Qualcomm unveils 2-gigabit LTE modem amid rumors Apple's iPhone going Intel-only

Qualcomm on Wednesday revealed the Snapdragon X24, its latest LTE modem for mobile devices, with peak download speeds hitting 2 gigabits per second — though Apple may choose to forego the technology in its next iPhones.

The chip is the first Category 20 LTE modem to reach 2 gigabits, and the first to be made using a 7-nanometer process, Qualcomm claimed. Under ideal conditions it would be twice as fast as the company's previous gigabit modem.

In practice the X24 is unlikely to hit those speeds, at least in the U.S. While it supports seven carrier aggregation, no domestic network has gone beyond three carrier aggregation so far.

The first devices with the chip should launch towards the end of 2018, which would be in time for Apple's next iPhones — including a 6.1-inch LCD model, and two OLED products sized at 5.8 and 6.5 inches.

Intel is already supplying some iPhone modems however, and it's rumored that Apple could cut Qualcomm out of the loop, given ongoing global legal battles over patents and royalties. In any case there's a chance Apple will diversify its modem suppliers with the addition of MediaTek.

38 Comments

mike1 10 Years · 3437 comments

About 6 years ago

The first devices with the chip should launch towards the end of 2018, which would be in time for Apple's next iPhones -- including a 6.1-inch LCD model, and two OLED products sized at 5.8 and 6.5 inches.

No. If the chip launched at the end of 2018, the chips would only be available for the 2019 phones, not the "next iPhones".

ihatescreennames 19 Years · 1977 comments

I don’t know much about how cellular connectivity works, but on it’s face 2 gigabits seems like huge overkill. In the US I normally get around 50 megabits per second download times on AT&T. Occasionally I’ll see higher speeds than that but nowhere near even 500 megabits per second.

Is there something non-obvious about a 2 gigabits per second modem that would show immediate benefit when that chip becomes available?

wood1208 10 Years · 2938 comments

Modem speed is as good as connected to Cellular network bandwidth. Living in suburban area, many time I even don't get LTE signal so having LTE 2GB speed is worthless. First make LTE network bandwidth consistent and signal available before keep increasing modem speed. And 5G is on it's way.

Roger_Fingas 8 Years · 148 comments

mike1 said:

The first devices with the chip should launch towards the end of 2018, which would be in time for Apple's next iPhones -- including a 6.1-inch LCD model, and two OLED products sized at 5.8 and 6.5 inches.

No. If the chip launched at the end of 2018, the chips would only be available for the 2019 phones, not the "next iPhones".

Qualcomm said the first devices with the chip will be out then, not the chip itself.