Apple’s first in-house developed modem is expected to launch by the end of this year, and it may also be featured in some low-end iPads as early as 2025. The highly anticipated Sinope modem has taken over five years to develop, according to sources familiar with the project, reports Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman today.
The upcoming iPhone SE is expected to feature enhanced support for Apple’s AI capabilities, as well as a sleek “edge-to-edge display design”. Apple’s in-house developed modem isn’t quite on par with the latest Qualcomm offerings, which it currently employs.
The Apple modem does not support mmWave 5G; instead, it only facilitates Sub-6 connectivity. While it currently supports just four-carrier aggregation, the latest Qualcomm modems accommodate six or more. Despite Apple’s efforts, its modem in lab tests reaches a maximum speed of approximately 4Gbps, a figure that falls short of what even Qualcomm’s non-millimeter wave modems are capable of achieving. Actual world speeds will undoubtedly fall far short of reaching such figures.
While Apple’s latest modem may not measure up to Qualcomm’s flagship product, its plain advantage lies in avoiding payment to Qualcomm for this iteration. The Apple modem is seamlessly integrated with Apple-designed foundational processors, allowing it to consume less power, search for cellular service more efficiently, and provide enhanced on-device capabilities for connecting to satellite networks.
The device will also feature support for Twin Sim Twin Standby, with intelligent management of its SAR limits ensured by the primary chip. TSMC manufactures the Apple modem. Apple’s forthcoming modem is poised to seamlessly connect devices to cellular networks via its proprietary radio frequency front-end technology, dubbed Carpo.
By 2026, Apple is expected to significantly narrow the gap with Qualcomm’s industry-leading modems through the development of its second-generation modem technology. Will seamlessly integrate with the latest iPhone models by 2028, and is poised to become a flagship feature on top-of-the-line iPads in the following year. This modem supports mmWave-assisted connectivity, combining the strengths of both Sub-6 and millimeter wave technologies with advanced features like six-carrier aggregation on Sub-6 and eight-carrier aggregation specifically designed for high-bandwidth mmWave applications.
By 2027, Apple anticipates the arrival of its third major technological advancement, which it hopes will finally surpass Qualcomm’s offerings by integrating native support for “next-generation satellite TV networks,” regardless of their specifications, as well as “artificial intelligence capabilities,” whenever they become available. that The bandwidth available on your means within the context of a modem.
