Apple has been working on its own 5G modems for some time. It was rumored that Apple, which wanted to end its dependence on Qualcomm and develop its modems in-house, canceled this project. The official statement on the subject came from a senior executive.
Apple’s in-house 5G modem
Apple Executive Johny Srouji said in a recent interview that the company is working to develop its own 5G modem solution. However, he refrained from giving a clear timeline for when this chip might be ready.
Srouji, Apple’s Vice President of Hardware Technologies, shared new details about the company’s modems. Stating that they want to create “the best products” as a priority, the executive said they will continue to work with third-party suppliers such as Qualcomm.
Several reports have previously revealed that Apple is having significant difficulties developing its own 5G chip. Sources close to Apple have claimed that prototype modems have suffered from overheating issues and underperformed compared to Qualcomm’s chips.
Analysts don’t expect the Apple-developed 5G modem to be out until 2025, which means it could appear in the iPhone 17 at the earliest. Initially, however, it is expected to be used only in the iPhone, while the iPad, Mac and Watch are expected to rely on Qualcomm chips.
Srouji did not acknowledge the development challenges. But his answers suggest that Apple is still in the early stages of 5G modem development. Apple also has a 5G agreement with Qualcomm until 2025.
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