Apple could finally move away from Qualcomm modems as soon as 2025. The company reportedly plans to use its in-house 5G modem on two iPhones due to launch next year.
The company’s in-house baseband will debut on the iPhone SE 4, which rumors indicate should launch in Q1 2025. The iPhone 17 ‘Slim’ will follow suit in the third quarter of the year.
Apple wants to stop using Qualcomm’s 5G modem
Reports indicate Apple has spent billions of dollars developing its in-house 5G modem but has little to show for it. In 2019, the company acquired Intel’s 5G modem business for $1 billion to get a headstart on its development efforts. But that move reportedly backfired, with the Cupertino company engineers facing issues with Intel’s code. Trying to fix the issues is seemingly causing other features to break.
In June 2022, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi claimed that Apple’s efforts to develop its 5G modem had bombed. Therefore, the company will continue using Qualcomm baseband in its devices for the foreseeable future. Since then, though, the rumor mill has indicated that Apple’s in-house chip could debut on its devices in 2025.
In a post on X published on July 24, the analyst claims that Apple will debut its 5G chip on two iPhone models in 2025. The chip will launch with the iPhone SE 4 in the spring of 2025, followed by the iPhone 17 Slim later in the year. The latter will apparently be a new addition to the company’s lineup next year, replacing the Plus model.
Apple’s 5G modem development has been riddled with issues
Apple currently sources 5G chips for its devices from Qualcomm. Earlier this year, the company extended its modem licensing deal with the San Diego chipmaker until March 2027.
Given the turbulent development journey of Apple’s 5G modem, it’s entirely possible that the company will hit a last-minute roadblock, forcing it to fall back on Qualcomm’s modem again next year. And even if it debuts, the chip’s performance might not be as good as that from Qualcomm.
Besides the baseband, Apple is reportedly also working on its custom Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips.
