Apple is developing its custom 5G modems to reduce dependency on Qualcomm. However, no concrete details about when the company will ship the technology are available. Additionally, Apple's main goal for the future is to develop a wide range of in-house technologies, such as micro-LED displays, custom 5G modems, and much more. It is now being speculated that Apple is working on its custom-designed Wi-Fi 7 chips, which could see daylight in 2025 with the iPhone 17 Pro models.
Apple is working on its custom Wi-Fi 7 chips for iPhone 17 Pro, slated to see daylight in 2025
According to Jeff Pu from Haitong International Securities from Hong Kong, Apple is preparing to develop its custom-designed Wi-Fi 7 chips for the iPhone (via MacRumors). The decision to switch could be a potential threat to Broadcom. Broadcom currently supplies Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chips to Apple for the iPhone. According to the report, Apple could house its custom Wi-Fi chips with the launch of the iPhone 17 Pro models in 2025.
Initially, Apple will only ship the iPhone 17 Pro models with custom Wi-Fi 7 chips. In 2026, the company will reportedly expand the technology to its entire iPhone 18 lineup. Apple could end ties with Broadcom for its Wi-Fi chips if the news is hefty. Note that this is not the first time we have heard details on Apple's decision to switch from Broadcom to its custom Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg also coined the same launch time frame for Apple's Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips.
While Gurman suggests that Apple will develop Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo states that only Wi-Fi chips will be part of the transition from Broadcom. Kuo also mentioned that the company has paused its development process for a while, and there is no word on when it will resume work on Wi-Fi 7 chips for the iPhone.
As mentioned earlier, the Apple Silicon transition from Intel-based chips proved to be a step in the right direction. The company would not only have control over the performance aspect of the chips but would also mitigate supply constraints. The company is gradually working to decrease its reliance on various suppliers.
Note that Wi-Fi 7 would require a dedicated router to send and receive data at the highest speeds. It will allow the iPhone 17 Pro to simultaneously use up to 6GHz bands for faster speeds and lower latency with a stronger connection. Wi-Fi 7 will be almost 4 times faster than the current Wi-Fi 6E standard. Apple could use Wi-Fi 7 technology with the iPhone 16 Pro models, but Broadcom will develop the modem.
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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