A report in PCMag confirmed expectations that, in spite of previous squabbles, Apple is relying on Intel as its sole LTE modem supplier for the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro handsets. 2019 marks the final year that Apple will use Intel’s baseband technology before moving to Qualcomm as its modem supplier.
Per the article, the new iPhone models, which are due to hit stores on Friday, share field test menus consistent with past products that use Intel modems. Qualcomm modems reveal a different test menu layout.
The iPhone menu fields, which are discoverable in iOS system settings, have remained unchanged between the iPhone 6S and iPhone XR, and those associated with Intel are once again present in U.S. versions of iPhone 11. As such, the publication concludes iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max all utilize baseband chips manufactured by the now-former modem maker.
While this doesn’t specify exactly which Intel chip is used in the 2019 iPhone lineup, PCMag has theorized that the handset uses the XMM 7660. Apple’s public disclosures as to the 2019 model iPhone’s capabilities, such as Gigabit LTE, match the specifications offered for the XMM 7660, which represents Intel’s final 4G chip.
The XMM 7660 chip is expected to offer a roughly 20 percent performance increase from the XMM chip found in the iPhone XR and iPhone XR.
Real-world performance will vary from location to location, and carrier by carrier, but Intel’s baseband technology should grant a moderate speed bump over Apple’s outgoing models. That said, the iPhone 11, like its iPhone XR predecessor, will likely see slightly reduced performance compared to iPhone 11 Pro due to its reliance on 2×2 MIMO antennas. Apple’s more expensive iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max models boast 4×4 MIMO setups, meaning increased throughput that translates to greater speeds.
Apple is expected to develop its own modem technology down the line, the company looking to move past modem suppliers and develop its own modem technology.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and PCMag