The recent announcement of Qualcomm entering into an agreement with Apple to supply Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF Systems for iPhone launches in 2024, 2025, and 2026 is significant news in the tech industry. It indicates that Apple will continue to collaborate with Qualcomm for its 5G modem needs, despite its ongoing efforts to develop its own 5G modem chips.
Apple’s use of the Snapdragon X65 4nm modem in the iPhone 14 confirmed its reliance on Qualcomm’s technology for the time being. While Apple has been actively working on developing its own 5G modem chips, this agreement suggests that the transition to Apple’s in-house modem technology might take longer than initially anticipated.
Qualcomm’s sustained leadership in 5G technologies and products is reinforced by this agreement with Apple. The tech industry will be watching closely to see how this collaboration unfolds and whether Apple eventually transitions to using its own modem chips in the future, as it seeks to further control its hardware ecosystem.
