Apple to Start Making Own 5G Modems in 2025

Apple plans to equip iPhones with an in-house 5G modem by 2025 and begin using its own Wi-Fi silicon shortly after. The company, however, will remain reliant on Qualcomm to cover some frequencies in the near term.

The company's 5G modem will likely debut in the iPhone SE early in 2025, with the vendor then targeting use in its next flagship model in the back half. A Wi-Fi chip could debut in iPads in 2025, though the news outlet added Apple may opt to hold this for its high-end iPhone models unveiled in 2026.

Apple added 12 months to a 5G modem deal with Qualcomm earlier this year, which would give it until 2027 to perfect its own product. The company is reportedly been working on its own modem since 2020. It spent $1 billion to acquire the majority of Intel’s smartphone modem business in 2019.