The modem developed by Apple seems to have fallen behind schedule and will not arrive for several years.
As impatience builds before the presentation of the iPhone 15 by Apple this Tuesday, September 12, we are learning today some information about the future of the brand.
A modem made by Apple which is slow to see the light of day
As you may know, Apple has been working on designing its own 5G modem for several years. To do this, the American company paid no less than a billion dollars to acquire Intel’s modem activities in 2019. Apple thus recovered the founder’s technologies and patents, but also 2,200 employees responsible for progressing on this strategic project.
Apple likes nothing more than to internalize the manufacturing of different components to no longer depend on external partners. It is by following this line of action that the manufacturer developed its own ARM processors, first for its iPhone and iPad, then more recently integrated into Macs, at the expense of Intel.
The iPhone modem is today provided by Qualcomm, and the two companies have had trouble, with various complaints filed in court. In 2019, the two major tech players finally patched things up and signed a partnership lasting until 2024, ensuring Apple will be supplied with Qualcomm modems.
If we thought that the iPhone would finally integrate a modem designed by Apple from A to Z by this time, Qualcomm indicates today that this will not be the case.
An agreement renewed until 2026
Qualcomm indicated this Monday, September 11 that the agreement with Apple has been extended until 2026. It is therefore at least an iPhone 16 which will have the honors of releasing this first modem, unless the manufacturer uses an iPhone with lower sales volumes to test its new component. The latest rumors also indicated that a future iPhone SE could be the first model with an Apple-branded 5G modem. The bitten apple brand could launch its modem by 2025.
Qualcomm will not be ousted from the equation, however. The brand will still provide Apple with 20% of the modems used in its products in 2026. It will therefore take several additional years to ensure mass production equivalent to its needs.
The company led by Tim Cook seems to be struggling to finalize its 5G modem. The objectives to be achieved are indeed numerous. The brand must not only offer performance at least as good as that of Qualcomm, while preserving the autonomy of its smartphones with limited energy consumption.
Source : Wccftech
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