Kuo: Development on Apple-Designed Wi-Fi Chip Paused 'for a While'

[MacRumors]

Apple has paused work on the Wi-Fi chip that it has in development, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today. The development of the Apple-designed Wi-Fi chip has been "halted" at the current time, and Kuo says Apple will hold off "for a while."

That means that Apple supplier Broadcom will continue providing Apple with Wi-Fi chips for the foreseeable future, including supplying the chips for the upcoming iPhone 15 models that are set to be released in 2023.

News of Apple's work on a Wi-Fi chip first surfaced in January when Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple was working on a combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip that would replace components that are sourced from Broadcom. At the time, Gurman said that Apple was aiming to transition to its own chips starting in 2024, replacing Broadcom parts by 2025.

Note that the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip is separate from the 5G modem chip that Apple also has in development to replace technology from Qualcomm. Apple's ultimate goal is to produce many more of the iPhone's critical components in-house, reducing its reliance on third-party companies.

Eventually, Apple wants to create a chip that combines the cellular modem, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth functions into one, and the company is also working to replace the radio-frequency chips and chips for wireless charging that it gets from Qualcomm.

Kuo says that Apple's previous development for a Wi-Fi solution was a Wi-Fi only chip and not the rumored Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo chip. The pairing of the two technologies is more challenging for Apple to do.

More specifically, Apple's previous development for Wi-Fi solution was the Wi-Fi-only chip and not the Wi-Fi+Bluetooth combo chip. From a design standpoint, developing a Wi-Fi+Bluetooth combo chip is more challenging than just a Wi-Fi-only chip. Since most of Apple's products use the combo chip, it would be even more challenging to replace Broadcom's combo chips with its own if Apple decides to do so.

Work on a Wi-Fi chip has been paused because Apple wants to focus its chip design resources on the advanced 3-nanometer chips that are set to power future iPhones and other devices. Kuo says that "insufficient development resources" are therefore delaying the mass production of not only Apple's 5G chip, but also the Wi-Fi chip.

Kuo believes that over the next two to three years, it will be risky for Apple to use its own Wi-Fi chips as standards are changing and Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 are being adopted. For now, Kuo thinks Apple will begin adopting Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 chips for its devices, with Broadcom to benefit.

Article Link: Kuo: Development on Apple-Designed Wi-Fi Chip Paused 'for a While'

 

[Justin Cymbal]

I didn’t know that Apple was working on their own Wi-Fi chip

It would be awesome if Apple did come out with their own Wi-Fi chips and if they got back into the router business

An Apple HomeKit designed AirPort router with Apple’s version of a proprietary Wi-Fi chip would definitely be awesome

 

[cpnotebook80]

I have the deco xe75 and has done wonders to my connectivity across the rooms here compared to my old router. Maybe it's a cost thing that apple is developing their own chip to wean away from paying Broadcom. Crossing fingers we do not have wifi issues down the road when apple do release their own coz you know...1st gen chip headaches.

 

[oofio2461]

And when it comes out it will probably have wifi 6E, not 7, judging how fast Apple takes to adapt to new Wifi Standards.

 

[xxray]

Is Apple ok? There have been quite a few (unannounced) projects delayed or cancelled recently and lots of high level staff leaving. Seems like a lot is changing behind the scenes.

 

[anshuvorty]

See? It isn't that easy!

 

[vegetassj4]

I know we are making progress with AI and all. And, I know Apple can make some attractive hardware designs. But, I still don't think I want an Apple Wifeyi

 

[james2538]

Kinda sounds like Apple is starting to spread itself too thin if it has to start reassigning resources so other things get finished on time.

Also if you’re gonna do a WiFi chip it makes more sense to do a combo with Bluetooth and replace both at once.

My worry with these Apple designed chips is performance. I don’t want them falling behind on new standards (which matter significantly with WiFi)

 

[kycophpd]

Is Apple ok? There have been quite a few (unannounced) projects delayed or cancelled recently and lots of high level staff leaving. Seems like a lot is changing behind the scenes.

