Apple has indefinitely suspended in-house development of its own Wi-Fi chips in response to internal changes in priorities.
The company was rumored to be working on its own modems for years to decrease reliance on distributors like Broadcom. The latest data shows that Wi-Fi chip development has run into potential barriers, and Apple is redistributing its resources.
Per a report from noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple has halted development of its in-house Wi-Fi chip “for a while.” Kuo highlighted two factors that led to this decision — an impending Wi-Fi standard transition and 3nm chip development.
Apple is apparently running into issues as to how it would implement its chip, which was Wi-Fi only and not a Bluetooth/Wi-Fi combo. Broadcom currently supplies the combo Bluetooth/Wi-Fi chip, and Apple would have to increase design complexity moving to two chips for the technology.
This, along with the move to Wi-Fi 6E, and eventually Wi-Fi 7, also introduce new risks and challenges for Apple.
Apple experienced difficulties developing its own modems for Wi-Fi, 5G, and other technologies currently offered by Broadcom. The 5G broadband chip was meant to be tested in the iPhone SE 4 before it was canceled.
iPhone is expected to be the next product category to move to Wi-Fi 6E. The iPhone 15 is due in the fall, and Apple’s pause in internal Wi-Fi chip development means Broadcom will get the order instead.
Kuo has stated that it will be years before Apple is able to begin its push for custom Wi-Fi chips. The move to 3nm will take place between 2023 and 2025, and that will take up resources in the long run.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and Medium