Apple's New Modem: The End of Qualcomm's iPhone Era?

The Apple-Qualcomm deal expires in two years. This means that Qualcomm modem It will be in iPhones until 2026. It seems that the collaboration between Apple and Qualcomm is about to end forever. The latest reports indicate that the iPhone maker has already succeeded in developing its own cellular modem for its future phones. Let's learn in this article about Apple's 5G modem and where will we see it?

Apple 5G Modem

There have been many rumors over the years about Apple’s modem being developed and spending billions on it. Every year, everyone believes that the partnership between Apple and Qualcomm is nearing its end. But soon news comes out that Apple has failed to develop a homegrown cellular modem. But after a long wait, the company has finally succeeded in designing and building its own modem.

To clarify, a modem is the component that connects a phone to a cell tower to allow it to make and receive calls as well as connect to the internet. Therefore, a modem is a vital and irreplaceable part of any smartphone.

Apple intends to use its own modem, codenamed “Sinope,” in its budget iPhone SE 4, which is expected to be unveiled early next year, 2025. Apple’s modem will also be used in the iPhone 17 series, specifically in the new iPhone 17 Air model that will replace the iPhone Plus.

Apple Modem vs Qualcomm Modem

Before we get into the main differences between Apple and Qualcomm modems, we need to answer an important question: Why use Apple’s modem in the iPhone SE 4? The short answer is that a bad modem means users have difficulty receiving phone calls and notifications. That’s why Apple decided to include its new 5G modem in the budget iPhone SE 4 as a testing ground. That way, when any internet or call issues arise, it’ll be fine because it’s in the budget category, unlike if those issues happened to users who paid a lot for the more expensive Pro models.

There’s also another reason: Apple’s modem doesn’t support the high-band mmWave spectrum, which offers download speeds of up to 10Gbps. The problem with mmWave (millimeter wave spectrum) is that the signals travel short distances, making it nearly impossible for wireless subscribers to find them. Instead, Apple’s internal modem supports airwaves below 6GHz, which includes the mid-band and C-band spectrum favored by most US carriers. Qualcomm’s modem supports both mmWave and sub-6GHz spectrum. Apple’s internal modem also supports up to four frequency carriers, while Qualcomm’s modem supports six or more.

Finally, Apple is gradually reducing its dependence on other companies. After ditching Intel processors for its own chips, it’s time to break away from Qualcomm’s dominance. Over the next few years, Apple will be developing its own modem to be better and more capable of competing with Snapdragon’s modem.

Source:

Phonearena