Qualcomm expects "the supply of modems for iPhone to reach 20 per cent in 2023". Has Apple independently developed a modem?

In recent years, Qualcomm has been supplying Apple with an exclusive modem chip for iPhone, which is why it will be able to communicate with 5G after launching the iPhone 12 series in 2020. (Qualcomm is one of the few companies that can install 5G, including millimeter waves, in the size of a mobile phone.)

But at Qualcomm's investor activity "Invest Day", the company's CFO (chief financial officer) Akash Palkhiwala reportedly talked about the expectation that "only 20 per cent of the modem chips on Apple's products will be available in 2023".

Recently, the modem chips used in the iPhone12 and iPhone13 series are supplied by Qualcomm. If this prediction is correct, then after 2023, with the exception of Qualcomm, others can be interpreted as supplying most of the iPhone chips.

Just a few years ago, Apple had been developing its own modem chip and had actually acquired "most" of Intel's smartphone communications modem business. 2023 is the year when Apple's proprietary modem chip was put into use.

First, in March, analysts at Barclays, a British investment bank, predicted that their 5G modem chips would be installed on all iPhone models in 2023. In addition, in May, well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also said that "as soon as possible" iPhone will carry its own chips in 2023.

Qualcomm also believes that "this is only a planned assumption of the forecast", but in any case, the possibility of "installing an Apple proprietary modem chip on the iPhone in 2023" has increased.

As for why not switch 100% to Apple's proprietary modem, the modem chip is based on years of proprietary technology accumulation, and the compatibility with communication stations around the world is difficult to solve at once, presumably, this is to continue to use Qualcomm chips in specific areas.

IPhone originally relied on Qualcomm modem chips, but caused a fierce court battle because of distortions over patents and loyalty issues. After that, he started his own development because of dissatisfaction with the quality of Intel chips, and paid a huge fee to Qualcomm and reached a settlement in order to speed up the 5G response of the iPhone 12 series.

Judging from these circumstances, the modem chip developed by Apple itself does not perform as well as expected, and if there is a lot of trouble, it is possible to return to the modem made by Qualcomm.

Source:MacRumors