Ultimately, Apple could remain tied to Qualcomm for its supply of 5G modems indefinitely. This is what we deduce from information shared recently by the leaker @Tech_Reve on X (formerly Twitter). Often well informed when it comes to Apple, the person reports that the firm is in the process of abandoning the development of its own 5G chips. However, this project led the Cupertino brand to buy a large part of Intel’s modem division in 2019 and invest massively despite disappointing initial results.
In September, however, we learned of Wall Street Journal that the internal development of these modems, supposed to replace those of Qualcomm in a few years, was more than compromised. The American media then reported an overly ambitious objective, a disorganization of the development teams and the first prototypes three years behind the competition.
Put your affairs in order… to stop the costs
In this context, @Tech_Reve’s statements can reasonably be taken seriously, especially since South Korean sources close to Apple subcontractors actually tend to support the idea of a halt to the development of 5G chips. made in Apple. This would then be a strategic bankruptcy for the group.
“According to several sources, Apple is currently reducing investments in its 5G modem development division and in its workforcereports the leaker in particular. This suggests that attempts to integrate Apple’s internal modem into the upcoming fourth-generation iPhone SE, or any subsequent efforts to integrate an internal modem, have apparently failed and that a complete abandonment is planned.we read further.
Another indicator, Apple recently announced that it had extended its partnership with Qualcomm until 2026. Enough to further strengthen the set of presumptions and plead for a gradual abandonment of a project which would have nevertheless allowed Apple to give birth to iPhone designed (almost) entirely without outside help.