Apple reportedly switching to its own 5G modems for iPhones in 2023
Apple is
reportedly planning to partner with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. for
the production of its own 5G modems for future iPhones.
According to The Verge, Apple is said to be
planning to use TSMC's 4nm process node, which hasn't yet been deployed for any
commercial product; the modem is apparently being designed and tested at 5nm
before moving to mass production in 2023 at 4nm.
Apple's switch to modems of its own design is widely expected to
happen in 2023, and TSMC is the natural manufacturing partner.
Qualcomm, which is the dominant player in the industry and
produces modem components for the entire iPhone 13 lineup,
recently said that it expects to account for just 20 per cent of iPhone modem orders
in two years' time.
Apple bought
Intel's 5G modem division in 2019, foreshadowing the eventual switch. Earlier
that year Qualcomm and Apple agreed to end a costly modem technology patent
dispute, with Qualcomm receiving more than USD 4 billion as part of the
settlement.
TSMC is the manufacturer of all iPhone A-series processors
and M1 systems-on-chip for Mac computers.
As per The Verge, there are hundreds of TSMC engineers based in
Cupertino to work with Apple's chip development team.
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