Apple’s In-House 5G Modem: A Big Shift Coming in 2025

Apple is gearing up to make a major move in the tech world with its in-house 5G modem, and it could start as early as next year! According to a new report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is rapidly preparing to phase out Qualcomm’s 5G chips and replace them with its own, starting with the iPhone SE4 and the ultra-slim iPhone 17 in 2025.

What This Means for Apple

This is a huge deal for Apple—and for everyone using iPhones. Right now, Apple relies on Qualcomm to supply the 5G chips that power fast cellular connections in iPhones, iPads, and other devices. However, the company has been working on its own 5G modem for a while now, ever since they acquired Intel’s modem business. After facing some bumps in the road, it seems Apple is finally ready to roll out its homegrown 5G modem.

If Kuo’s predictions are right, Apple plans to ship 35-40 million units of its 5G chips in 2025, with that number skyrocketing to 160-180 million by 2027! This would significantly reduce Apple’s dependence on Qualcomm, which currently supplies the modems for iPhones.

Why This Move is Important

By developing its own 5G modem, Apple stands to gain several advantages:

• Financial benefits: Apple can save a lot of money by no longer paying licensing fees to Qualcomm.
• Better performance: Apple will have full control over the hardware and software, which could lead to faster speeds, better battery life, and overall improved performance for its devices.
• Tighter integration: Apple is known for how well its devices work together, and an in-house 5G chip could make that ecosystem even more seamless.

The Road to Apple’s 5G Chip

It hasn’t been an easy journey for Apple to develop its own 5G modem. Even with thousands of employees working on the technology, reports surfaced last year saying that Apple was falling behind and had delayed the launch of its modem until 2025 or 2026. Some rumors even suggested that Apple had abandoned the effort altogether.

But now, it seems like Apple has made serious progress. Kuo’s report suggests that Apple’s in-house 5G chip is on track for a rapid rollout starting with two models next year: the iPhone SE4 in early 2025 and the ultra-slim iPhone 17 later that year.

What’s Next?

If everything goes according to plan, Apple’s shift to its own 5G modems will be a game changer—not just for Apple but also for the broader mobile industry. Qualcomm, which has been a key supplier of 5G chips for years, will likely see a significant drop in its shipments and sales as Apple takes more control of its components.

For consumers, this could mean even better performance, longer battery life, and possibly lower prices as Apple cuts out the middleman. It’s an exciting time for tech fans, and we can’t wait to see how this next chapter unfolds.