Apple's C1 modem signals the end of its Qualcomm dependence

AppleInsider

Apple has finally introduced its first in-house modem alongside iPhone 16e, the C1, marking a major shift in its hardware strategy.

iPhone 16e

For years, Apple has relied on Qualcomm for iPhone modems, but that relationship has been winding down. The company took a big step toward independence in 2019 when it acquired Intel's smartphone modem business for $1 billion.

That move set the stage for Apple to develop its own 5G modem, cutting out third-party suppliers and ensuring tighter hardware integration. It makes its debut in the iPhone 16e, but it isn't clear if the in-house modem will be ready for Apple's iPhone 17 lineup in the fall.

The long road to an Apple modem

Apple's modem ambitions have been no secret. The company has invested heavily in research, but reports suggested that development hasn't always gone smoothly.

By 2023, Apple was still finalizing its modem supply chain, with companies like ASE Technology and Amkor Technology competing to handle packaging for its custom chips.

Despite that progress, industry insiders speculated that Apple's modem was running behind schedule. Some reports claimed that Apple's in-house design lagged about three years behind Qualcomm's top offerings, raising concerns about performance.

While the C1 is a major step toward full independence, it still has limitations. The current version doesn't support millimeter wave 5G, a high-speed connectivity standard that Qualcomm modems have offered for years.



Read on AppleInsider

9secondkox2

I doubt apple will be pursuing 5g only with this modem. They’ll need for for fallback and likely borrow the tech, leading to some fees paid to due the minefield of 5g patents. 

But 6g… that’s likely what apple is spending their respurces on, possibly being the first to get there and be a big part of setting the standard. 

davebarnes

"But 6g…"
So I will need to get another covid shot to acquire my 6th Bill Gates' microprocessor.

gatorguy

9secondkox2 said:

I doubt apple will be pursuing 5g only with this modem. They’ll need for for fallback and likely borrow the tech, leading to some fees paid to due the minefield of 5g patents. 

But 6g… that’s likely what apple is spending their respurces on, possibly being the first to get there and be a big part of setting the standard. 

I understood that 6G was still 5 years off, minimally. Has the timeline changed? 

EDIT: 3GPP is hoping to finalize the 6G standard by the end of 2028 so that a network can be prepared for 2030 deployment. The standards group also recognized a potential "power grab" by newcomer Apple and has taken steps to neutralize it.

 https://www.lightreading.com/5g/3gpp-moving-to-prevent-power-grab-by-apple-others

edited February 19

avon b7

9secondkox2 said:

I doubt apple will be pursuing 5g only with this modem. They’ll need for for fallback and likely borrow the tech, leading to some fees paid to due the minefield of 5g patents. 

But 6g… that’s likely what apple is spending their respurces on, possibly being the first to get there and be a big part of setting the standard. 

I very much doubt Apple will be first to 6G.

That is on schedule for a 2030 launch but carriers will have to have paid off their 5 and 5.5G investments first. 

If they drag their feet on that, 6G could roll out to industrial private networks first (just as with 5G). Apple does not operate in that business.

Worth noting too that (albeit sketchy) rumours are pointing to Huawei launching a 5.5G capable modem next month. 

danox

gatorguy said:

9secondkox2 said:

I doubt apple will be pursuing 5g only with this modem. They’ll need for for fallback and likely borrow the tech, leading to some fees paid to due the minefield of 5g patents. 

But 6g… that’s likely what apple is spending their respurces on, possibly being the first to get there and be a big part of setting the standard. 

I understood that 6G was still 5 years off, minimally. Has the timeline changed? 

EDIT: 3GPP is hoping to finalize the 6G standard by the end of 2028 so that a network can be prepared for 2030 deployment. The standards group also recognized a potential "power grab" by newcomer Apple and has taken steps to neutralize it.

 https://www.lightreading.com/5g/3gpp-moving-to-prevent-power-grab-by-apple-others

Yes it’s a power grab no different than Apple Silicon being released to replace Intel, long-term if Apple wants to build certain devices the way it needs to (a smaller Apple Vision? You know the one that looks like an actual pair of glasses?) they have to leave Qualcomm the patent troll in the dust, and the troll will be kicking and screaming all the way….

tht

Takes a bit of study here:




5G band n53 is the GlobalStar sat-comm band. No UWB in the iP16e. Apple's cellular modem has about 8 more 5G bands supported than the iP16P. GPS is single band.

