Apple to Start Transitioning Away From Qualcomm Modem Chips in Late 2024 or 2025

[MacRumors]

Apple wants to start replacing the Qualcomm modem chips that it uses in iPhones as soon as 2024, according to a new report from Bloomberg. Apple has been working on in-house modem chip technology for several years now, with the aim of reducing its reliance on Qualcomm.

Apple initially wanted to introduce its own modem chips as early as 2023, but Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in late 2022 that Apple would need to continue to rely on Qualcomm in the near future as Apple's development efforts "failed." At the time, Kuo said that Apple would continue working on its 5G chips, but that development would not be done in time for the launch of the 2023 iPhones, which Bloomberg's report agrees with. Modem chip development has seen delays, and Apple will use a slow rollout to end its reliance on Qualcomm. Apple will start with using its own modem chip in a single device before expanding the rollout to other devices. The transition away from Qualcomm could take up to three years.

In addition to transitioning to its own in-house chips starting in 2024, Apple wants to stop using wireless components from Broadcom in 2025. Apple is working on a WiFi and Bluetooth chip that would replace the components that it is currently sourcing from Broadcom. Apple in 2020 signed a three and a half-year deal with Broadcom for wireless components and modules, with that deal set to expire midway through 2023.

While separate components to replace hardware sourced from Qualcomm and Broadcom are in development right now, Bloomberg says Apple is also working on a chip that will combine the cellular modem, WiFi, and Bluetooth functions into a single component. Broadcom also supplies Apple with radio-frequency chips and chips for wireless charging, both of which Apple is working on replacing.

Apple designs its own A-series chips for the iPhone and M-series chips for the Mac, and replacing modem chips and wireless components has been a priority ever since its Qualcomm dispute. Apple launched a legal battle against Qualcomm in 2017, accusing Qualcomm of unfairly collecting royalties for technologies it had nothing to do with. Apple wanted to transition away from Qualcomm with the shift to 5G to stop paying Qualcomm's fees and instead use Intel technology, but Intel was not able to manufacture 5G chips that met Apple's standards.

Apple was forced to settle its lawsuit with Qualcomm and has since used Qualcomm 5G modem chips for the iPhone and iPad lineups. Apple in 2019 purchased Intel's modem chip business to get a head start on chip development, and 2024 may be the soonest that the technology is finally advanced enough for Apple to phase out Qualcomm.

Article Link: Apple to Start Transitioning Away From Qualcomm Modem Chips in Late 2024 or 2025

 

[phill85]

If it’s anything but Qualcomm, I’m not pre-ordering it. I’m gonna let you all make sure it has decent service first!!

 

[czoli]

Yeah, sure

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Yeah… or maybe 2026 or 2027 or maybe *lowers voice dramatically* 2028.
Or…

 

[philcourage]

Great, see ya in 24 to 48 months!

 

[Rychiar]

I anticipate this being a disaster

 

[erikkfi]

This makes sense given Apple's drive to make "the whole widget." I hope they succeed in this.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Wow! So we're still 2+ years away until the transition takes over. By then 6G Modem will be out on the market.

 

[Alex3917]

Apple's marketing strategy for the iPhone is just telling everyone that this will be the last version with a Qualcomm modem.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Great, see ya in 24 to 48 months!

A "Courage" that is going to take another 24 to 48 months. Yikes! I bet you Apple can't wait to move away from Qualcomm.

First, it was Intel's turn now Qualcomm is NEXT.

 

[PhoenixDown]

I wonder if they will build the modems into the CPU's for additional power savings and performance

 

[atomic.flip]

AGAIN?! LOL can’t wait to see the cluster —— that the alternative will offer. So far, outside of Asia, no one has been able to really release themselves from Qualcomm’s grip.

 

[t0rqx]

So better buy the iPhone 15/16 and let other people test the devices before upgrading again. If enough people do this, they probably introduce some new firmware to break Qualcomm/Broadcom models to force upgrades....again.

 

[JPack]

Apple inherited Intel's 5G baseband team, so it's gonna be a while. Parts of Intel's modem is based on x86 cores.

I'm surprised Apple is doing baseband first, then Wi-Fi/BT. You'd think they would do the less challenging project first.

 

[anshuvorty]

While separate components to replace hardware sourced from Qualcomm and Broadcom are in development right now, Bloomberg says Apple is also working on a chip that will combine the cellular modem, WiFi, and Bluetooth functions into a single component.

Maybe for the Gen 1 chips. I'm sure with time, Apple will figure out a way to integrate it into the A-series SoC.

See? I was right!

 

[rictus007]

So they will decrease the price of the iPhone?

 

[tongxinshe]

Ever since Apple bought the Intel modem chip design team, more and more Apple’s original chip design engineers left Apple. I wonder whether there were big conflicts between the two teams, and, whether the less technically capable team won the conflict.

 

[JPack]

See? I was right!

No. They're talking about a chip with all the radios in one. Not integrated into the SoC.

Integrating into the SoC makes no sense. Qualcomm showed such a design offers little power savings.

A discrete radio chip, like the in-house design Apple is planning, makes far more sense. Why waste expensive, high performance, die area on a radio? Not every Apple product will need a cellular baseband. Think iPad and Apple TV.

 

[Realityck]

Apple initially wanted to introduce its own modem chips as early as 2023, but Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in late 2022 that Apple would need to continue to rely on Qualcomm in the near future as Apple's development efforts "failed." At the time, Kuo said that Apple would continue working on its 5G chips, but that development would not be done in time for the launch of the 2023 iPhones, which Bloomberg's report agrees with. Modem chip development has seen delays, and Apple will use a slow rollout to end its reliance on Qualcomm. Apple will start with using its own modem chip in a single device before expanding the rollout to other devices. The transition away from Qualcomm could take up to three years.

It's better this way, Apple doesn't have to put up with all the patient lawsuits with 5G chips if they are using Qualcomm still.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

So they will decrease the price of the iPhone?

I doubt it. I think when Apple released an M1 chip we didn’t see any type of price reduction. Unfortunately, the price of the iPhone will only go up . Also, we are years away from the first phase of the transition.

 

[jz0309]

it'll show up in a cellular iPad or a new low-cost iPhone first, gotta iron the bugs out, and they will be there. Plus, performance will have to meet/beat then-current Qualcomm modem. so in flagship iPhone - 2025/6.

 

[femike]

Apple's modem for the first two years will be sub-par, it will be a test. Probably only the iPhones in the lower range will be getting these chips. ie Let the peasants test them first. I'm certainly going to avoid the phones that have Apple modem chips in.

 

[tuckerjj]

Great, we might finally see cellular connected Macs!

 

[HiVolt]

Its gonna result with another patent war, I guarantee it.

Qualcomm owns so many patents in the cellular game its not funny.

 

[iamgalt]

I anticipate this being a disaster

A lot of people thought this when Apple was getting away from Intel. That seems to have worked out pretty well for Apple, so far. I think this switch, when it happens, will be fine. I'm sure there will be some bugs that will be blown way out of proportion because it's Apple, but overall, I got a feeling most people won't even notice a difference.