This is when Apple might equip its iPhone with its first own modem

Apple could equip its smartphones with its own modem chip as early as 2025, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. While the Cupertino company has been working on its own modem technology for years and has reduced its reliance on Qualcomm chips, it has reportedly faced several challenges in recent years, leading to several delays. Even if Apple does introduce a new modem on an upcoming iPhone model next year, it could be years before Apple’s technology starts to deliver major benefits to customers.

In the latest edition of his weekly Power On newsletter, Gurman describes the development of Apple’s modem chip, stating that it has been pushed back “until next year at the earliest” due to overheating and performance issues. This means the iPhone 16 series, which is expected to arrive in a few months, will likely come with a Qualcomm modem.

The Bloomberg journalist also says that the new modem will only be introduced gradually, starting with “niche models.” This suggests that the arrival of the technology on all Apple iPhone models could take a few years.

Last month, TF Securities International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that the iPhone SE 4 and a “slim” model in the alleged iPhone 17 series — expected to hit the market in the first and third quarters of 2025 respectively — would come equipped with his own tech.

While Apple’s decision to replace the Qualcomm modems in the iPhone may save costs to some extent (the company may still have to pay royalties to Qualcomm), it will be years before the company’s chip offers noticeable improvements over the chips it currently gets from Qualcomm, Gurman said.

If Apple’s plan to equip future iPhone models with its own modem is successful, the company could eventually integrate it with its System on a Chip (SoC) to increase the available space inside an iPhone, making room for newer components or larger versions of existing components.