Qualcomm hints 5G iPhone coming in 2020, analysts say
Qualcomm issued rosy predictions for the wider 5G market on Wednesday, saying it expects some 200 million smartphones will rely on the speedy wireless technology in 2020. Analysts reading into the statement believe the chipmaker is dropping a hint about Apple's iPhone.
During an investor conference call following Qualcomm's earnings reveal, CFO Akash Palkhiwala said 2020 will hold "two inflection points" for 5G chips, reports Reuters.
The first major development for 5G will be the spring launch of handsets from the likes of Samsung and miscellaneous Chinese manufacturers, firms known to have existing contracts and licensing deals with Qualcomm. A second inflection point while arrive "in the fall time frame when another set of flagship devices will adopt 5G," Palkhiwala said.
While the executive failed to name the flagship devices in question, analysts are guessing the market estimate includes iPhone. As noted in the report, Apple and Google typically introduce new smartphones in fall in lockstep with an annual release cycle. Apple, for example, has for the past seven years unveiled a new iPhone every September.
Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon and Summit Insights Group analyst Kinngai Chan both expect Apple to integrate 5G hardware in iPhone next year. Rasgon noted the chipmaker's 200 million unit estimate was not "hugely surprising" as it likely accounts for Apple orders, the report said.
Further, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf in an interview said his company has been tapped to provide 5G silicon to 230 device designs. That figure is up dramatically from 150 devices last quarter.
"We're continuing to see strength in the licensing business, particularly after we've added in the deal we signed this year with Apple, and we're on the front end of the 5G transition, which will impact our product business," Mollenkopf said. "We're closer to that and we're really seeing the signs that we should be confident."
After using Intel modems to power its iPhone and iPad lines for two years, Apple is widely expected to return to former baseband chip supplier Qualcomm in 2020.
Apple and Qualcomm in April settled a worldwide legal fight over licensing and alleged anticompetitive practices. With 5G on the horizon, industry watchers anticipate Apple to leverage the new arrangement, which involves a six-year licensing and supply deal, to build the next-generation wireless tech into its portables as early as next year.
Looking ahead, Apple is rumored to be working on its own 5G modem for iPhone by 2022, with an eye on integration in its A-series system-on-chip designs by 2023. Intel's now-defunct smartphone modem arm, which Apple purchased in July for an estimated $1 billion, will likely play a key role in the project.
During an investor conference call following Qualcomm's earnings reveal, CFO Akash Palkhiwala said 2020 will hold "two inflection points" for 5G chips, reports Reuters.
The first major development for 5G will be the spring launch of handsets from the likes of Samsung and miscellaneous Chinese manufacturers, firms known to have existing contracts and licensing deals with Qualcomm. A second inflection point while arrive "in the fall time frame when another set of flagship devices will adopt 5G," Palkhiwala said.
While the executive failed to name the flagship devices in question, analysts are guessing the market estimate includes iPhone. As noted in the report, Apple and Google typically introduce new smartphones in fall in lockstep with an annual release cycle. Apple, for example, has for the past seven years unveiled a new iPhone every September.
Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon and Summit Insights Group analyst Kinngai Chan both expect Apple to integrate 5G hardware in iPhone next year. Rasgon noted the chipmaker's 200 million unit estimate was not "hugely surprising" as it likely accounts for Apple orders, the report said.
Further, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf in an interview said his company has been tapped to provide 5G silicon to 230 device designs. That figure is up dramatically from 150 devices last quarter.
"We're continuing to see strength in the licensing business, particularly after we've added in the deal we signed this year with Apple, and we're on the front end of the 5G transition, which will impact our product business," Mollenkopf said. "We're closer to that and we're really seeing the signs that we should be confident."
After using Intel modems to power its iPhone and iPad lines for two years, Apple is widely expected to return to former baseband chip supplier Qualcomm in 2020.
Apple and Qualcomm in April settled a worldwide legal fight over licensing and alleged anticompetitive practices. With 5G on the horizon, industry watchers anticipate Apple to leverage the new arrangement, which involves a six-year licensing and supply deal, to build the next-generation wireless tech into its portables as early as next year.
Looking ahead, Apple is rumored to be working on its own 5G modem for iPhone by 2022, with an eye on integration in its A-series system-on-chip designs by 2023. Intel's now-defunct smartphone modem arm, which Apple purchased in July for an estimated $1 billion, will likely play a key role in the project.
Comments
I also think that there was zero need for Apple to have made the move this year, and it would have been dumb as a matter of fact, because the whole 5G situation is still premature.
And yes, I wouldn't be surprised if 5G comes to iPhone in 2020, that's not a huge stretch to believe.
I think that 5G will be on the next premium iPhones and I think that the SE 2 will not have it. I have no basis whatsoever for claiming that, I am just guessing and pulling things out of my butt, but I have faith in my butt pulls, because historically speaking, I am no less wrong than the vast majority of analysts, and sometimes much more correct.
China is not the most important market in the world for Apple. It's not even the second most important market.
There's also a bit of politics involved as many countries, and I don't just mean the USA , are wary of Huawei and the Chinese Govt, and then there's the ongoing trade dispute still taking place.
5G is still in its infancy in terms of adoption, and there's still plenty to happen.
next year it will be coupled to a new design with flaws and nearly theres, this will refine over 3 years (as the 2 year S cycle is done with) until the 2022 iPhone, which will be like the 11Pro is now, a total monster with everything tuned to perfection.
by then 5G will be rolled out, prices for access will have normalised, it will have had improvements in range etc, Apple will have it integrated instead of it wasting space and power with some shitty Qualcomm clunker: and I won’t have to begrudgingly see too much of my money go to Qualcomm.
either that or they are worried about what having a mm wave grid covering our cities in density will mean. there is a lot of FUD about that, which seems in my mind to distract from what such a network might do and might be worth being concerned about.
shrug
This isn’t like moving from 3G to LTE. LTE speeds satisfy 99.9% of users needs, as it brings mobile internet more inline with home broadband. There is currently nothing available where 5G has real benefit for the vast majority of users.
If you remember, when Apple and QC were embroiled in their lawsuits last year, people were forecasting doom and gloom because ‘5G is coming in 2019!’ and Apple was going to totally miss the market. Well, here we are a year later, 5G rollouts are creeping along with only token coverage in a handful of cities in the U.S. and the world is just find.
i wonder if we might see battery life regression next year.