Apple has been finessing it’s smartphone design, with every new iteration bringing something new to the market. Yes, the last few versions of the iPhone seem like minor upgrades, but one cannot deny the attention to detail that Apple puts into the exterior as well as the interior of it’s smartphones. Now, when it comes to chipsets, Apple always relied on it’s in-house mobile processors to power their smartphones, but there are still few components they derive from other brands, the most prominent being its 5G modem, which is currently supplied by Qualcomm.
There have been several leaks from reputable tipsters that Apple has put in place a multi-million dollar project to make it’s own 5G modem, but the project has been seeing delays, with the launch set for as late as 2026. The delays can be attributed to various factors, but in way, it will give the engineers to finesse the final product and the modem can hit the ground running, much like Apple’s M series of computer processors.
Now, the delay in the modem project aligns with the release date of the potential iPhone 18, which means we will have to wait at least 2 more iPhone generations to see Apple replacing the Qualcomm modem with their own. The modem project began way back in 2019, when Apple acquired Intel’s modem business for a whopping $1 billion. While the company was optimistic at first, it looks like the project is not as straightforward as they first anticipated.
Now, Apple has extended the contract with Qualcomm to 2026, which means, they have bought themselves some time. Will they hit the target time, or will the modem see another delay? Only time will tell.
