As we move more towards 5G, we demand all the gadgets in our use to support the new wireless connectivity. And smartphones are no excuse.
Apple, in this case, shook hands with Qualcomm for 5G modems in its iPhones and iPads. While this is going well, the Cupertino-based company is now eyeing making its own 5G modems, in partnership with TSMC.
This could make Apple rely less on Qualcomm, and give more authority on its hardware. Further, integrating all in-house features can improve the performance significantly, as happened with Apple M1 chips in MacBooks.
Apple’s Homemade 5G Modem
One of the main reasons Apple always stands out from the other smartphone OEM crowd is the hardware. The Cupertino company designs its own hardware and hires a manufacturer for production. Making things at home has a clean advantage – understanding things better.
Apple is able to produce most components in-house, thus integrating better and producing the best results. But, it’s not complete always.
Apple has to rely on third-party vendors for a few critical components, like Samsung for display and Qualcomm for 5G modems. While the former cannon be dumped already, the latter is going to change within the next couple of years.
As per reports, Apple is in talks with TSMC to produce its own 5G modems for future iPhones and iPads. To date, Apple relied on Qualcomm to support 5G connectivity for it’s handsets, and the deal between them is set to expire in 2025. If Apple is able to come up with a proper plan by then, it will ditch Qualcomm as it did with Intel for MacBooks.
Apple has already acquired Intel’s mobile processors unit for $1 billion, which offers access to over 17,000 wireless technology patents! Apple can leverage this deal and tie-up with TSMC for its initial in-house 5G modems soon. Once set up, this integration can save up Apple a lot of money, although it wouldn’t result in reducing the cost of future iPhones.
Yet, hardware grip is what Apple may get. This will surely result in better performance, as we’ve seen Apple M1 chips beating Intel’s top-end chips in MacBooks.
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