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Qualcomm 'Running Out' of Time to Win 5G Modem Orders in 2020 iPhones Amid Legal Battle With Apple
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Look at their Ax CPUs and the Wx chips. This is a formidable group in its own right that has beat qualcomm like a drum intelectually for years.
The best iPhone for me was the original. Never dropped calls, beautiful interface, battery always lasted all day, and it was easy to switch to and from silent mode.
The iPhone 4 was slightly worse. A few dropped calls, slider switch inconvenient.
The iPhone 6 dropped calls and short battery life.
The iPhone X drops calls all the time, battery life a bit better than 6, but not as good as 4. The button placement is poor: volume controls and on-off button on the side means you hit the wrong one, take a screenshot, or bring up Apple Pay.
The only things that have been improved over the years are the camera and the screen resolution.
The iPhone 4 was slightly worse. A few dropped calls, slider switch inconvenient.
The iPhone 6 dropped calls and short battery life.
The iPhone X drops calls all the time, battery life a bit better than 6, but not as good as 4. The button placement is poor: volume controls and on-off button on the side means you hit the wrong one, take a screenshot, or bring up Apple Pay.
The only things that have been improved over the years are the camera and the screen resolution.
How did it go with the processors?
Who was making Apple processors in the past and who is making now?
Once Apple have their own designs, they can select any OEM to make them. Its in the components cost than proprietary cost... so obviously Samesung lost a lot of money bcs of their greed and QC is going to lose the same way when Apple makes their own modems.
QC doesn't manufacture anything themselves. They have no fab development costs. TSMC is their main fabricator for their hardware.
Funny thing is Google's been poaching hardware engineers from QC, Apple, Intel, AMD, et al. since 2014, and there's been more poaching in the last 90 days. Not to mention going on a small spending binge on semiconductor companies.
Funny thing is Google's been poaching hardware engineers from QC, Apple, Intel, AMD, et al. since 2014, and there's been more poaching in the last 90 days. Not to mention going on a small spending binge on semiconductor companies.
I surely ain't buying that first gen 5G iPhone for sure. Will see how it plays out and wait maybe for the 2021 model. 2021 is really looking more like they years to upgrade Apple products.
Quote from my other post.
OK. That is way too Simplified.
1. You can't "select" "OEM " to make them. The design are set with the Fab, and are not very portable. Porting is expensive and will be more so in the current leading nodes.
2. Samsung didn't "lost" lots of money, and its has nothing to do with their Greed. Apple just wanted to protect their IP. Samsung Foundry is still the cheapest for leading node. And in reality Apple helped Samsung to kick start its Foundry business. Hardly any lost from Samsung.
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Unless Apple had started work on the its modem two to three years before the current rumour ( Which is about moving the team not under Supply but under its SemiCon division ), the chances of an Apple's 5G Modem in 2020, 2021 is next to Zero. Even 2022 is highly unlikely.
OK. That is way too Simplified.
1. You can't "select" "OEM " to make them. The design are set with the Fab, and are not very portable. Porting is expensive and will be more so in the current leading nodes.
2. Samsung didn't "lost" lots of money, and its has nothing to do with their Greed. Apple just wanted to protect their IP. Samsung Foundry is still the cheapest for leading node. And in reality Apple helped Samsung to kick start its Foundry business. Hardly any lost from Samsung.
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Unless Apple had started work on the its modem two to three years before the current rumour ( Which is about moving the team not under Supply but under its SemiCon division ), the chances of an Apple's 5G Modem in 2020, 2021 is next to Zero. Even 2022 is highly unlikely.
QCOM already announced a second generation 5G modem (but, obviously, you won't be able to get it in iPhones)
If you have access to the data sheets that would give a better idea how they compare. I’m not sure if these type of parts have datasheets publicly available without signing an NDA. Of course the real test would be how they perform in an RF lab.
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The problem with the argument that no one has 5G yet is that you can also argue that no one had USB-C peripherals two years ago but Apple still replaced all the regular USB ports on the MacBooks. Having a 5G in your phone will still allow it to be compatible with 4G networks.
But it’s a waste to have 5G when there is almost no upside. I went through this with 4G.
It was my understanding that Apple wanted Qualcomm for the X series but Qualcomm wouldn’t sell them to Apple.
