Update (10/08/2022) – FM
Apple could take a few more years before it finally ends its partnership with Qualcomm and creates its own modem for the iPhone. According to information released by analyst Jeff Pu on Friday (07), big tech should continue using the manufacturer’s hardware until 2024, including the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16.
Pu says that the next two generations of the cell phone will use the supposed Snapdragon X75 5G, Qualcomm’s future modem that will succeed the Snapdragon X70 5G. The component would be manufactured using TSMC’s 4-nanometer process to ensure more energy efficiency in mobile data connections using the 5G network.
With this, Apple is expected to continue using the Snapdragon X70 5G with high download speeds that reach 10 Gbps on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16. Such details are in line with information from Ming-Chi Kuo, a popular analyst who usually makes good guesses. about future Apple products.
Creating its own modem for the iPhone would bring several benefits to Apple. The first of these is profit. By dispensing with third-party solutions, production becomes cheaper — remember the 2018 Intel-based MacBook Air and Apple M1 MacBook Air, which hit the market with prices starting at $1,199 and $999, respectively.
Another advantage would include full control over the hardware to adjust its power, energy consumption and software integration. Apparently, these “pros” can only be seen with the launch of an alleged iPhone 17 in 2025.
Update (28/06/2022) – EB
Kuo got it wrong? iPhone 15 may not have Apple’s own 5G modem
Rumors began nearly a year ago that Apple could develop its own 5G modem to power the iPhone 15, but today analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is saying that the Cupertino company’s plans may have failed. Therefore, the new modem should not be released in 2023 and the iPhones should continue with Qualcomm hardware.
Despite this, Kuo says that failure so far does not mean that Apple may have abandoned the idea of having a modem of its own, it just takes longer to develop it.
Thus, the company’s plans may change from 2024, as its modem supply agreement with Qualcomm is only valid until then and Apple should try to use this additional time to develop its own chips for this purpose.
(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%).
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) June 28, 2022
Apple’s efforts to create its own modem are justified by several benefits that it should obtain from using its own hardware, having more control over its capabilities, which can improve energy consumption, bring new functions to the iPhone in conjunction with Bionic chips. and even contribute to adding more profits with their own production.
On the other hand, the Apple World Today portal contradicts Kuo, as information from the Sellers Research Group still believes that Apple should be able to launch its modem by 2024 and is already negotiating with the factory ASE Technologies and TSMC to create production lines and dedicated chips to equip the iPhone 15.
Who will be correct? We’ll wait for more information to find out, but it is undeniable that Apple has made an effort to centralize the production of components for its products and has been very successful with this strategy, with an example for the new M1 and M2 chips for MacBooks and iPads.
Original article (05/10/2021)
iPhone 15 should be Apple’s first phone with proprietary 5G modem, says Kuo
While the iPhones 13 and 14 may hit the market with little news, the market’s expectation is that Apple will begin to deliver proprietary modems on iPhone 15. The information was revealed this week by the well-known and trusted Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a note published to investors, the analyst said that Apple should only have the ability to produce modems on a commercial scale in the year 2023. Thus, the Cupertino company should continue to depend on Qualcomm during 2021 and 2022.
We predict that the iPhone will adopt Apple’s own 5G modem in 2023 at the earliest.
For those who don’t remember, Apple bought Intel’s modem division and much of the market expected the company to deliver a chip this year, something that shouldn’t happen.
Despite Apple’s considerable delay, the company wants to deliver a highly competitive modem in 2023. Therefore, it should offer improved speed and low latency, something that could make this chip compete directly with Qualcomm’s options. Kuo also said:
As sales of high-end 5G phones are sluggish on Android, Qualcomm will be forced to compete for more orders in the low-end market to make up for Apple’s loss of orders. When supply constraints improve, MediaTek and Qualcomm will have less bargaining power over brands, resulting in significantly greater competitive pressure in the mid- to low-end market.
For now, Apple does not comment on the matter in an official way. In any case, considering Kuo’s track record, it seems that the company will still need to maintain a friendly relationship with Qualcomm for the next two years.
