Apple Contemplates Halting In-House 5G Modem Chip Development Amid Challenges – RUMOR. Apple is reportedly facing a significant setback in its ambitious endeavor to develop an in-house 5G modem chip, leading to speculation that the tech giant may continue its reliance on Qualcomm for modem chips.
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Sources close to Apple’s 5G modem development team suggest that the company has encountered numerous challenges in perfecting this crucial component, prompting speculation about the discontinuation of the project. This development follows several unsuccessful attempts to achieve the desired outcomes, casting doubt on the future of Apple’s in-house modem chip.
Recent reports, including confirmations from various leakers, indicate that Apple’s efforts to create its own 5G modem have not met expectations. This news comes amid discussions within the supply chain circles associated with Apple’s modem departments.
The Wall Street Journal, in a September report, highlighted that Apple’s internal modem chip development faced significant hurdles. These included setting unrealistic goals, underestimating the complexity of the challenges, and producing prototypes that were not viable for practical use.
Apple’s commitment to developing an in-house modem was evident in its extensive hiring spree, which included acquiring a substantial portion of Intel’s smartphone modem business in 2019. This acquisition brought a wealth of talent from Intel, supplemented by hires from Qualcomm, as Apple aimed to ready its modem chip by fall 2023.
Despite these efforts, the project encountered repeated delays, pushing the anticipated launch of Apple’s first 5G modem chip from the initial 2023 timeline to a speculated 2025-2026 window. However, recent developments suggest a potential shift in Apple’s strategy.
One of the critical issues with Apple’s prototype modem chip is its failure to match the standards set by competitors, particularly in lacking support for mmWave technology. Additionally, technical difficulties arose from the need to rewrite the Intel code, leading to a situation where adding new features often disrupted existing functionalities. Another challenge for Apple has been navigating around Qualcomm’s extensive patent portfolio to avoid infringement issues.
As the tech community awaits further updates, it remains to be seen whether Apple will abandon this ambitious project or make a final push to realize its vision of an in-house 5G modem chip.
