As Apple begins to phase out Qualcomm’s modems in favor of its own in-house silicon, the company is eyeing adding 5G connectivity to other devices in its portfolio.
Apple has long been angling to ditch Qualcomm and use modems designed in-house, and it seems as if the upcoming iPhone SE 4 will be the beginning of the transition process. The company believes the new modem will allow it to manufacture thinner iPhones, potentially as soon as next year. It also means Apple will eventually no longer have to be reliant on Qualcomm for the technology.
Conversely, this transition is likely less concerning for QCOM moving forward. The company has been on a revenue diversification tear as of late, with Snapdragon X wins in Copilot+ laptops and automotive design wins for its Snapdragon Digital Cockpit and Ride platforms, not to mention its recent advancements with Snapdragon 8 Elite for Android handsets.