iPad & iPhone User - USA (2020-03)

FEATURE

the next-generation networks’ tremendous speeds,

Qualcomm’s new modem isn’t built for phones like

the Samsung Galaxy S20 that are already on board

with 5G, it’s made for the one that isn’t: the iPhone.

Let’s get the technical stuff out of the way first. The

X60 is the first ‘to support spectrum aggregation across

all key 5G bands and combinations’. That means X60

phones will be more future-proof than today’s X55

ones, supporting mmWave and sub-6 using frequency

division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD) at

a wider range of deployment. Plus, it can deliver up to

7.5Gb/s download speeds and 3Gb/s upload speeds, far

greater than even the theoretical capabilities of the

current 5G networks being built.

But while benefits like carrier aggregation and

voice-over-NR are certainly important, the greatest

improvement the X60 modem offers is in its size.

Qualcomm’s new modem is the first to be built using a

5nm process, allowing for higher efficiency on a smaller

footprint. That’s a big leap from the 7nm X50 and

X55, and it’s unlikely anyone will be able to catch up

anytime soon, including Apple. And that’s precisely the

message Qualcomm wants to send.

Size over speed

It’s no secret that Apple will be climbing on board the

5G train with the upcoming iPhone 12, but what isn’t

so certain is which modem it will be using. Apple and

Qualcomm have entered into a multi-year agreement to

supply chips for the iPhone, which everyone assumes

will include a 5G modem, especially since Qualcomm

is basically the only game in town.

FEATURE

thenext-generationnetworks’tremendousspeeds,

Qualcomm’snewmodemisn’tbuiltforphoneslike

the SamsungGalaxyS20thatarealreadyonboard

with 5G,it’smadefortheonethatisn’t:theiPhone.

Let’sgetthetechnicalstuffoutofthewayfirst.The

X60isthefirst‘tosupportspectrumaggregationacross

allkey5Gbandsandcombinations’.ThatmeansX60

phoneswillbemorefuture-proofthantoday’sX55

ones,supportingmmWaveandsub-6usingfrequency

divisionduplex(FDD)andtimedivisionduplex(TDD)at

awiderrangeofdeployment.Plus,itcandeliverupto

7.5Gb/sdownloadspeedsand3Gb/suploadspeeds,far

greaterthaneventhetheoreticalcapabilitiesofthe

current5Gnetworksbeingbuilt.

Butwhilebenefitslikecarrieraggregationand

voice-over-NRarecertainlyimportant,thegreatest

improvementtheX60modemoffersisinitssize.

Qualcomm’snewmodemisthefirsttobebuiltusinga

5nmprocess,allowingforhigherefficiencyonasmaller

footprint.That’sabigleapfromthe7nmX50and

X55,andit’sunlikelyanyonewillbeabletocatchup

anytimesoon,includingApple.Andthat’spreciselythe

messageQualcommwantstosend.

Sizeoverspeed

It’snosecretthatApplewillbeclimbingonboardthe

5GtrainwiththeupcomingiPhone12,butwhatisn’t

socertainiswhichmodemitwillbeusing.Appleand

Qualcommhaveenteredintoamulti-yearagreementto

supplychipsfortheiPhone,whicheveryoneassumes

willincludea5Gmodem,especiallysinceQualcomm

is basicallytheonlygameintown.