Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Learn more.
Don’t expect an iPhone with Apple’s 5G modem any time soon – report
In This Article
iPhone handsets will contain Qualcomm5Gmodems for years to come as Apple’s efforts to build its own have faltered, according to one in-the-know analyst.
Ming-Chi Kuo goes as far to say Apple’s attempts “may have failed” – at least in the short term, clearing the way for Qualcomm to continue supplying the company in the short and perhaps medium term.
While theiPhone 14was expected to still be rocking Qualcomm modems, the iPhone 15 was another matter. Qualcomm itself had previously voiced expectations Apple would be able to supply 80% of its 5G modem needs itself by 2023, with the US chipmaker making-up the other 20%.
Kuo still believes Apple will get there eventually, but this delay will minimise the negative effects on Qualcomm losing approximately half of its mobile modem business.
(1/4)[Company Update] Qualcomm (QCOM.O)My latest survey indicates that Apple’s own iPhone 5G modem chip development may have failed, so Qualcomm will remain exclusive supplier for 5G chips of 2H23 new iPhones, with a 100% supply share (vs. company’s previous estimate of 20%).
In a further tweet, Kuo added: “I believe Apple will continue to develop its own 5G chips, but by the time Apple succeeds and can replace Qualcomm, Qualcomm’s other new businesses should have grown enough to significantly offset the negative impacts caused by the order loss of iPhone 5G chips.”
The delay is unlikely to have too great an effect on iPhone users, but Apple has long been attempting to build more of its own key components in-house, making it less reliant on external parties and the component, supply, and product roadmap issues that go hand-in-hand with those relationships.
On the Mac side of things, Apple has also benefitted greatly by switching from Intel to its homegrownApple Silicon M1(and nowApple M2) processors because the integrated nature of the entire system has boosted performance overall.
Ironically, Apple’s 5G modem efforts are underpinned by work done by Intel. Applepaid $1 billionfor Intel’s modem business in 2019, including its talent and IP. That came around the same time as abitter legal battle between Apple and Qualcomm, which was settled in the courts in terms deemed highly favourable to the latter.
You might like…
Chris Smith is a freelance technology journalist for a host of UK tech publications, including Trusted Reviews. He’s based in South Florida, USA. …
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
