Qualcomm unveils 2-gigabit LTE modem amid rumors Apple's iPhone going Intel-only
Qualcomm on Wednesday revealed the Snapdragon X24, its latest LTE modem for mobile devices, with peak download speeds hitting 2 gigabits per second -- though Apple may choose to forego the technology in its next iPhones.
The chip is the first Category 20 LTE modem to reach 2 gigabits, and the first to be made using a 7-nanometer process, Qualcomm claimed. Under ideal conditions it would be twice as fast as the company's previous gigabit modem.
In practice the X24 is unlikely to hit those speeds, at least in the U.S. While it supports seven carrier aggregation, no domestic network has gone beyond three carrier aggregation so far.
The first devices with the chip should launch towards the end of 2018, which would be in time for Apple's next iPhones -- including a 6.1-inch LCD model, and two OLED products sized at 5.8 and 6.5 inches.
Intel is already supplying some iPhone modems however, and it's rumored that Apple could cut Qualcomm out of the loop, given ongoing global legal battles over patents and royalties. In any case there's a chance Apple will diversify its modem suppliers with the addition of MediaTek.
The chip is the first Category 20 LTE modem to reach 2 gigabits, and the first to be made using a 7-nanometer process, Qualcomm claimed. Under ideal conditions it would be twice as fast as the company's previous gigabit modem.
In practice the X24 is unlikely to hit those speeds, at least in the U.S. While it supports seven carrier aggregation, no domestic network has gone beyond three carrier aggregation so far.
The first devices with the chip should launch towards the end of 2018, which would be in time for Apple's next iPhones -- including a 6.1-inch LCD model, and two OLED products sized at 5.8 and 6.5 inches.
Intel is already supplying some iPhone modems however, and it's rumored that Apple could cut Qualcomm out of the loop, given ongoing global legal battles over patents and royalties. In any case there's a chance Apple will diversify its modem suppliers with the addition of MediaTek.
Comments
No. If the chip launched at the end of 2018, the chips would only be available for the 2019 phones, not the "next iPhones".
Is there something non-obvious about a 2 gigabits per second modem that would show immediate benefit when that chip becomes available?
i seriously do not care about useless speed improvements.
BTW: @wood1208 it's 2Gbps as in bits not bytes, a big difference in the amount of data being moved.
--
Just used Speedtest over Verizon LTE on my iPhone 8 Plus, 4 bars, not in a large city. Surprised I got 59.6 down and 47.2 up. We might have one tower in the area and it's actually as fast as the Comcast connection currently running in this house. When I had 250Mbps Blast Pro! I would easily get the 250 down but only about 13 up. Of course it's early in the morning so the cellular network isn't being hammered.
https://venturebeat.com/2018/02/14/qualcomm-previews-5g-enabled-cars-industrial-iot-and-spectrum-sharing-technologies/
People need to stop saying its GB when it is in fact Gb there is 8X difference in B and b, 2Gbits is actually 250Mbytes, this is also peek not sustained.
This is nothing new for Apple why put in an expensive chip when mass majority of consumers can never put it to use and it just drives up the cost to the phone or lowers Apples margin for something with no value.
Who cares that networks in plave by then wont even operate at anywhere near those speeds.
The sooner QC gets sued into oblivion, the better. What a corrupt company. If I were in a position to hire execs, anyone from QC would head straight to the trash bin.
I think Apple will likely focus on overall Energy efficiency in LTE. There is a lot of unneeded silicon for something 99% of us wont be using.
Right now I really wish Apple improves their Antenna design in iPhone. Because it is severely lacking behind its competitors, namely Samsung.
Edit:
In the old days, Apple will always get the best modem it could get, ( Which is actually one generation behind because of capacity problem ) not only does it sell, it also have great impact to user experience, and it is one way to push carrier to continuously spend and upgrade their network. iPhone users tends to have much higher ARPU, and are more demanding. We have now reached a stage where Apple no longer need to handhold these carrier for their upgrade. Apple now has iPhones that support LTE features carriers will need time to catch up in their infrastructure.