Apple to continue using Qualcomm 5G modems through March 2027
Wesley HilliardiPhone 15
A statement made during the Qualcomm earnings call revealed Apple has extended its 5G modem patent license agreement through March 2027.
Apple and Qualcomm are stuck in a strained relationship a little bit longer. In-house development of an Apple-made modem continues to encounter issues, leading Apple to extend its agreement with Qualcomm.
According to a post from Ben Bajarin on X, Qualcomm mentioned Apple's licensing agreement during its earnings call. Apple has extended its global patent license agreement for an additional two years.
Previous reports suggested Apple had contracts through 2026 for the Snapdragon 5G Modem-RF Systems. The new extension pushes that contract to March 2027.
Apple purchased Intel's modem patents for $1 billion in 2019 in an attempt to begin in-house modem development. Reports of issues with Apple's modem have cropped up regularly since, suggesting Apple is at least three years behind Qualcomm.
Apple's iPhone 15 lineup uses Qualcomm's 5G modem. With this latest deal, it seems likely that Apple won't have an in-house modem ready until iPhone 19.
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