Apple is always on the search for innovative ways to deliver high performance and value for its customers, and this time around they have set their sights on producing their own 5G modem chips. The tech giant recently secured TSMC‘s 3nm production capacity for this year, in order to move full steam ahead with their ambitious plans. Low yield production is expected to start during the second half of 2021 and there should be an increasing wafer output next year. It looks like the iPhone 14 lineup will use a Qualcomm Snapdragon X65 5G modem chip while the iPhone 15 series hits store shelves with a Snapdragon X70 5G modem chip. As for when we can expect Apple’s first in-house 5G modem chip, reports suggest that it could debut as early as 2024 with the iPhone 16 series. The reason behind this gradual shift is simple: independence from Qualcomm chips. Apple spends $1 billion on Intel’s smartphone modem business earlier this year and has been developing it ever since in order to become independent from Qualcomm chips. This move will also bring in major cost savings which is possible only after having reliable access to state-of-the-art production nodes such as 3nm technology provided by TSMC. Investors and consumers alike can expect more details soon, but all eyes are set on what the future will bring for Apple’s own modems. With its cutting edge production capabilities, one can only imagine how much potential these devices have once launched into the wild.
The move towards 5G technology has been a long time coming, and it looks like Apple is finally ready to make an impact. The company’s well-established relationship with TSMC ensures that their products remain on the cutting edge of tech, and this agreement only further cemented its commitment to innovation. By utilizing 3nm process for producing 5G modem chips, Apple is able to increase both power and performance while also reducing its overall cost. This move will put the company at the forefront of 5G technology, allowing them to take further steps towards becoming an industry leader in mobile communication. At the same time, this agreement between Apple and TSMC could bring more competition into the 5G modem chip space. Qualcomm has long been dominating this niche, but with Apple now entering the scene, the industry could see some drastic changes in terms of pricing and performance. Questions like how reliable these chips will be and whether or not they can match up to their Qualcomm counterparts still remain to be seen, however, it is safe to say that we can expect some great developments in the next few years.