According to a new report, Apple is in preliminary talks with new suppliers about backend orders for its first proprietary 5G modem chips for iPhones.
DigiTimes according to Apple is in talks with ASE Technology, which includes Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE) and Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL), to supply some of its first self-developed 5G modem chips. The report said that ASE and SPIL have already partnered with Qualcomm to produce 5G modem chips for iPhones, including the latest Snapdragon X65 5G Modem RF System currently manufactured at Samsung Electronics.
Apple is estimated to ship at least 200 million new iPhones in 2023 and will certainly rely on several partners to handle backend processing of its in-house 5G modem chips and RF transceiver ICs, the sources added.
Apple wants to use its own 5G modem chips
Apple has already tapped its main chip manufacturing partner TSMC to produce the bulk of the new modem chips expected to appear in the iPhone in 2023. Apple and TSMC are currently testing production of Apple's own modem designs using TSMC's 5-nanometer process, but will switch to the more advanced 4-nanometer technology for mass production. TSMC is already aiming to use 4-nanometer technology for the main A-series chip in the 2022 iPhone, while the 2022 iPads and 2023 iPhones will switch to 3-nanometer technology for their A-series chips. This move, which has been in development for several years and was boosted by Apple's acquisition of most of Intel's modem business in 2019, will allow Apple to replace Qualcomm as the supplier of the key chips that support cellular connections. (Photo by Your_photo / Bigstockphoto)
