Apple will use its own 5G baseband in 2024

Previously, it was reported that due to the lack of breakthroughs in Apple’s development of the first 5G baseband chip, Qualcomm will be the only 5G modem supplier for the iPhone 15 series. This means that Qualcomm can continue to obtain a stable source of income from Apple’s vast iPhone product line, which will greatly help its revenue.

However, there has been a turning point recently, and it seems that Apple has made a breakthrough in the development of 5G modems. According to Wccftech, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon said in an interview with reporters at MWC 2023 that Apple plans to bring its own 5G modems in 2024, but if Apple needs Qualcomm’s chips, it will also lend a hand.

After acquiring Intel’s modem chip business, Apple originally planned to introduce its own 5G modems in 2020 to reduce its dependence on Qualcomm, better control component specifications and costs, and carry out deeper software optimizations. However, it has not been going smoothly. Even if Apple is ready by 2025, it does not mean that it can immediately replace Qualcomm’s solution on a large scale. Some industry analysts believe that Apple is more likely to adopt small-scale production, and the actual shipment quantity depends on the actual performance of its 5G baseband.

If everything goes smoothly, Apple will gradually increase the shipment volume of its own 5G modems, gradually reduce its procurement quantity from Qualcomm in the process, and eventually completely replace Qualcomm’s solution. The whole process may take several years. Apple’s next step is to integrate 5G baseband, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth onto a single chip, greatly reducing the motherboard area while also reducing power consumption and obtaining longer battery life. Although this is a longer-term plan, it shows Apple’s attitude, which is not to rely on suppliers such as Qualcomm and Broadcom but to use its own solutions for more extensive products.