Apple should just skip 5G and work on being first with 6G.
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Kuo: Apple's Work on 5G Modem Chip 'Failed,' Qualcomm to Remain Supplier for 2023 iPhones
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At least you know the next iPhone will offer decent 5G performance. Qualcomm likely to be quite happy with that exclusivity.
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Yes, the dramatic choice of words in these posts can trigger the wrong reaction in a reasonable person.
I may be way off base here, but could it be a good thing for Apple to wait? I thought I read somewhere that 5G is more standards-based vs. the heavily IP-encumbered 'old' stuff (ie GSM, TDM, LTE and all that word salad)? If true, maybe by waiting, Apple won't have to support that legacy stuff in its modem.
Anyway, as others have already pointed out "failed" is really a ridiculous click-bait word for something that's really just delayed.
Anyway, as others have already pointed out "failed" is really a ridiculous click-bait word for something that's really just delayed.
I see we're back to misleading sensationalistic headlines at MacRumors.
Delayed != Failed.
Delayed != Failed.
Usually companies tries to produce as most as possible "in home" in order to be more competitive by lowering both manufacturing and selling prices. However it seems that's true only in case of the manufacturing (look Apple silicon), as selling prices are the same as before, and even more (look air m2). So personally i prefer that apple buy components instead of doing them at home. The only difference by producing at home is more money to cook and shareholders. I prefer my money is splitted among more parts
"Apple hasn't failed, they just haven't succeeded yet." 😄
The amount of self delusion happening here is unreal.
The amount of self delusion happening here is unreal.
Ming-Chi is the sensational one here. Makes sense as people are finally realizing he's wrong more than he's right - gotta do anything to keep those clicks.
Quailcomm has proven to have a good track record and a smart move by Apple to utilize them instead of pridefully making a mistake of rolling out their chip if they’re own isn’t ready yet. 
Because Apple is a good hardware puzzler but not an inventor.
Most of the stuff they use was done by some other company.
Wait - Apple failed?!?
(cough) clickbait (cough)
As anyone who has ever tried to achieve anything can attest: failure is part of the game. If you’re not failing, you’re likely not trying (or lack curiosity). If your only failing, you’re likely not learning. Failure, in combo with learning, is one step closer to success. The notion that failure = bad can be weirdly short-sighted. Sure, there are plenty of examples where failure can be bad (the vet tried, and failed, to save the dog’s life). But In general, failure is a perfectly normal, healthy and unavoidable aspect of effort.
News flash: for the handful of successes Apple has known, they have experienced thousands of failures: some public, the vast majority behind closed doors.
(cough) clickbait (cough)
As anyone who has ever tried to achieve anything can attest: failure is part of the game. If you’re not failing, you’re likely not trying (or lack curiosity). If your only failing, you’re likely not learning. Failure, in combo with learning, is one step closer to success. The notion that failure = bad can be weirdly short-sighted. Sure, there are plenty of examples where failure can be bad (the vet tried, and failed, to save the dog’s life). But In general, failure is a perfectly normal, healthy and unavoidable aspect of effort.
News flash: for the handful of successes Apple has known, they have experienced thousands of failures: some public, the vast majority behind closed doors.
People ridiculed Intel for failing at 5G before selling the division to Apple... but if Apple also failed then that's quite the development.
This is symptomatic of Tim Cook's leadership. Apple hasn't had a significant hardware breakthrough since the iPhone in 2007 (even if the Apple Watch does reasonably well). The A4 through M2 is great, but it's extending existing technology from ARM rather than ushering in new use cases like an iPhone. Tim is an expert at squeezing suppliers and cutting them out of the chain in order to reduce costs and maintain profit margins in absence of innovation. He optimizes for cost. Makes sense for the former COO / supply chief.
But it doesn't always work out, and the 5G modem is case in point.
So Apple has spent untold amounts of money on recruiting Qualcomm talent for modem development in Apple's new San Diego office, but this is the result: failure to launch. So there's a real cost to Tim Cook's penny pinching here.
I miss Steve's Apple.
But it doesn't always work out, and the 5G modem is case in point.
So Apple has spent untold amounts of money on recruiting Qualcomm talent for modem development in Apple's new San Diego office, but this is the result: failure to launch. So there's a real cost to Tim Cook's penny pinching here.
I miss Steve's Apple.
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Your example statements are correct BUT Apple never stated a deadline for the modem. Things require a context and without a stated deadline there is no "failure." Headline is definitely click bait.
For people that still don’t understand why this would be a failure, Apple had a long legal fight with Qualcomm which ended with Apple losing.
Apple went back to Qualcomm hat in hand, paid them $4.5B for the privilege of using their chips again. For comparison, Apple paid only $1B to acquire Intel’s 5G unit. Think about that for a moment. Apple has likely spend billions more on R&D for the past many years.
For a project of this importance (Apple pays $2B royalties to QCOMM per year) any delay is a failure. And that's not even counting Tim Cook's loss of face for crawling back to QCOMM. This is not a project where you spend billions and years then later walk into Tim's office to say "sorry, we're not sure when it'll be ready."
Apple went back to Qualcomm hat in hand, paid them $4.5B for the privilege of using their chips again. For comparison, Apple paid only $1B to acquire Intel’s 5G unit. Think about that for a moment. Apple has likely spend billions more on R&D for the past many years.
For a project of this importance (Apple pays $2B royalties to QCOMM per year) any delay is a failure. And that's not even counting Tim Cook's loss of face for crawling back to QCOMM. This is not a project where you spend billions and years then later walk into Tim's office to say "sorry, we're not sure when it'll be ready."
Engineering in the RF world is a whole different ball of wax than making processor chips and computers. A lot of people don't understand that. Apple is basically starting from ground zero with a little input from buying Intel's modem venture and bringing that in house. You can have all the money in the world, and it simply doesn't happen overnight.
It also can't be done remotely. Ultimately, RF is a "hands on" affair. Things need to be tested in the physical realm over and over and over again. The slightest thing you didn't think would effect performance will. It's really tricky. The whole remote work thing with the 'Rona had an impact on this development time line.
Finally, Apple has to get it right the first time and do it better than everyone else for half the price, or it will be considered another total failure. How long until people are talking "chipgate" or "modemgate" if it's the performance is the slightest bit off?
