Rumor: Apple to incorporate 150Mbps Qualcomm modem into iPhone 6 handsets

One does not sneeze at the idea of a 150 megabits per second cellular modem in the next-gen iPhone.

Per AppleInsider and GeekBar, the latest component claimed to be from Apple’s next-generation iPhone is a Qualcomm MDM9625 modem, which would boost cellular download speeds to 150 megabits per second, which would be 50 percent faster than the modem found in the iPhone 5s.

The modem, which features a third-generation LTE chipset, was first announced by Qualcomm in February of 2012 and began shipping later that year. A recent post on the GeekBar web site alleges that the LTE Advanced modem is bound for Apple’s so-called “iPhone 6.”

If true, the new modem would boost speeds by 50 megabits over the 100-Mbps speeds offered by the iPhone 5s. The rumor does have some merit, as Apple has opted to use older and more readily available LTE chips in its latest iPhone models.

In spite of GeekBar’s mixed credibility, it would make sense for Apple to choose a slightly older chip with support for LTE Advanced, as most carriers around the world have yet to support even that specification. There are newer “Category 6” LTE chips from vendors like Qualcomm that are capable of 300 Mbps download speeds, but support for that technology is even more rare.

Qualcomm’s third-generation “Gobi” chipsets utilize a 28-nanometer manufacturing process that improve performance and power consumption over previous-generation chips, like those found in the iPhone 5s. The 2012 chips are defined as “Category 4” LTE.

Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.