Apple is gearing up to launch the iPhone 16 lineup next month, and while we have expectations set for September 10, the company could announce the new products early. It was previously reported that the company is working on its custom modems for future iPhone models but we suspect that it will not arrive with the forthcoming models. However, the new modem will define how the iPhone models will look like in the long run.
Apple's custom modems will redefine how the iPhone will work and look in the long run
Apple has spent billions of dollars in the research and development of its custom modems, but it will take its time to go head-to-head with modems supplied by Qualcomm. This means that the performance of Apple's modems would gradually catch up to the current iterations, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He writes in the new Power On newsletter that the modem transition would be unlike Apple Silicon, as it would not house significant benefits for the end user.
We have recently covered that Apple employees "acknowledge that customers don't really care who makes the modem in their phone" and "it's hard to tell how big the benefits will be in the near term." However, Apple will still go ahead with its plans aiming to bring performance improvements in the long term which will define how the iPhone works and looks.
Down the road, there are plans for Apple to fold its modem design into a new wireless chip that handles Wi-Fi and Bluetooth access. That would create a single connectivity component, potentially improving reliability and battery life.
There's also the possibility that Apple could one day combine all of this into the device's main system on a chip, or SoC. That could further cut costs and save space inside the iPhone, allowing for more design choices.
Gurman's stance on Apple's modems is quite strong, and it makes sense for the company to incorporate everything on a single SoC, as it has done in the past. While initially, it would be posed to some criticism, the technology will improve over time, which will benefit the end user as well as the company in terms of cost.
Currently, modems supplied by Qualcomm are quite expensive for Apple, but it will continue to integrate them before the company can devise its own solution. Apple's modems are facing performance and overheating issues, which has delayed the launch, but based on prior reports, the custom versions will arrive next year with the release of the iPhone SE 4 and the iPhone 17 lineup.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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