For the past few years, Apple has been on a significant journey to break free from its dependence on iPhone components sourced from other companies. This pursuit has led to a series of developments, with the latest being the potential shift away from using Qualcomm-made cellular modem chips.

Unveiling Apple's In-House Modem Revolution

Apple's Modem Shift Timeline

Currently, Qualcomm holds the monopoly in providing modem chips for iPhones. However, according to a recent report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple's in-house modem is set to make its debut in 2025. The first iPhone to feature this new modem is expected to be the iPhone SE 4, which is anticipated to launch in the spring of the next year. Gurman also mentions that the initial version of Apple's modem will be relatively weaker compared to the currently available Qualcomm chip.Simply put, the modem in a smartphone is crucial as it enables the device to connect to cell towers, facilitating calls and internet access over cellular networks. Apple aims to surpass Qualcomm by 2027 with increasingly advanced chips, as stated in the Bloomberg story.Gurman delves deeper into the history of Apple's modem development. It is known that Apple has been working on this project since at least 2021, investing billions of dollars and acquiring Intel's modem group along with hundreds of engineers.Interestingly, the first version of the modem, codenamed Sinope, will not be included in the flagship iPhone 17 models next year. Instead, it will be launched with the iPhone SE 4. Additionally, the new modem may also find its way into the highly rumored iPhone 17 Air and lower-end iPads. This indicates that the iPhone SE 4 will serve as a crucial test for Apple's in-house modem.

Features and Benefits of Apple's In-House Modem

Sinope, the first-generation in-house modem, will not support mmWave, a 5G technology known for its high download speeds. Instead, it will feature a Sub-6Ghz standard, which is similar to the one found in the current iPhone SE that debuted in 2022. Allegedly, due to its more integrated nature with Apple's iPhone systems, the new modem will be more efficient, consume less power, and provide better support for network connections, despite its slightly downgraded connectivity.Just like other Apple chip components, Sinope will be produced by TSMC, the same company that manufactures the Apple-designed A-series of processors.According to the report, Apple-built modems will start to appear in more products in 2026, including the iPhone 18. iPad Pros are scheduled to feature a third-generation modem by 2027. By that time, Apple's modem is expected to support mmWave and offer even higher download speeds.Gurman also briefly mentioned that Apple is considering merging the modem and the main processor into a single component.With the continuous advancement of processors and capabilities, the iPhone has become a powerful device. It will be fascinating to observe the impact that the modem switch will have on Apple's devices.