Rumor: Next-gen iPhone to use Qualcomm MDM9635M LTE chip, will boast potential download speeds up to 300 Mbps

It came from the rumor mill and it’s pretty interesting.

An anonymous source leaked that Apple will be using a new LTE chip manufactured by Qualcomm in the next-gen iPhone. The MDM9635M chip, also known as the ‘9X35′ Gobi modem platform, promises significant performance improvements over the “9X25″ chip found inside of the current iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, capable of delivering up to twice the theoretical LTE download speeds.

The MDM9635M chip was first introduced by Qualcomm in late 2013 and was introduced in the Samsung Galaxy S5. The chip offers potential download speeds up to 300 Mbps, doubling the 150 Mbps download speeds found in the current generation iPhone lineup. The new chip has the same 50 Mbps upload speed limit, however, and real-world performance is likely to be closer to 225Mbps or lower, depending on the cellular network.

Qualcomm has stated that the new chip is also more power efficient, which could allow for longer battery life. It’s also said to be slightly narrower and more compact that the current iPhone 6 and 6 Plus motherboard, which could allow additional space for a larger battery. This, combined with iOS 9’s power saving features, could allow for even more energy savings and run time.

The MDM9635M chip is built using a newer 20nm production process, more condensed than the 28nm process used for the Qualcomm cellular data chip in the current iPhones. This is also the first chip built with Qualcomm’s new production process, which leads to power efficiency and reduced heat generation.

Qualcomm has also stated that the chip is still “backwards compatible and supports all other major cellular technologies, including DC-HSPA, EVDO Rev. B, CDMA 1x, GSM and TD-SCDM”

As always, stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via 9to5Mac