Apple is said to be working flat out on a crucial component of the iPhone: the modem. But while recent rumours have suggested that this project hasn’t been going so well, a new report claims that the company is not only working on the 5G modem, but is already turning its attention to 6G and the modem that technology will require.
According to Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, Apple is pushing ahead with work on a modem that will work with current 5G cell towers. At the moment, Apple uses Qualcomm modems, but it wants to make its own – just as it switched to its own silicon for the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac.
Gurman explains why the modem is so important: “Modems are extremely difficult to design and require global testing. They’re also absolutely essential to the operation of a phone”. Well, that’s certainly true.
An Apple-made modem would be attractive because it would “give Apple more control over the technology and potentially offer financial benefits”.
That’s true, but I don’t think cost savings or even greater control would be Apple’s primary concern here. Apple prides itself on making both the hardware and software for all its products to ensure the most seamless, effective performance and user experience.
Gurman points out that while the switch to its own processors in the Mac, for example, saw a huge performance boost compared to the Intel chips it used previously, there wouldn’t be the same step change with a modem. Of course, it would have to be at least as powerful as the modem it was replacing, but it would be unlikely to make as big a difference as its own processors did. Still, it’s not surprising that Apple’s goal is to create its own version.
Perhaps that’s the reason for the focus on the 6G. After all, Apple is known for having a medium- to long-term strategy, not a short-term one. Gurman says a job listing has appeared that says: “As a Cellular Platform Architect, you will drive and coordinate the design and modelling of a 6G reference architecture.
It’s a long way to 6G, though. As Gurman says, don’t get too excited just yet: “The 6G standard is not expected until 2030 at the earliest, and it’s not even clear how much faster it will be than 5G.”
What’s most interesting about this report is the impetus Apple seems to be giving to the development of its own modem. Even if Gurman is right and it doesn’t offer an absolute performance boost over its rivals, you can bet that Apple will make sure its modem works seamlessly with its other components and software. That could make it class leading in its own right. Taking full control of such a key element will surely be a priority for Apple, and even if performance speeds are no greater than those of other brands, it could result in exceptional reliability, which is an equally valuable North Star.
