Kuo: Apple Will Use Its Own 5G Modems on Two iPhones in 2025
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While Apple has reportedly been working on its own 5G modem for iPhones since 2018, we’ve seen several reports of delays in its efforts. However, it appears that the project may be finally ready for prime time — or at least it will be by the end of next year.
Although Apple is believed to have committed to using Qualcomm-built 5G iPhone modems until 2027, Apple is now said to be ready to deliver its own 5G modem two years early.
According to Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is planning to use its in-house 5G modems in one high-end and one low-end iPhone in 2025. Kuo’s comments came in a link in an X post from earlier today.
Apple is accelerating its move away from reliance on Qualcomm. In 2025, two new iPhone models will ditch Qualcomm’s 5G chips and adopt Apple’s in-house 5G chips: the iPhone SE4 (1Q25) and the ultra-slim iPhone 17 (3Q25).
Kuo says the two models that will use Apple 5G modems are the upcoming fourth-generation iPhone SE, which Kuo says we can expect to see during the first quarter of 2025, and a slimmer iPhone 17 model coming later in the year. The slimmer model is rumored to be a new high-end iPhone, which will be priced higher than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
While Kuo has shared accurate information before about upcoming iPhone models and features, it would be rather unusual for Apple to introduce new chips and features to a device at the bottom of its price range while adding them to a top-end iPhone model at the same time. This indicates that Apple’s 5G modem may be functionally the same as the Qualcomm modem, not offering any new enhanced features.
Of course, if this just points to a manufacturer swap, why isn’t Apple including the new modem in all of its new 2025 iPhones? The slower rollout could be due to contractual obligations Apple has with Qualcomm, as well as Apple possibly looking to slowly ramp up production, possibly not being able to supply enough 5G modems for all of its 2025 iPhones.
In July 2019, Apple acquired Intel’s smartphone modem business with an eye toward manufacturing its own 5G modems. The transaction was valued at $1 billion, and Apple said at the time that the purchase would “help expedite our development on future products and allow Apple to further differentiate moving forward.”
Since then, the Cupertino firm has been working to develop its own 5G modem, but the company has reportedly faced several delays.
In June 2022, Kuo said that Apple’s 5G modem development efforts “may have failed.” At that time, Kuo believed that Apple would continue to develop its own 5G chip. However, he did not supply a timeframe as to when Apple’s 5G chip would be ready for the company’s iPhones.
In November 2023, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple is still “years away” from having a modem chip ready to compete with Qualcomm’s modems.
Gurman said Apple’s development is still in its early stages, and it “may lag behind the competition by years.” Apple was reportedly having issues working with the purchased Intel modem code, and one version of the 5G modem did not support faster mmWave technology. Apple also has to take care not to infringe on any of Qualcomm’s modem patents.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]
