Kuo: Apple-Designed 5G Modem for iPhones to Debut in 2025

[MacRumors]

Apple plans to use its own modem chip for iPhones starting in 2025, according to information shared today by supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. He previously said the fourth-generation iPhone SE would be Apple's first device with the custom-designed 5G modem, but it's not entirely clear if this is still the plan anymore.

In July, it was reported that mass-production of the fourth-generation iPhone SE was delayed until 2025, so there is still a chance that it could be the first device with Apple's modem, but there have been conflicting rumors about the project.

Apple has reportedly been planning its own modem for over five years, and it acquired the majority of Intel's smartphone modem business in 2019. Based on the 2025 timeframe, iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models are expected to stick with Qualcomm modems. The switch to an Apple modem could begin with a future iPhone SE and iPhone 17 models, if previously reported development challenges can be overcome.

It's unclear if an Apple-designed 5G modem would have any consumer benefits over Qualcomm modems, but it would reduce Apple's reliance on Qualcomm on the supplier side. In 2017, Apple sued Qualcomm over alleged anticompetitive practices and $1 billion in unpaid royalty rebates. The two companies settled the lawsuit in 2019.

Article Link: Kuo: Apple-Designed 5G Modem for iPhones to Debut in 2025

 

[ersan191]

I'll let you guys beta test that one, let me know how it goes.

 

[JohnRckr]

Already coming up with reasons to raise prices for next year 🤣
THE BEST MODEM EVER IN SMARTPHONE

 

[e-coli]

But it'll be 6G by then...

 

[nt5672]

Yep, it will take till 2030 for Apple to get the radios to work correctly for everyone not in Apple's limited test environment. In the mean time it will be the best phone Apple has ever produced.

 

[jz0309]

It sure will NOT be put into a flagship iPhone in 2025…
Updated SE would be a good pipe cleaner

 

[jonnysods]

Hopefully it means better reception and battery life for the future iPhones.

 

[SAIRUS]

Analyst sets date long out in the future, and can claim it changed.

I passed the analyst test.

 

[munpip214]

For regulatory and testing/finalizing chip design, that would mean Apple is well into the design for this chip and would be manufacturing initial lots early to mid next year to support an end of ‘25 release

 

[vegetassj4]

Interesting read:

5G Modem Development – Not As Easy As It Looks. Just Ask Apple

There’s no way these particular Qualcomm patents have any impact on Apple’s modem development.

www.forbes.com

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

Amazing Apple brings another component in house. Another ramp up for margins and much less headache too

 

[erikkfi]

Apple-designed 5G modem coming soon, part 385917.

 

[AppleFanBoyForever]

Glad it won’t be coming until after the 16. I plan on holding on to my 12PM until then. Qualcomm modems are tried and true.

 

[JPack]

Hopefully, it's at least a 5.5G chip.

Makes sense to use this chip in SE or another low-cost device such as Watch where performance isn't too demanding.

 

[now i see it]

Qualcomm has stated: We don’t see how Apple can make a modem without impinging on our patents.

Let the court battles begin! (in 2025)

 

[hch720]

Once these are refined, they will put them into MacBooks as well

 

[MayaUser]

Ming-Chi Kuo is dead, long live mark Gurman

 

[Sasparilla]

Hopefully it means better reception and battery life for the future iPhones.

Based on the switchover for 4G, it'll be worse on the 1st item and iffy on the 2nd one for a couple of generations. But Apple wants off the pay Qualcomm tax bus and is going to do it. Waiting a generation or two (probably two) for them to work the bugs out will probably be warranted.

 

[siddavis]

The only potential customer benefit I can think of is efficiency for better battery life. Otherwise this has to simply be an effort to maintain/boost margins.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

2025? I bet Android will have 6G by then!

 

[deconstruct60]

Hopefully it means better reception

Probably not. Qualcomm's newest modest has AI enhanced abilities to squeeze more out of the RF spectrum.

Qualcomm Unveils 5G Snapdragon X70 Modem That May Appear in 2023 iPhones

Qualcomm has unveiled its new 5G Snapdragon X70 modem, which is likely to be the last Qualcomm modem to be used by Apple in its iPhones before it...

www.macrumors.com

Apple hasn't even caught the non-AI enhanced model. Let alone 2 more years for Qualcomm to do more traning to get even better.

The rumbling as to why Apple was to target the iPhone SE4 first was that it was going to skip 5G mmWave band as a feature ( as the current one also does . Apple could get more kinks worked out of 'sub6' 5G before moving on broader spectrum issues. ).

and battery life for the future iPhones.

Wouldn't bet the farm on that either if Qualcomm shifts to a discrete modem that using 2D-3D packaging to cut down on the inter-chip transmission power overhead. ( and it is starting to make less sense to put a modem and the CPU/GPU compute logic on the same die because the fab processes for different usages are going in different directions now. )

More likely best probable outcome for Apple is to get to a modem that is basically a 'tie' ( +/- %3 on most metrics) with Qualcomm. And Apple does the 'eat my own dog food' tie-breaker. (basically just going to avoid Qualcomm's mark-up on prices. ). Apple's supposed mantra is that they will only replace external stuff when they can do a better job. It is much harder to catch folks who aren't slowing down.


Qualcomm isn't being a slouch on the modem front. Every year Apple doesn't catch them there is just more ground to make up. This isn't fumbling , bumbling Intel they are trying to catch. ( the Infineon (where the Intel division Apple picked up) got 'left behind' by Qualcomm too over a decade ago. )

 

[Populus]

I'll let you guys beta test that one, let me know how it goes.

I see where you’re coming from, and I will probably do the same as I plan to purchase my new iPhone this year or in 2024, however, I have the feeling that this new modems are going to work pretty well and very efficiently, otherwise Apple wouldn’t spend so many years working on it. I’m optimistic, but at the same time, cautious. Luckily my new iPhone will come with one of the latest Qualcomm modems.

 

[deconstruct60]

2025? I bet Android will have 6G by then!

Probably not.

" ... Nokia Bell Labs has already begun the research work on 6G to make it commercially available by 2030. ... "

6G explained | Nokia.com

With every generation of communications technology, the focus of the network changes. In the 6G era, the digital, physical and human world will seamlessly fuse to trigger extrasensory experiences.

www.nokia.com

".. As of 2023, there is no universally-accepted government or non-government standard for what qualifies as 6G technology and it is still in the early stage of development, but expect to be deployed in 2028 as scheduled ..."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6G_(network)

Reallocation and coverage deployment for the Satellite spectrum is likely going to be more of the gap fill. 5G 'generational' protocols but more RF spectrum to play around in. Aggregating up multiple frequencies is the game for next 2-3 years.

P.S. It is one of those things though if Apple doesn't get their 5G act together until 25-26 then how are they going to be ready for 6G that is maybe 1-3 years later. ( can't take another 4-5 and be on time.).

 

[MrENGLISH]

If anyone needed a real reason to upgrade their iPhone, buying one BEFORE they switch away from Qualcomm in 2025 would be the biggest one in my book.

The Intel modems were a hot mess 💩.

Hopefully, Apple will prove us wrong BUT I wouldn't take that chance until the new modems are proven to be reliable over a period of time.

 

[rjjacobson]

I'll let you guys beta test that one, let me know how it goes.

Yeah not sure I want the Intel legacy modems I like my Qualcomm 5G modems just fine thank you