For some time now, Apple has been at the center of rumors regarding its own 5G modem for iPhones. The acquisition of Intel’s modem division by Apple and the subsequent legal confrontation with the current provider, Qualcomm, to name just two examples, have been part of the story behind the development of these crucial components. It’s a story in which rumors keep pushing back the arrival date, and it seems like we never quite reach it.
Without further delays, let’s hope
Now, information published by the well-known supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that we could see this change in 2025. Kuo had previously indicated that the fourth-generation iPhone SE, planned for 2024, would be the first device to incorporate Apple’s designed 5G modem. However, with the delay in the production of that model until 2025, this assertion has become uncertain. The rumors are conflicting, and while the expectation remains alive, the actual release of the device and the inclusion of the modem in question remain unclear.
Apple’s strategy is not new, though. The company has been planning the creation of its own modem for over five years, and in a strategic move, in 2019, it acquired the majority of Intel’s smartphone modem business. This acquisition hinted at Apple’s serious intention to move away from external suppliers for this key technological component, something it has already done with many other components, such as chips, for example.
If the predictions based on the 2025 timeframe hold, models like the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 should continue with modems supplied by Qualcomm. The change is expected to come for future models, such as the iPhone SE and iPhone 17, provided that development challenges are overcome and the schedule is met.
But what does this mean for the end consumer? Although it’s still unclear what benefits an Apple-designed 5G modem will offer over Qualcomm’s modems, what is evident is Apple’s strategy to reduce its dependence on other suppliers. The arrival of Apple’s 5G modem raises expectations not only for the innovation it may represent but also for what it symbolizes in terms of technological independence for the company. As 2025 approaches, we’ll be keeping an eye on how these rumors unfold and what the next step in Apple’s technological evolution will be.