The single most important thing about Apple's C1 modem is power efficiency and performance at low signal levels. Hopefully tests will be done.

avon b7

danox said:

gatorguy said:

9secondkox2 said:

I doubt apple will be pursuing 5g only with this modem. They’ll need for for fallback and likely borrow the tech, leading to some fees paid to due the minefield of 5g patents. 

But 6g… that’s likely what apple is spending their respurces on, possibly being the first to get there and be a big part of setting the standard. 

I understood that 6G was still 5 years off, minimally. Has the timeline changed? 

EDIT: 3GPP is hoping to finalize the 6G standard by the end of 2028 so that a network can be prepared for 2030 deployment. The standards group also recognized a potential "power grab" by newcomer Apple and has taken steps to neutralize it.

 https://www.lightreading.com/5g/3gpp-moving-to-prevent-power-grab-by-apple-others

Yes it’s a power grab no different than Apple Silicon being released to replace Intel, long-term if Apple wants to build certain devices the way it needs to (a smaller Apple Vision? You know the one that looks like an actual pair of glasses?) they have to leave Qualcomm the patent troll in the dust, and the troll will be kicking and screaming all the way….

Qualcomm will be getting its patent payments from Apple for a long while to come. Same as Huawei, Samsung etc. 

danox

avon b7 said:

danox said:

gatorguy said:

9secondkox2 said:

I doubt apple will be pursuing 5g only with this modem. They’ll need for for fallback and likely borrow the tech, leading to some fees paid to due the minefield of 5g patents. 

But 6g… that’s likely what apple is spending their respurces on, possibly being the first to get there and be a big part of setting the standard. 

I understood that 6G was still 5 years off, minimally. Has the timeline changed? 

EDIT: 3GPP is hoping to finalize the 6G standard by the end of 2028 so that a network can be prepared for 2030 deployment. The standards group also recognized a potential "power grab" by newcomer Apple and has taken steps to neutralize it.

 https://www.lightreading.com/5g/3gpp-moving-to-prevent-power-grab-by-apple-others

Yes it’s a power grab no different than Apple Silicon being released to replace Intel, long-term if Apple wants to build certain devices the way it needs to (a smaller Apple Vision? You know the one that looks like an actual pair of glasses?) they have to leave Qualcomm the patent troll in the dust, and the troll will be kicking and screaming all the way….

Qualcomm will be getting its patent payments from Apple for a long while to come. Same as Huawei, Samsung etc. 

Apple is Five-Six years in? It took thirteen years to get rid of Intel with Apple Silicon, is it a Western problem with playing the long game? Seems to be….

edited February 19

avon b7

danox said:

avon b7 said:

danox said:

gatorguy said:

9secondkox2 said:

I doubt apple will be pursuing 5g only with this modem. They’ll need for for fallback and likely borrow the tech, leading to some fees paid to due the minefield of 5g patents. 

But 6g… that’s likely what apple is spending their respurces on, possibly being the first to get there and be a big part of setting the standard. 

I understood that 6G was still 5 years off, minimally. Has the timeline changed? 

EDIT: 3GPP is hoping to finalize the 6G standard by the end of 2028 so that a network can be prepared for 2030 deployment. The standards group also recognized a potential "power grab" by newcomer Apple and has taken steps to neutralize it.

 https://www.lightreading.com/5g/3gpp-moving-to-prevent-power-grab-by-apple-others

Yes it’s a power grab no different than Apple Silicon being released to replace Intel, long-term if Apple wants to build certain devices the way it needs to (a smaller Apple Vision? You know the one that looks like an actual pair of glasses?) they have to leave Qualcomm the patent troll in the dust, and the troll will be kicking and screaming all the way….

