Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Qualcomm Introduces Snapdragon X60, Smaller 5G Modem Suitable for 2021 iPhones

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,106
38,858



Qualcomm this week introduced the Snapdragon X60, its third-generation 5G modem for mobile devices. The company says the first 5G smartphones featuring the X60 are expected to launch early next year.

qualcomm-snapdragon-x60-5g.jpg

Built on a 5nm process, the X60 packs higher power efficiency into a smaller footprint compared to its 7nm-based predecessor, the Snapdragon X55. In the context of an iPhone, this could allow for longer battery life and more room inside the device for a larger battery or additional components.

Smartphones with the X60 will also be able to aggregate data from both mmWave and sub-6GHz bands simultaneously to achieve an optimal combination of high-speed and low-latency network coverage.


Multiple reports have indicated that Apple plans to use the Snapdragon X55 in its first 5G iPhone models, widely expected to be released later this year. The new X60 modem would be suitable for 2021 iPhones, but beyond that, it has been reported that Apple is developing its own modem for use in iPhones by 2022 or 2023.

Article Link: Qualcomm Introduces Snapdragon X60, Smaller 5G Modem Suitable for 2021 iPhones
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/02/19/qualcomm-snapdragon-x60-5g-modem/
I7guy said:
Guess I’m holding off the upgrade for another year. (or two)
Click to expand...
I thought the same thing when I read the article. But everyone else will be like “I need 5G”. I would advise everyone to wait with 5G for 2-3, maybe 4 years. The advantages are minimal if you are a smartphone or a tablet user.

I am more than happy with my iPhone XS.
 
I7guy said:
Guess I’m holding off the upgrade for another year. (or two)
Click to expand...
ph001bi said:
You beat me to that comment.
Click to expand...
Is that because you are anticipating a moratorium on new tech next year? Or is it a FOMO tech thing? In either case my experience has shown the grass is always greener on next years product, regardless of what year it is.

Smaller processor, uses less power, announced to be coming next year. And the next. And the next...

CatalinApple said:
I thought the same thing when I read the article. But everyone else will be like “I need 5G”. I would advise everyone to wait with 5G for 2-3, maybe 4 years. The advantages are minimal if you are a smartphone or a tablet user.
Click to expand...
This, however, seems a reasonable argument. We are likely a few years away from widespread, practical 5G, as this poster has observed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Stryder541
5G on the phone will become interesting when its supported in my area ... last week I was at a restaurant in the middle of Temecula and my download speed (VZW LTE) was 0.14 Mbps ...
 
jz0309 said:
5G on the phone will become interesting when its supported in my area ... last week I was at a restaurant in the middle of Temecula and my download speed (VZW LTE) was 0.14 Mbps ...
Click to expand...
That’s why 5G will be useless for smartphones and tablets because there are always going to be areas that are not under the coverage of 5G just like with 4G and it’s been about 10 years since 4G launched.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jz0309
Apple maybe making their own antennas and won’t be using the QUALCOMM 5nm’s by next Oct
 
Duane Martin said:
Is that because you are anticipating a moratorium on new tech next year? Or is it a FOMO tech thing? In either case my experience has shown the grass is always greener on next years product, regardless of what year it is.

Smaller processor, uses less power, announced to be coming next year. And the next. And the next...


This, however, seems a reasonable argument. We are likely a few years away from widespread, practical 5G, as this poster has observed.
Click to expand...
It was actually a poor attempt at humour. In every articles about tech, there is always something better next year, and therefore there is always a "I'll skip this year upgrade" comment.
I was trying to put the first one in...and failed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PC_tech and I7guy
m0sher said:
Apple maybe making their own antennas and won’t be using the QUALCOMM 5nm’s by next Oct
Click to expand...

If you think Apple will have a 5G modem that competes with the second evolution of Qualcomm next year, you should think again.

Apple just closed the Intel IP and modem team at the end of the year.
They are at least two years from a product. End of 2021 or early 2022 is the earliest you will see any Apple modem tech.

I doubt even then.
 
