cellular iPads will be cheaper?

 

[The Barron]

If we could peek inside the Samy lab right now we'd probably see them discussing how they'll steal & then copy with one change, the new Apple 5g modem for their new triple fold phone that stores in your jeans' tiny side pocket. 😬

 

[HackMacDaddy]

Why would it take them so long? That's two years 🤔

 

[dlewis23]

Who cares when T mobile now gives me fake 5g ?

T-Mobile doesn't give you fake 5G. They are actually the only one in the US that gives you actual 5G not DSS with Standalone 5G coming with iOS 14.5.

 

[kmm333]

Good for Apple. Vertical integration and less reliance on third parties is likely a good call here. If the modem performs well, it may push Qualcomm and others to innovate more, similar to the effect of the M1 chip. The more companies competing, the better for consumers.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Rip Intel.

Good bye QUALCOMM.

 

[GeoStructural]

If we could peek inside the Samy lab right now we'd probably see them discussing how they'll steal & then copy with one change, the new Apple 5g modem for their new triple fold phone that stores in your jeans' tiny side pocket. 😬

Well, Samsung has built custom-made chips for Apple for over a decade now, if they wanted to copy it they could have just looked at the info they receive directly from .

 

[MacLawyer]

I realize Apple needs to recover the costs of acquiring Intel's modem division, plus R and D since then. But at some point in the future, please start passing along the cost savings of all that vertical integration to the consumer. Please Apple?

 

[NMBob]

Watch them name it "M1".

 

[dannyyankou]

Their in-house designed components are really good, so I can’t wait

 

[JosephAW]

I’ll have to skip that year. Heatgate

 

[ddtmm]

A Call made by two Analysts who do NOT have a Technical Background !

Clearly they are Dumb & Dumber !

So what are your qualifications?

 

[iJustines]

It's going to create more heat by integrating a modem into the SoC. There is going to be a recall or lawsuit in 2023.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Dang. Was gonna upgrade next year but might hold off now.

 

[69Mustang]

The roadmap did mention the possibility of 2023 iPhones using an unannounced Snapdragon X70 modem, but this now appears less likely.

How does it appear to be less likely? Certainly not because a couple of analysts released a research note. The likelihood of this analysis being anywhere near accurate is as suspect as all the other analysis released on a weekly basis.

 

[KoiWaAbareOniTaiko]

Good. The intel modem in my SE is horrible. Two bars of LTE and it doesn't receive any data.

 

[iJustines]

Why would it take them so long? That's two years 🤔

Agreed. Actually, Tim Cook doesn't believe in innovation and that's why it takes a long time.

If Tim Cook is the chief executive officer of Apple in 1983, Apple will be filing chapter 11 bankruptcy by 1997.

 

[LV426]

Why would it take them so long? That's two years 🤔

I imagine it's pretty complex technology that will be bedevilled by an extraordinary amount of required testing and regulatory requirements. That will eat into a lot of time.

 

[jz0309]

very doubtful to appear in all iPhones, maybe 1 model, and only if we have seen an Apple modem in an iPad or a MacBook in 2022 ... modems are not easy so I cannot see Apple f]going in full speed without testing it for at least a year in a non-iphone, they're not that stupid. The modem has to be on par or better than Qualcomm and that won't come that easy

 

[jz0309]

Why would it take them so long? That's two years 🤔

modems are extremely complex, 3 year is not a long time ...

 

[Kabeyun]

I don’t know exactly when Apple’s 5G modem chip will debut, but it will be about two hours before Qualcomm sues them over IP.