Apple Revealed Qualcomm’s 5G Modem Roadmap

Apple just released its first 5G iPhones in the iPhone 12 series, and they appear to be powered by Qualcomm’s X55 modem that is seen on Android flagships as well. This is not unexpected, given that Apple signed a deal to use Qualcomm chips in the first place.

The unexpected is that documents from a year ago related to the Apple and Qualcomm legal settlement may have given us a glimpse of the US chipmaker’s 5G modem roadmap. The old documents – unearthed by a Twitter user @dnywlsh Y MacRumors – show that Apple intended to use Qualcomm 5G modems until 2024. See a screenshot of the relevant excerpt below.

More specifically, Apple stated its intentions to use the X55 modem for devices released between June 2020 and May 2021, the X60 modem between June 2021 and May 2022, and the X65 and X70 modems between June 2022 and May 2024. .

Qualcomm’s X55 has been available on Android phones since 2019. Meanwhile, the X60 was announced earlier this year and is expected to accompany the flagship Snapdragon 875 processor that will power many high-end Android phones in 2021.

This is the first time we’ve heard of the X65 and X70 modems though, though the names are pretty much all we know at this point. In saying so, we would expect better power consumption, faster 5G speeds, and greater integration with Qualcomm’s RF components.

The timeline revealed could also give us a glimpse of Apple’s internal 5G modem plans, and it looks like it’s expected to rely on Qualcomm for quite some time. Apple acquired Intel’s modem business in 2019, ostensibly to build its own 5G modems internally and separate itself from the American chipmaker. But this roadmap suggests that Apple expects a long gestation period for its first 5G modems. Of course, Apple may have made rapid progress since these documents were released last year, but we’ll have to wait and see for now.

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