Rumor manufacturing plant: With the introduction of Apple tree'southward M1 SoC, Intel-based Macs volition shortly exist a thing of the past. Rumors have it that Qualcomm is next on the chopping block where Apple suppliers are concerned. Apple tree has been working on a new custom-designed 5G modem flake that should exist set up in a couple of years.

According to noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple tree volition shortly install its ain 5G modems in iPhones. Currently, the company uses 5G baseband fries from Qualcomm in its flagship line. That should not modify until its baseband silicon is ready, which could be in 2023 "at the earliest," Kuo said in an investor'south note seen past MacRumors.

In one case Apple ditches Qualcomm modems, Kuo says it will take to enter the mid- to low-end markets to recoup for the lost Apple orders.

"We predict that the ‌iPhone‌ volition adopt Apple tree'south own design 5G baseband chips in 2023 at the earliest. As Android sales in the high-terminate 5G phone market are sluggish, Qualcomm will exist forced to compete for more orders in the low-stop marketplace to compensate for Apple's club loss. When the supply constraints better, MediaTek and Qualcomm volition have less bargaining power over brands, resulting in significantly higher competitive pressure in the mid- to low-stop market place."

The shift should non come as a surprise. Apple dumped Intel modems in 2022, essentially putting Intel's cellular modem division out of business. Apple later on snatched up the failing arm for $i billion. Additionally, MacRumors notes that Barclay analysts had predicted dorsum in March that Apple would shift to its own modems by 2023.

Kuo expects Apple'southward modems to have faster speeds and improved latency, among other things, when compared with electric current Qualcomm or past Intel offerings. This assumption is not a stretch since Apple purchased all of Intel'south 5G avails and retained most of its talent in the Intel modem takeover. Information technology should not be hard for Apple tree to continue upwardly with the competition.

Equally rumors go, this one is likely pretty solid, but keep in heed that Apple has not officially confirmed new in-house modem silicon.

Paradigm credit: Daniel Constante