It’s been a long time since Apple has been working on its own 5G modem. However, development is taking much longer than the company expected – but recent evidence suggests that we’ll see Apple’s first 5G modem next year. Read on as we detail everything we know so far about it.
A brief recap on Apple’s 5G modem
It’s no surprise that Apple wants to have better control over its hardware, as the company designs its own SoCs for iPhone, iPad, Mac and other devices. However, in 2019, Apple showed a huge interest in building its own cellular modems. The company acquired Intel’s modem division for $1 billion that year. Apple was hoping to have its own modem so that it would no longer have to rely on components made by Qualcomm.
However, years have passed and Apple is yet to introduce a device with its own cellular modem. In fact, many rumors suggest that little or no progress has been made in all these years.
According to a WSJ report last year, the prototypes built so far were considered a failure. They were too slow and susceptible to overheating, making them worse than Qualcomm’s 5G modems used in current iPhones. These problems have led Apple to keep delaying the launch of its first custom 5G modem.
Apple is expected to introduce its 5G modem next year
Luckily for Apple, it seems that engineers have managed to solve at least some of these problems to make the company’s 5G modem a reality. Multiple reports, including from 9to5Mac, have revealed that Apple plans to launch the first devices with its own modem next year.
Last month, reliable sources told 9to5Mac that Apple has built an ambitious modem codenamed “V59” or “Centauri” that can not only handle 5G, but also Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and even GPS. According to our sources, the modem should drastically reduce battery consumption, especially when Low Power Mode is on.
The first device expected to feature Apple’s 5G modem is the iPhone SE 4, which is rumored to be announced in the first half of 2025. By the end of next year, at least one of the iPhone 17 models will also have the new modem – most likely the iPhone 17 Air. Despite the benefits in terms of battery consumption, Apple still doesn’t feel totally confident enough about its modem to put it in flagship products such as the Pro iPhones.
For instance, a recent report from The Information revealed that Apple’s current 5G modem prototypes still can’t match Qualcomm’s 5G chip in terms of performance. The prototypes also lack support for the super-fast 5G mmWave.
While it may be a while before Apple puts its 5G modem into the entire iPhone lineup, the new modem seems like a good fit for devices like the Apple Watch, where energy efficiency matters more than performance. Of course, having its own 5G modem will also help Apple cut costs – although this doesn’t necessarily mean that this difference will be reflected in the final price for customers.
It seems that the wait for Apple’s 5G modem will soon be over, at least for those planning to buy a new iPhone SE next year.
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