iPhone and more: Ambitious plans for Apple's first 5G modem
Apple has been working on a 5G modem for years, it will reportedly be unveiled soon. It should enable new designs and bring more devices into the mobile network
(Image: Sebastian Trepesch)
The first Apple modem is apparently just around the corner: according to reports, a 5G modem (baseband chip) with the Apple logo will also make its debut with the iPhone SE 4 entry-level model expected in spring 2025. Recently, Apple has relied purely on Qualcomm chips for mobile communications support. The in-house baseband is not intended for the iPhone Pro flagship models for now, as reported by the financial news agency Bloomberg, citing informed sources. According to the report, it takes up less space on the motherboard and works economically.
According to the report, this enables an even thinner iPhone design, explains Bloomberg. An "iPhone 17 Air" or "iPhone 17 Slim" has long been in the pipeline for fall 2025 to replace the Plus model. It is said to be just over 6 millimetres thick and therefore around 2 millimetres thinner than the current iPhone 16 Pro. In addition to the modem, Apple is also integrating its first in-house high-frequency front-end system, writes Bloomberg.
Risky switch to own wireless technology
The switch is risky: baseband processors are considered highly complex, and minor errors can lead to users not being reliably reachable or losing their data connection. For example, Apple delivered the iPhone 7 with either a Qualcomm chip or an Intel modem, the latter of which caused considerable customer complaints and problem reports. Accordingly, the Apple modem is to land in the cheaper entry-level SE model first.
According to the report, Apple's schedule envisages bringing its in-house baseband chips up to the level of the Qualcomm basebands in several generations by 2027. An Apple modem could then also be used in the top-of-the-range iPhone models in 2026.
The company is currently also considering integrating its own baseband into MacBooks and the Vision Pro and thus offering additional devices with mobile communications support. This is currently only the case with the iPhone and (for an extra charge) the iPad and Apple Watch. An Apple baseband for the smartwatch is not currently in the works, according to another report.
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Apple has been working on a baseband for around five years
An Apple baseband has been expected for several years – since Apple acquired Intel's modem business –, including around 2,200 employees and numerous patents for USD 1 billion in 2019. Apple and Qualcomm had previously been involved in an aggressive patent dispute lasting several years, which was only suddenly settled in spring 2019. The companies have supply and patent license agreements that currently run until around 2027.
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