Apple's longtime chip manufacturing partner TSMC will begin producing Apple's first proprietary 5G modem chips for the iPhone in 2023, according to a new report.
Apple wants to rely more on its own components in the future. For this reason, future iPhones will use a 5G modem designed by Apple itself. This step, which has been in the works for several years and is being reinforced by Apple's acquisition of the majority of Intel's modem business in 2019, is intended to enable Apple to replace Qualcomm as the supplier of the important chips that support cellular connections. writes Nikkei Asia:
Apple plans to adopt TSMC's 4-nanometer chip production technology to mass-produce its first in-house 5G modem chip, according to four people familiar with the matter. Two people familiar with the matter said Apple is also working on its own chip for the modem's power management.
The report is consistent with previous rumors that Apple will launch its own modem as part of the 2023 iPhone lineup.
Qualcomm also believes in iPhone 2023 with Apple's own 5G modem
Qualcomm already stated last week that the company's planning assumes that it will only have a 20% share of modem production for the 2023 iPhone. In addition, the semiconductor producer assumes that Apple will use its own modem solution in most regions of the world, but will continue to rely on Qualcomm in certain markets, at least initially. Today's report from Nikkei states that Apple and TSMC are currently testing production of Apple's own modem designs using TSMC's 5-nanometer process, but they will switch to the more advanced 4-nanometer technology for mass production. TSMC already intends 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 the A-series chips. (Photo by Mvelishchuk / Bigstockphoto)