Between continuing issues from covid along with the current political climate, this is every company, not just Apple.

 

[suchnerve]

We need Wi-Fi 6 in the Apple Watch and the HomePods — not because they need the speed, but because legacy Wi-Fi clients slow down the whole network.

 

[Wildkraut]

LOL hearing about "insufficient development resources" of a company that has the weight of multiple tech companies is a laughingstock.

 

[nvmls]

Is Apple ok? There have been quite a few (unannounced) projects delayed or cancelled recently and lots of high level staff leaving. Seems like a lot is changing behind the scenes.

Any relation with poor software is mere chance? Even some of their hardware design, which they used to excel at, seem outdated (Brick phones, brick macbooks, notches 🤷🏼‍♂️)

 

[james2538]

And when it comes out it will probably have wifi 6E, not 7, judging how fast Apple takes to adapt to new Wifi Standards.

It’s kinda sad. Apple used to be at the forefront with that stuff. Those 2007 MacBook Pros came with 802.11n before the standard was even released. They did a firmware upgrade to enable it.

 

[name99]

Nothing about this article makes sense!
The sorts of people working on a WiFi chip are not the same sort of people working on an A18 or an M4!
At worst I could imagine perhaps one or two very good project managers have been moved, but even so, I would expect the rest of the team to keep going.

And of course Apple ALREADY HAVE a combined WiFi/BT chip (called the W3)...

I suspect this garbled nonsense is derived from a conversation with a (possibly disgruntled, but certainly low level) employee who has misunderstood something, further garbled by Kuo not knowing the correct questions to ask for clarification.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

The only thing I care about is the Apple 3nm Apple Silicon Chip. That should be the #1 Apple priority.

 

[rgeneral]

Come on Apple. you can do it.

 

[Realityck]

Work on a Wi-Fi chip has been paused because Apple wants to focus its chip design resources on the advanced 3-nanometer chips that are set to power future iPhones and other devices. Kuo says that "insufficient development resources" are therefore delaying the mass production of not only Apple's 5G chip, but also the Wi-Fi chip.

Chip design resources on TSMC 3-namometer devices is somehow connected to a Apple 5G WiFi chip? Do you guys really believe that? Way different engineers IMHO.

 

[TonyC28]

Is Apple ok? There have been quite a few (unannounced) projects delayed or cancelled recently and lots of high level staff leaving. Seems like a lot is changing behind the scenes.

Purely anecdotal and I'm probably wrong, but it sure does seem like a lot of rumors are about what isn't going to happen. Maybe I'm just a glass-half-empty thinker lately.

 

[contacos]

Who knows, maybe 5 years from now the EU will decide that Apple needs to diversify their product chips and are no longer allowed to just use their own haha

 

[Realityck]

Apple has paused work on the Wi-Fi chip that it has in development, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today.

Pause in hearing new rumors more likely.

 

[crsh1976]

An Apple HomeKit designed AirPort router with Apple’s version of a proprietary Wi-Fi chip would definitely be awesome

A proprietary wifi chip that makes it mandatory to use it with a proprietary router is something we should hope for or praise?

Hell no.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

I bet we will see it in the iPhone 19.

 

[adamw]

Possibly due to talent drain at Apple to other tech companies, or impending layoffs like so many other tech companies? At first when I read it the story headline, I thought Apple was pausing development of future Apple Silicon chips... That had me worried! Glad it's just a WIFI chip, and not future Apple Silicon chips that are being paused (M3, M4, M5).

 

[Realityck]

Possibly due to talent drain at Apple to other tech companies, or impending layoffs like so many other tech companies? At first when I read it the story headline, I thought Apple was pausing development of future Apple Silicon chips... That had me worried!

You mean lawyers shifted to other tech companies? All I hear about is companies suing each other that is anything 5G.

 

[timber]

If they can't or if it isn't worth it in efficiency (who knows?) to integrate all this into the Ax, Mx or Sx SOC then designing their own chips seems like a job not worth it for what is basically a commodity.