For those following the Qualcomm-Apple lawsuit over licensing terms, where does that stand now? Months, or years to some sort of initial resolution? My observation is that is usually just the starting point for appeals, renegotiations WITH THE COURT over the meaning of the order, and other procedural delays.
This is stupid at various levels, federal government should step in to sort this mess out or at least should push Qualcomm & Apple to settle this.
Apple is forced to buy next generation technology from a Chinese or a Korean company.
And Federal government is forcing other countries not to use Huawei 5G modem technology.
Apple is forced to buy next generation technology from a Chinese or a Korean company.
And Federal government is forcing other countries not to use Huawei 5G modem technology.
Don't get your hopes up, as if we're going to get 200 times the speed of broadband in 2020, it's going to take +10 years before we approach the speeds they are promising if we are lucky.
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It's anecdotal based on the current chips in iPhones.
I’m sure Apple demands certain pricing or wants to set pricing from its suppliers just like Qualcomm. Not on Qualcomm’s side just saying Apple is no angel either.
For whom exactly?
As an Apple user, I am perfectly fine with sticking with my Apple products during this period and letting Apple use me as leverage to wring a more favourable deal from Qualcomm.
I will still continue buying the iPhone even if it doesn’t have Qualcomm chips inside.
Meanwhile, Qualcomm will continue to see their profits plummet as they lose their most lucrative customer (Apple) and are increasingly being forced to scrounge for loose change by selling to Chinese OEMs (which earn them less money since the price is based on the final ASP). I can not think of a more fitting fate for them.
So take your time to negotiate the best possible deal, Apple. I will still be around when you (eventually) do.
If Qualcomm still offers the best 5G modem, we may not see it in 2020 unless they negotiate and settle a deal.
You are perfectly fine with Apple using you as leverage? Why would anyone be like that? And if you are, why would you admit it?
if you havent noticed apples sale is not doing so good. given its lack of innovation and subpar wireless intel chip. apple have as much to lose as qualcomm.
although apple is a slice of their profit, qualcomm still remain in profit thanks to almost every android using their chip. i dont think qualcomm would budge in anyway since it would fall like dominos with other oem they are supplying.
The problem is that you can't make an exclusively 5g phone. CDMA is still deployed. Heck, 3G is still deployed, and I've been on edge in some areas in the past year.
That means there is a *lot* of engineering for a phone modem.
T-Mobile is also the only vendor looking at near-term lower frequency deployment. Everyone else is looking at millimeter wave - great for downtown, stadiums, airports, but its not going to be deployed in the rural areas or even likely the suburbs because of no penetration through materials and low coverage area.
We are probably 18-36 months away from a phone that can have acceptable coverage with just LTE+5G, without any legacy coverage. Which I suppose could ambitiously line up with a 2020/2021 iPhone with Apple modem.
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I believe they said XS/XS Max.
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Apple did not want to switch away from Qualcomm - they just wanted a second source for modems.
Then Qualcomm started twisting the monopolistic screws around patent licensing for Intel modems, and Apple said we don't think you can charge this much based on the agreements you signed (for your tech to be included in LTE).
Then talks fell apart and Apple said "we are going to have to settle this in court; we are putting aside a fund with the full amount you claim we owe you in case the court agrees, in good faith"
Then Qualcomm decided they weren't going to sell Apple modems anymore. Apple was still willing to buy.
Then Qualcomm started suing in courts for unrelated things like image editing patents to get injunction against Apple products. And accusing them of orchestrating a federal investigation. And of sharing trade secrets and source code with Intel.
Apple might not be willing to work with them anymore now.
In the meantime, Qualcomm has lost all those Apple sales ( likely between 50-100 million Qualcomm modems in 2018) and has received no patent licensing royalties for the other 100-150 million intel-based iPhones sold in 2018. Their balance sheet may very well be down a billion dollars for this reason.
But on the flip side, there are very few companies willing to buy modems from a third party. Samsung designs and ships a separate version of its phones with a Qualcomm CPU+Modem for the US markets, just because of Qualcomm's legal maneuvers.
hard to compare xs models since there is no xs qualcomm iphones, the most fair comparison could be done would be the s10 vs xs so we will have to see, but odds are basing on historical patterns the s10 will come out on top. by how much is the question.