Apple-developed modems for iPhones not likely to arrive until 2025

Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies and the one in charge of building chips for the company’s devices, was fed up with Intel and its slow progress on a modem meant to be used in future iPhones, reports The Information.

This probably had something to do with Apple’s settlement with Qualcomm that includes a six-year agreement for the latter to provide modems for the former’s products. After that date (around 2025), you can expect Apple to make its own modems.

That date is later than some pundits predicted. Many thought we’d see Apple-developed modems within two years. In Intel’s case, the company missed deadlines and had continuing technical issues with its modem tech.

“This would have never happened at Apple under my watch,” Srouji barked at his Intel counterpart, Venkata Renduchintala, during a meeting on Apple’s campus, according to The Information.

It only makes sense that Apple will eventually make its own modems. The tech giant moved its modem chip engineering effort into its in-house hardware technology group from its supply chain unit, two unnamed “people familiar with the move” told Reuters in February. This was seen as a sign that Apple wants to develop a key component of its smartphones after years of buying it from outside suppliers.

And according to the Sellers Research Group (that’s me) by 2025 not only will Apple products sport in-house developed modems, but most, if not all Macs, will pack Apple-made processors.