Qualcomm will be getting its patent payments from Apple for a long while to come. Same as Huawei, Samsung etc. 

Apple is Five-Six years in? It took thirteen years to get rid of Intel with Apple Silicon, is it a Western problem with playing the long game? Seems to be….

Others were starting 5G development in 2009.

Apple wasn't on the cellular/modem map when everything was cooking and, more importantly, it had absolutely no plans to be either. It wasn't in the game (long or short). 

That was an Intel role. It was only when Intel failed to deliver and 5G modems were already shipping that Apple had its 'Yikes!' moment and had to publicly kiss and make up with Qualcomm. 

By acquiring the Intel division (its only way forward save for sticking with Qualcomm) it multiplied its cellular patent portfolio but is still far behind others. 

Every iPhone sold with a 5G modem (no matter who makes it) earns Huawei $2.5 from Apple. Apple also pays Huawei $0.50 for every handset with Wi-Fi 6.

Qualcomm also gets its royalties from Apple but I don't know their pricing structure.

mattinoz

Will be interesting if Apple drops the cellular /non cellular on iPads and adds cellular by default to other MacBooks by default using these chips then effectively use higher end modems as the cellular upsell for “pro” models..

danox

mattinoz said:

Will be interesting if Apple drops the cellular /non cellular on iPads and adds cellular by default to other MacBooks by default using these chips then effectively use higher end modems as the cellular upsell for “pro” models..

They almost certainly will once they get clear of Qualcomm It will allow Apple to build better devices in the future, It’s no different than Apple pushing Thunderbolt five, 5K,6K monitors or Tandem OLED. The patent troll like Intel is in the way.

danox

avon b7 said:

danox said:

avon b7 said:

danox said:

gatorguy said:

9secondkox2 said:

I doubt apple will be pursuing 5g only with this modem. They’ll need for for fallback and likely borrow the tech, leading to some fees paid to due the minefield of 5g patents. 

But 6g… that’s likely what apple is spending their respurces on, possibly being the first to get there and be a big part of setting the standard. 

I understood that 6G was still 5 years off, minimally. Has the timeline changed? 

EDIT: 3GPP is hoping to finalize the 6G standard by the end of 2028 so that a network can be prepared for 2030 deployment. The standards group also recognized a potential "power grab" by newcomer Apple and has taken steps to neutralize it.

 https://www.lightreading.com/5g/3gpp-moving-to-prevent-power-grab-by-apple-others

Yes it’s a power grab no different than Apple Silicon being released to replace Intel, long-term if Apple wants to build certain devices the way it needs to (a smaller Apple Vision? You know the one that looks like an actual pair of glasses?) they have to leave Qualcomm the patent troll in the dust, and the troll will be kicking and screaming all the way….

Qualcomm will be getting its patent payments from Apple for a long while to come. Same as Huawei, Samsung etc. 

Apple is Five-Six years in? It took thirteen years to get rid of Intel with Apple Silicon, is it a Western problem with playing the long game? Seems to be….

Others were starting 5G development in 2009.

Apple wasn't on the cellular/modem map when everything was cooking and, more importantly, it had absolutely no plans to be either. It wasn't in the game (long or short). 

That was an Intel role. It was only when Intel failed to deliver and 5G modems were already shipping that Apple had its 'Yikes!' moment and had to publicly kiss and make up with Qualcomm. 

By acquiring the Intel division (its only way forward save for sticking with Qualcomm) it multiplied its cellular patent portfolio but is still far behind others. 

Every iPhone sold with a 5G modem (no matter who makes it) earns Huawei $2.5 from Apple. Apple also pays Huawei $0.50 for every handset with Wi-Fi 6.

Qualcomm also gets its royalties from Apple but I don't know their pricing structure.

In the end, Apple wants to build devices that move ahead of the competition, Nvidia, Intel, and Qualcomm are in the way, if you don’t want to be (end up like) IBM, Intel, Motorola of Schaumburg, Illinois, Kodak or Xerox you have to roll up your sleeves and get busy. That’s what ASML had to do many years ago.