Apple is likely to switch to in-house custom-designed chips for its phones before using the new 5G modem from Qualcomm.
The world's first 5G artificial intelligence processor integrated in a 5G Modem- RF System is supposed to increase the average download and uplink speeds on the sub 6 GHz band. From the company's press release.
Snapdragon X70 inherits the unrivaled 10 Gigabit 5G peak download speed of its predecessor and packs in new, advanced capabilities such as Qualcomm 5G AI Suite, Qualcomm 5G Ultra-Low Latency Suite and 4X carrier aggregation to achieve unmatched 5G speeds, coverage, signal quality and low latency. The Qualcomm 5G Ultra-Low Latency Suite in Snapdragon X70 allows OEMs and operators to minimize latency for hyper-responsive 5G user experiences and applications.
"Our 5th generation modem-RF system extends our global 5G leadership and the introduction of native 5G AI processing creates a platform and inflection point for performance-enhancing innovations," said Durga Malladi, senior vice president and general manager, 5G, Mobile Broadband and Infrastructure, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "Snapdragon X70 is an example of how we're realizing the full potential of 5G and making an intelligently connected world possible."
The company says that the X70 can reach up to 10Gbps downlink speed and a peak 3.5Gbps upload speed, but it is up to 60% more power efficient due to its 5G PowerSave Gen 3 technology. The modem has support for global 5G and dual-sim.
The X70 modem is expected to launch in 5G devices by the end of the year, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be in the next iPhone.
According to the settlement filing, Apple has committed to using X65 and X70 in products launched between June 1, 2022, and May 31, 2024, which would suggest the X65 will be used in the product.
It is not clear where the X70 fits in, as other reports suggest that Apple will have its own custom-designed 5G modem ready for use in 2023 iPhone models. It is possible that Apple will use its own chips in most regions, and that it will rely on Qualcomm for X70 chips in certain areas. Apple will use its own custom-designed cellular modem when its agreement with Qualcomm ends.
In the first half of the year, there were rumors that Apple was going to design a modem in-house, and in the second half of the year, Apple bought the majority of Intel's modem business. Apple took over Intel's modem-related intellectual property and hired 2,200 Intel employees, and it has already lined up its main chip manufacturing partner TSMC to begin producing the majority of its new in-house modem chips.
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