iPhone 16: Qualcomm's Latest 5G Modem May Be Limited to Pro Models

[Kabeyun]

Didn’t Apple acquire Intel IP so they can develop their own radios in-house? I guess it’s not ready yet. 🙄

 

[Tagbert]

Didn’t Apple acquire Intel IP so they can develop their own radios in-house? I guess it’s not ready yet. 🙄

We’ve heard various reports about how much progress and how much effort Apple is putting into that modem tech. Some reports talk about them making process though wth no near term targets. Other reports say they have pulled resources. The crystal ball is cloudy on the modem question.

 

[CarAnalogy]

People need to figure out that Apple is currently doing a Jedi Mind Trick, the normal iPhone is now the iPhone SE and the iPhone Pro is the normal iPhone. They're selling year old tech in the normal iPhone but pretending it's still the bleeding edge.

The main advantage Apple has is being a stable development target compared to throwing a dart at a map on Android. I don’t like how the segmentation is getting worse but the fact is most people don’t want more than the base model. These are the people buying $300 garbage laptops that they don’t think twice about. They’re still way better off with the base model iPhone than anything else. Apple just needs to keep the price reasonable.

 

[itti]

Samsung won't do this. I am feeling bad about this change.

 

[jlc1978]

We’ve heard various reports about how much progress and how much effort Apple is putting into that modem tech. Some reports talk about them making process though wth no near term targets. Other reports say they have pulled resources. The crystal ball is cloudy on the modem question.

I suspect Apple would ultimately like to the modem to be part of the SOC, reducing costs and complexity. However, given the modem is the core part of a phone, they need to do it right or else they will have a real problem.

Maybe they just should buy Qualcomm.

 

[Zorori]

Nothing says "Pro" more than having signal

 

[iPaulie81]

You can have a X75 modem all you like however its pointless until the carriers deliver the necessary technologies on thier networks to take advantge of the modem features. The X70, X65 and X60 will not be at any disadvantage until that happens, and dont hold your breath.

 

[switz]

Peplink builds commercial cellular routers for the mobile world and had their top model (MAX BR2 Pro plus serial number $2,899 plus tax) using the 5G v55 Qualcomm chip starting in 2022. In October 2023 they upgraded to the v72 chip and see no need for the v75 as millimeter signals do not exist in most non urban settings or. out on the water in boats.

I have them in my Airstream trailers. They have two WAN ethernet ports and four LAN ethernet ports plus WiFi in from the RV park or wherever and generating a private WiFi signal in the coach and around the trailer. Starlink can be attached to a WAN port. Since it has two modems, there are four nano SIM card slots. It is capable of combining cellular, WiFi and Starlink incoming into one signal generating very high speed reliable connections inside.

How does this relate to Apple? The iPhone is always pushing for the latest SIM capability from Qualcomm. The advertising would imply super fast speeds everywhere with the latest 5G. Where will the consumer find that millimeter signal, perhaps inside the huge football arenas or around a race track, but not out in the country side.

I predict it will be many years before the v72 chip is obsolete. That can possibly alter customer's thinking on what are the actual really useful latest whiz bangs in the new iPhone model? Talking and receiving/sending messages (primary use for a cell phone) are not getting much faster everywhere due to lack of infrastructure.

Apple updates iOS annually and many generations of iPhones past can run the latest version. For the primary purpose, the service life can be many years, The achilles heel is the battery.

 

[SactoGuy18]

Because the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models will have the same generation SoC (but with only more cores for the 16 Pro models), I expect the regular iPhone 16 to use the same Snapdragon X75 modem, still have WiFi 7 support and at least USB 3.2 1x2 10 gigbit/second data transfer through the USB Type C port.

 

[davidf18]

You can have a X75 modem all you like however its pointless until the carriers deliver the necessary technologies on thier networks to take advantge of the modem features. The X70, X65 and X60 will not be at any disadvantage until that happens, and dont hold your breath.

X75 can deal with weaker signals and is more power efficient than the X70. Important if you live/work in Manhattan or other dense city with skyscrapers, subways, 2 story below-ground parking garages, basements used for office space, etc.

 

[cdsapplefan]

I suspect Apple would ultimately like to the modem to be part of the SOC, reducing costs and complexity. However, given the modem is the core part of a phone, they need to do it right or else they will have a real problem.

Maybe they just should buy Qualcomm.

Apple could easily buy Qualcomm and it would not make a dent in there expenses, but the government would not let them because of Monopoly concerns or maybe something else

 

[cdsapplefan]

Because the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models will have the same generation SoC (but with only more cores for the 16 Pro models), I expect the regular iPhone 16 to use the same Snapdragon X75 modem, still have WiFi 7 support and at least USB 3.2 1x2 10 gigbit/second data transfer through the USB Type C port.

It was confirmed Only the 16 pro’s will have the x75 advanced modem, the regular 16’s will have or retain the x70 modem

 

[jlc1978]

Apple could easily buy Qualcomm and it would not make a dent in there expenses, but the government would not let them because of Monopoly concerns or maybe something else

I've thought they should have bought Qualcomm and spin off or sell the stuff they don't want; but I doubt that would have passed muster either.