Apple could debut their own iPhone modem next year
If there is one reason Apple has managed to become such a strong standalone competitor to the plethora of Android devices out there, it is because they control the majority of the hardware and software in their iPhones. That will be taken one step further in 2025 where Apple is rumored to introduce their own modem to the iPhone.
This is according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, where in the latest issue of his Power On newsletter, he suggests that the modem could debut in 2025. One thing to note is that Apple currently has a licensing deal with Qualcomm. This deal will last until 2027 and where Apple will buy and use Qualcomm’s modems and their tech in their iPhones.
So if the modem really debuts in 2025, we’re not sure how this will go down. Will Apple try to buy their way out of the deal? Or will the company instead find a different device to use the modem in until their deal expires, and then transition it to the iPhone.
Apple has been working on their own modem for years. The company actually bought the majority of Intel’s smartphone modem business back in 2019, but there were various hiccups that prevented them from successfully building their own modem.
It is unclear what the benefits are if Apple chooses to use their own modem in the iPhone. According to Gurman, the plan is to roll Bluetooth and WiFi into a single chip. This could then be added to the SoC. This could reduce the overall internal footprint, allowing Apple to create thinner iPhones, iPhones with bigger batteries or some kind of other tech.