While many other handset makers are expected to launch a 5G smartphone this year, Apple is expected to hold off until 2020. Now according to a report from Reuters, it seems that we might be able to expect Apple’s 5G iPhones to source modems from either Samsung or MediaTek, and this is straight from Apple’s mouth.
This was during a testimony that Apple supply chain executive Tony Blevins gave as part of the company’s ongoing legal battle with Qualcomm, where Blevins revealed that the company did consider using Samsung or MediaTek’s modems for future iPhones. This doesn’t exactly come as a surprise as last year there were reports that Apple could have been considering using MediaTek’s modems.
In 2017 it was reported that Apple and Intel were working together on 5G modems, but a report from last year revealed that Apple might no longer be using Intel’s 5G modems. If the reports are true, then it would make sense that they would need to source from someone else, such as MediaTek or Samsung who last year launched the Exynos Modem 5100 which is the first 5G modem that is compliant with the 3GPP standards.
In any case since a 5G iPhone isn’t expected until 2020 at the earliest, we guess we’ll just have to wait and see who will end up with Apple’s business.
Filed in . Read more about 5G, Intel, iPhone, MediaTek and Samsung.