The keyword here is never was, which could change. Wonder how it will go, like Samsung phone using Qualcomm chip in US version while Exynon outside of US.
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Apple-Designed 5G Modem to Be Separate From A-Series Chip, Again Rumored to Debut in 2023 iPhones
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Why would countries have issues with Apple using their own modems?
Expecting better coverage and less battery drain with Apple modem
Exactly. It also allows adapting phones to variuis ccellular bands and easily change modem designs for new standards and not wind up with a stack of outdated all in one chips.
I would guess after buying Intel’s modem business and their own IP they can do an IBM and offer a cross licensing deal. Qualcomm is probably violating some of Apple’s patents in some way.
I wonder if Apple would ever license those chips to other companies. It would be a completely different business model for them, but they probably could have a bit of side income competing with Qualcomm. Given their obsession with product integration though, that's probably not going to happen.
Apple designs products based on a field techs need to work in the field? I don’t remember that being a market share that was a focus of Apple design.
I'm fairly sure macrumor's speculation is wrong, the 20% will go into the highest-end iPhones !
NOT the lowest-end iPhones !
QCOM will very-likely have a competitive performance advantage for years.
Disclaimer: EE, who has worked @ Qualcomm.
NOT the lowest-end iPhones !
QCOM will very-likely have a competitive performance advantage for years.
Disclaimer: EE, who has worked @ Qualcomm.
NO, I don't agree with that !
They, like QCOM, are after the 5G-connected Embedded market, which is much bigger than the smartphone & tablet markets combined !
Apple does NOT have ANY A-series like chips to address the Embedded market right now !
That will take some time.
That's the reason to keep them separated for awhile.
I think neither, IMO, they are doing it primarily for gross margin benefits !
They survived with the intel modems they will be fine if there in-house modems doesn’t work well. Apple will sell millions still until they get it right
Keep in mind Apple isn't exactly starting from scratch. They have Intel's know-how, which in turn sources Infineon's (Siemens's) know-how.
Another advantage to separate chips is it allows Apple to build it into any device. For example, Apple could put one in ATV to make it a connected hub that doesn’t need wifi and could act as a hub for security systems, TV, as well as a wifi router. If Apple buys a cellular operator or simply becomes a virtual mobile operator they have no established the last part of the end to end link in their ecosystem. Siri becomes your controller, search engine, etc. and Apple builds a customer database to rival anyone’s.
TheYayAreaLiving 🎗
macrumors Westmere
This will definitely be huge! I wish it was debuting next year!
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If this is true, I really would not be surprised to see these cellular modems inside of Mac portables; in addition, I can see carriers being lured into selling (subsidized/ installments) those portables along side existing channels.![]()
Apple will debut its rumored custom-designed 5G modem in 2023's iPhone models and the component will not be integrated into the device's A-series chip, DigiTimes reports.
![Apple-5G-Modem-Feature-16x9.jpg]()
In paywalled report published earlier today, sources speaking to DigiTimes said that 2022 will be the last year when Qualcomm supplies all of the modems in iPhone models. Thereafter, iPhones are expected to begin featuring 5G baseband modem chips designed by Apple itself.
The 5G modem that Apple has developed for its 2023 iPhone models is said to be separate from its A-series chip, tentatively called the "A17." This stands in contrast to the initial Android devices that are looking to feature custom modems, which reportedly intend to integrate both the cellular processor (CP) and application processor (AP) directly into the device's System on Chip (SoC).
TSMC, the Taiwanese company that currently supplies all of Apple's custom silicon SoCs, is believed to be preparing to supply Apple with its custom-designed 5G baseband modem.
At its investor day earlier this week, Qualcomm said that it expects to supply just 20 percent of Apple's modem chips in 2023, suggesting that Apple will self-supply up to 80 percent of the 5G modem chips required for iPhones starting in 2023.
It is not unreasonable to speculate that the remaining 20 percent supplied by Qualcomm will be in older or entry-level devices in the 2023 iPhone lineup. On the other hand, the remaining 20 percent could also include devices made for regions where Apple's 5G modem is not supported.
Apple is believed to have kickstarted the work on its own in-house modem chips, with the aim of moving away from Qualcomm, by acquiring Intel's modem chip business in 2019.
The report lines up with previous rumors that said that Apple's modem chip will be ready to launch in 2023.
Article Link: Apple-Designed 5G Modem to Be Separate From A-Series Chip, Again Rumored to Debut in 2023 iPhones
Except Intel didn't seem to be able to make an acceptable 5G modem. So we don't know if the Intel/Infineon buy out included any worthwhile 5G IP. Certainly the LTE portion will be fine.
Because the CPU only has to work, internally, so the only thing Apple needs to worry about is whether or not it's better than Intel in metrics like speed, power usage, and physical size (otherwise it will reduce the size of other components e.g. the battery).
The modem has to meet the following, in addition to being better than what they can buy.
* Plays well with all other devices that emit radiation (think FCC part B or whatever, this device will not interfere with other devices...).
* Play well with all versions of hardware on cellphone towers.
* Play well with all versions of software on all version of hardware on cellphone towers.
* Play well with all vendors who are using all versions of software on all versions of hardware on cellphone towers.
* Had a low SAR output, and doesn't kill people via radiation.
* Needs to be more secure than a T2 chip, while running its own baseband firmware that interacts properly with all vendors who are using all versions of software on all versions of hardware on cellphone towers.
* Needs to work well no matter what orientation the antenna are facing.
And since Qualcomm isn't as incompetent as Intel, next year the goalposts will have moved again.
I know precisely nothing about cellular modems. Please educate me - if Apple nailed this as they have done their own SOCs what are we looking for in terms of everyday use improvements? Speed, presumably. But there must be more to a modem's criteria than that. What would we notice with a gold standard modem?