Apple has extended its modem chip licensing agreement with Qualcomm through March 2027, Qualcomm said today during its first earnings call of 2024. Apple’s existing agreement has now been extended for two years, so we can expect to see Qualcomm modems in the next several iPhone generations.
Apple has been working on developing its own 5G modem chip in-house for the last several years. The technology would keep it from having to rely on Qualcomm for 5G chips, but Apple’s progress has seen several delays.
In November 2023, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said that Apple’s work on a modem chip had been postponed until late 2025 or 2026, and it is possible it could see further delays. Apple was initially aiming to have an Apple-designed modem chip ready to go by 2024, but it missed that target. The company then wanted to introduce the modem chip in an iPhone SE that would launch in spring 2025, but it will not be able to make that goal either.
In an also not surprising development, on the @Qualcomm call, it was mentioned:
“Apple exercised its unilateral option to extend its global patent license agreement for an additional two years, taking the existing agreement through to March 2027”
— Ben Bajarin (@BenBajarin) January 31, 2024
Gurman said at the time that Apple was “years away” from creating a chip that is able to perform as well or better than chips from Qualcomm.
Apple has reportedly run into issues with the Intel code that it has been using from its acquisition of Intel’s modem chip business. Apple has had to rewrite code, and adding new features has caused existing features to break. Apple also has to avoid infringing on Qualcomm’s patents during its modem development.
The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro models set to be released in 2024 are rumored to be using Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X75 modem with improved carrier aggregation, and a more power efficient transceiver.
Popular Stories
iOS 18 Potentially ‘Biggest’ Software Update in iPhone’s History
Apple has big plans for iOS 18, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. In the subscriber-only Q&A section of his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said iOS 18 has the potential to be the “biggest” software update in the iPhone’s history. “I’m told that the new operating system is seen within the company as one of the biggest iOS updates — if not the biggest — in the company’s history,” …
Apple Has Sold Approximately 200,000 Vision Pro Headsets
Apple has sold upwards of 200,000 Vision Pro headsets, MacRumors has learned from a source with knowledge of Apple’s sales numbers. Apple began accepting pre-orders for the Vision Pro on January 19, so the headset has been available for purchase in the U.S. for 10 days. Last Monday, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that Apple had sold an estimated 160,000 to 180,000 Vision Pro units during …
Kuo: iPhone 16 Models to Lack Significant Design Changes Beyond Larger Displays and Capture Button
iPhone 16 models launching later this year will not have any “significant design changes,” according to Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo also said that Apple is unlikely to offer “more comprehensive” generative AI features until the iPhone 17 series launches next year at the earliest. “It is expected that Apple will not launch new iPhone models with significant design changes…
Apple’s iCloud Services Experiencing Outage [Update: Fixed]
Some of Apple’s iCloud services are down at the current time, with the iCloud.com website non-functional and iCloud Mail failing to load. There are multiple reports on Twitter and other social networks, and Apple’s System Status page says that some iCloud Mail users may not be able to send, receive, or access their messages. Apple’s System Status page also lists an issue with iCloud web…
tvOS 17.4 Code References Mysterious homeOS
Code discovered by MacRumors in the first beta of tvOS 17.4 suggests that Apple’s work on “homeOS” is continuing behind the scenes. Back in June 2021, Apple listed two job postings that mentioned homeOS, but deleted the term when it was noticed by the media. We’ve seen no sign of homeOS since, except for in the first tvOS 17.4 beta. Apple’s 2018 HomePod ran a modified version of iOS 11…
Gurman: New iPads and Macs Likely to Launch in Late March
Apple will likely launch new iPad Air, iPad Pro, and MacBook Air models “around the end of March,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, he said production is well underway for the new iPad Pro models and a new 13-inch MacBook Air at a minimum within Apple’s supply chain in Asia. Below, we reiterate Gurman’s expectations for the new iPads and Macs, along…
Camera Comparison: Samsung S24 Ultra vs iPhone 15 Pro Max
Samsung came out with its 2024 flagship smartphone lineup in January, with the new devices competing directly with the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Samsung’s high-end S24 Ultra adopts some Apple-like features like a titanium chassis and a 5X zoom lens, but it also has standout additions that set it apart. We have an S24 Ultra, and thought we’d see how one main…
