42 MACWORLD JANUARY 2022
iOSCENTRAL APPLE’S 5G MODEMThe current modem in the iPhone 13,
Qualcomm’s X60, is built on a 5nm
process. The report says production for
new modem will begin in 2023.
According to the report, Apple is
building the modem from the ground up
with its own radio frequency and millimeter
wave components as well as a custom
power management chip. However, the
first iteration might not be integrated into
the processor. DigiTimes reported last
week that Apple’s first 5G modem would
be separate from the A17 (fave.
co/3ptFPwe), and Nikkei Asia seemingly
confirms that by saying the 2023 modem
would “pave the way” to integrate the
modem with the processor, suggesting
that the first model will be separate.
A 5G modem built into the iPhone
processor would be the first time Apple
has delivered an integrated module. The
X60 modem is integrated in Qualcomm’s
Snapdragon 888 processor (fave.
co/3IlfcSJ) on high-end Android phones,
but Apple uses it separately from the A15
processor in the iPhone 13. An integrated
modem would provide power efficiency
and space-saving benefits.
Apple signed a “multiyear chipset
supply agreement” when it settled its
lawsuit with
Qualcomm (fave.
co/31AUld3) in 2019,
which is primarily
the 5G modem in
the iPhone and
iPad. However,
Qualcomm
announced at its
earnings that it will
only supply 20
percent of iPhone
modems (fave.
co/3IohoZK) by
2023, suggesting
that Apple is
indeed on track to
deliver its own
model by then. ■Apple uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 processor separately
from the A15 processor in the iPhone 13.