When in doubt, listen to the supplier.
During its investor conference call on Wednesday, Qualcomm offered optimistic predictions for a wider 5G market with some 200 million smartphones equipped with 5G in 2020. Analysts are currently stating that the chipmaker is hinting at Apple’s iPhone.
During an investor conference call following Qualcomm’s earnings reveal, CFO Akash Palkhiwala said 2020 will hold “two inflection points” for 5G chips.
The first major development for 5G will be the spring launch of handsets from Samsung and assorted Chinese manufacturers that have existing contracts and licensing deals with Qualcomm. The second inflection point will arrive “in the fall time frame when another set of flagship devices will adopt 5G, according to Palkhiwala.
Although Palkhiwala fails to specifically name the iPhone, analysts are guessing that this is the unnamed product line. Also worth noting is that Apple and Google generally introduce new smartphones in the fall as part of their annual release cycle. For the past seven years unveiled a new iPhone every September.
Further, Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf in an interview said his company has been tapped to provide 5G silicon to 230 device designs. That figure is up dramatically from 150 devices last quarter.
After using Intel modems to power its iPhone and iPad lines for two years, Apple is widely expected to return to former baseband chip supplier Qualcomm in 2020.
Apple is also rumored to be working on its own 6G modem for the iPhone by 2022. The chip is said to be an extension of its A-series system-on-chip designs, which could be released in 2023. Intel’s now-defunct smartphone modem arm, which Apple purchased in July for an estimated $1 billion, will likely play a key role in the project.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and Reuters