Apple is reportedly in preliminary negotiations with two suppliers about placing backend orders for the tech giant’s first in-house iPhone 5G modem chips. According to reports from Digitimes, the prospective suppliers for backend processing orders for Apple are ASE Technology and Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL).
The news indicates that both ASE Technology and SPIL have worked as partners in making iPhone 5G modems for Qualcomm.
The report also reveals that both suppliers are involved in the ongoing production of the Snapdragon X65 5G modem-RF system at Samsung Electronics. In addition, Apple has reportedly potentially assigned its major chip production partner TSMC to start manufacturing most of its new self-designed modem chips.
Moreover, TSMC and Apple are executing trial productions of Apple’s self-designed modem designs with TSMC’s 5-nm process. However, the production team expects to switch to the more modern 4 nm technology when mass-producing the chips.
Already, TSMC is planning to use 4 nm technology for its main A-series chip while manufacturing its iPhones lined up for this year. Meanwhile, iOS device manufacturers are not stopping their technology advancement momentum with plans for more advanced technology already in place.
For instance, TSMC and Apple intend to move into the high-profile 3-nanometer mobile phone chip technology in the A-series chips. The report says that the companies will utilize the 3 nm technology for iPads coming later this year and 2023 iPhones.
Apple has reportedly been developing its in-house chip manufacturing production line for several years. However, according to reports, the plans were hastened by Apple’s purchase of Intel’s modem company in 2019. When completed, Apple would no longer depend on Qualcomm for supplying its mobile phone connectivity chips.
According to the reports, Apple’s first self-produced 5G modem chips would get into the public domain sometime in 2023.