Since I like my 11 Pro AND 5G isn't coming to my area for quite a while, I won't be upgrading till at least 2021. I suspect most of the bugs with 5G modems/antennas will be worked out by then.
 
ph001bi said:
It was actually a poor attempt at humour. In every articles about tech, there is always something better next year, and therefore there is always a "I'll skip this year upgrade" comment.
I was trying to put the first one in...and failed.
Click to expand...
Just add the sarcasm tag /s which most will ignore but at least you get to have the last laugh.
 
m0sher said:
Apple maybe making their own antennas and won’t be using the QUALCOMM 5nm’s by next Oct
Click to expand...

Fat chance of that happening.

Apple hasn't even made their own Wi-Fi chip and still relies on Murata/Broadcom for Wi-Fi/BT. In fact, Apple just signed a 3.5 year deal with Broadcom last month.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PC_tech
ph001bi said:
It was actually a poor attempt at humour. In every articles about tech, there is always something better next year, and therefore there is always a "I'll skip this year upgrade" comment.
I was trying to put the first one in...and failed.
Click to expand...
I don’t usually wait because I(we) know next years model is better. I try to pick a sweet spot over a three or four year period where I’ll be satisfied.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kabeyun
m0sher said:
Apple maybe making their own antennas and won’t be using the QUALCOMM 5nm’s by next Oct
Click to expand...
I think you’re confusing the antenna, which they will design in house, with the modem, which they will source from QC until they develop their own from until Intel IP.
swm said:
hmmm. we live in an age when "solutions" predate problems.
Click to expand...
From here, head over to the folding phones threads for further evidence supporting this wise statement.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SuperCachetes
I'm definitely holding off for the 2021 models for this reason alone. That carrier aggregation will make a huge difference in 5G performance. Also, my XS Max still feels brand new and I can't see there being huge advantages to updating this year.
 
techwhiz said:
If you think Apple will have a 5G modem that competes with the second evolution of Qualcomm next year, you should think again.

Apple just closed the Intel IP and modem team at the end of the year.
They are at least two years from a product. End of 2021 or early 2022 is the earliest you will see any Apple modem tech.

I doubt even then.
Click to expand...
And just what are you blaming your dismal forecast on??

Apple, last I checked, has no less than 6 chips that are designed in-house.
The A-series took the longest to transition... I believe they 1st started heavily tweaking the reference designs around A4 in 2010.
However, they have done an amazing job (both with quality & aggressive timeframes) w/ completely “from scratch” designs. The S-series in the watch has had 6 iterations since its introduction in 2014. The T-series security chip has had 2 designs since 2016. The W-series for AirPod/Beats has had 3 designs since 2016. Lastly, both the H-1 & U-1 debuted just this last year.
All these chips have been lauded.
Apple CLEARLY has one of the top chip design teams in the world.
I feel like your 2 year “best-case scenario” guess presupposes that they literally began working on 5G only after finalizing the Intel deal... for all we know, they were a year away from their own solution when they closed w/ Intel, & that cut their expected final design to 6 months.

I also have a gut feeling that we’ll see these Apple 5G modems 1st in the September, 2021 phones... however, I feel that it’s within the realm of possibility we’ll see something this year. To whit; an interesting article was posted here that the iPad Pro would be rolling out in 2 waves- wifi 1st, then 5G a few months later. It would be exciting to see the 1st Apple modem included there (less volume would help, as well), & would explain the oddity
 
Martyimac said:
Since I like my 11 Pro AND 5G isn't coming to my area for quite a while, I won't be upgrading till at least 2021. I suspect most of the bugs with 5G modems/antennas will be worked out by then.
Click to expand...

Same thought process.

I got the 11 Pro because I knew it would take a year or two at least to work the 5G bugs out.

It was (is?) rumored that the next iPhone will only do sub-6Ghz 5G too ... who knows ...

The 2020 iPhone will be big - no doubt - I just don't think it will be fully ready for 5G.
 
  • Like
Reactions: brucemr and Martyimac
I wish they would just ditch the mmWave stuff entirely and save the transistor/power budget for other things. Absolutely useless tech. They rest of the 5G NR stuff is quite nice though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lazy and raybo
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back