Gurman: Future Apple modems likely to be integrated with main chipset

In the latest Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman reports that Apple plans on integrating future modems within the main chipset of the device. This means that, in the future, there won’t be both an A18 chipset alongside a separate C1 modem, instead they’ll all be one. This development will take a few years, though.

In the announcement for the new iPhone 16e, the new C1 modem went a little under the radar. It was Apple’s first in-house 5G modem, part of a larger plan to eventually displace Qualcomm modems from the iPhone. This first generation modem is only available in the iPhone 16e, and likely won’t be part of the whole iPhone lineup.

Future modem plans

Gurman outlines that we’ll see the C2 modem next year in “higher-end iPhones”, and then the following C3 will ideally outperform Qualcomm modems altogether. Right now, the C1 is still a regression in some regards, although its power efficiency has enabled the new iPhone 16e to have the best battery life in a 6.1-inch iPhone.

After they’re done outpacing Qualcomm, Apple aims to integrate their modems inside of the main chipset of the device. According to Gurman, this is better for cost and efficiency. However, this development will take at least three years. Gurman says 2028 at the earliest.

This development leaves me asking one question: If the modem is integrated, will Apple make a separate version of the chipset without a modem? On the iPad and Apple Watch, cellular is a separate $50-150 upgrade depending on the model.

It’d be really cool if Apple’s in house modems enabled cellular capabilities on all devices by default, but only time will tell.

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