In 2023, Apple is said to be transitioning to its own iPhone modem design

According to a new rumor in Nikkei, Apple is intending to cooperate with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to produce its own 5G modems for future iPhones. Apple is expected to use TSMC’s 4nm process node, which has yet to be used in a commercial device; the modem is reportedly being designed and tested at 5nm before transitioning to mass production at 4nm in 2023.

Apple Switching to its Own Modem

Apple is widely expected to switch to self-designed modems in 2023, and TSMC is the obvious manufacturing partner. Qualcomm, the industry’s main player and supplier of modem components for the whole iPhone 13 lineup, recently stated that it expects to account for only 20% of iPhone modem orders in two years. It is worth noting that iPhone 13’s has performed quite well, the device is able to support complex apps such as those which remove contacts without any issues.

In 2019, Apple purchased Intel’s 5G modem division, foreshadowing the changeover. Qualcomm and Apple had settled a pricey modem technology patent dispute earlier that year, with Qualcomm earning more than $4 billion as part of the deal.

All iPhone A-series CPUs and M1 systems-on-chip for Mac computers are made by TSMC. Hundreds of TSMC engineers are based in Cupertino, according to Nikkei, to work with Apple’s chip development team. According to reports, iPhone SoCs will employ TSMC’s 4nm technology in 2022, and some iPad models will use 3nm CPUs in 2023. According to Nikkei, the iPhone will be upgraded to 3nm “as soon as” next year.