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The large image: Apple debuted the iPhone 16e earlier this week, that includes the corporate’s first in-house 5G modem. Cupertino will not probably use it within the upcoming iPhone 17 lineup, however the firm reportedly has a brand new in-house Wi-Fi chip deliberate for its next-gen flagship.
Famous Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple has developed an in-house Wi-Fi chipset to debut within the iPhone 17. He additionally confirmed that the not too long ago unveiled C1 5G modem, featured within the iPhone 16e, will not seem within the iPhone 17 flagships. Nonetheless, it can deal with mobile connectivity within the iPhone 17 Air, whereas the remainder of the lineup sticks with Qualcomm modules.
This leak shouldn’t be the primary we have heard concerning the iPhone 17 delivery with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi chip. Final October, Kuo predicted that no less than one of many 4 iPhone 17 fashions would come with the brand new chip and that it will help the Wi-Fi 7 normal.
Following Qualcomm, Broadcom’s Wi-Fi chips can even get replaced by Apple’s in-house chips at a quicker tempo. My newest trade survey signifies that each one new 2H25 iPhone 17 fashions will characteristic Apple’s in-house Wi-Fi chips (vs. solely the slim iPhone 17 will undertake Apple’s C1 modem…
– 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) February 20, 2025
Final yr, Jeff Pu, an analyst acquainted with Apple’s provide chain, predicted that Apple would debut an in-house Wi-Fi module in 2025. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that solely the iPhone 17 Professional fashions would characteristic the brand new silicon, with the non-Professional variants retaining the Broadcom chips present in different Apple merchandise.
Apple at present makes use of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips from Broadcom in all its iPhones, iPads, and Macs. Nonetheless, the corporate has been growing new Wi-Fi modules to additional its plan to turn out to be fully silicon-independent. Apple’s general purpose is to save cash whereas facilitating higher {hardware} and software program integration.
Cupertino engineers have pushed for tighter integration between units for years, and its consumer base enjoys how seamlessly every thing works collectively. Whereas there are nonetheless some hiccups in its ecosystem – particularly the place connectivity is worried – designing elements particularly for its units helps clean out these obstacles.
Apple stopped utilizing third-party chipmaker Qualcomm’s cell SoCs in iPhones and iPads over a decade in the past. The corporate has additionally transitioned its whole Mac lineup from Intel’s x86 processors to in-house Arm-based silicon. Now, Apple is growing wi-fi connectivity chips to make sure each part it makes use of is Apple-designed. Its plans are virtually full.
