Apple is most likely to start its in-house modem chip, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The report states that this chip is likely to feature as soon as 2025. For a decade, Apple has been using Qualcomm as its main chip. However, after 2018, it decided to break the dependency but failed to do so. The tech giant has been trying to equip its iPhones with their chipsets and is facing major challenges. According to Gurman, even if Apple introduces a new modem on an upcoming iPhone model next year, it might take years before Apple’s technology begins to provide major benefits to customers.

According to Gurman’s report, Apple’s in-house modem chip has been delayed until at least next year due to overheating and performance issues. As a result, the upcoming iPhone 16 series, set to launch soon, will likely rely on a Qualcomm modem instead of Apple’s proprietary technology. Till its modem comes up with its own modem chipset, it has extended its supplier agreement with Qualcomm until March 2027. Gurman also suggests that the new modem would only be introduced gradually, starting with “niche models”, which means it could take more years to come.

Apple’s modem chip timeline

Prior to partnering with Qualcomm in 2011, Apple used Infineon Technologies AG chips, which were often criticised for poor data connectivity and frequent call drops. Later, from 2016 to early 2020, Apple switched to Intel modems, but they also received complaints about performance issues.

Deploying an in-house modem to over a billion users worldwide poses significant risk, as it requires extensive global testing across diverse environments to ensure seamless performance and reliability.

Apple’s in-house modem benefits

The in-house modem chipset will definitely cut down the cost of manufacturing, but it is hard to tell how beneficial it will be in the near future. The report claims that in the coming years, Apple aims to integrate its modem technology into a unified wireless chip that combines Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and modem capabilities, potentially leading to enhanced reliability and improved battery life through a single, streamlined connectivity solution.

Ultimately, Apple may also explore integrating the wireless chip into the iPhone’s main System on a Chip (SoC), which could lead to further cost savings, reduced component space, and increased design flexibility. If Apple actually achieves this much and switches away from Qualcomm, it could direct the resources to new features.