Apple is expected to debut its custom-designed 5G modem in 2023.
According to a new report from DigiTimes, the company has been working to remove Qualcomm supplies from its iPhones to reduce the reliance on third-party manufacturers, and insiders have been briefed that 2022 will be the last year for Qualcomm modems.
Apple is working on a 5G modem that’s separate from the A-series chip, which is different from Android devices that are working to feature custom modems that integrate with the application processor and System on Chip. This could be so that Apple can add the modem to multiple devices, or it might be due to time and technical limitations in making the switch.
According to the report, TSMC will supply Apple with its custom-designed 5G modems.
Speaking at an investor day during the week, Qualcomm revealed it is expected to supply 20% of Apple’s modem chips by 2023, suggesting that iPhones starting in 2023 (likely the iPhone 15) will not feature Qualcomm modems. The remaining 20% will be for previous models and perhaps baseline models such as the upcoming iPhone SE 3.
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