Apple May Use Snapdragon X60 5G Modem in 2020 iPhones

Nikkei Asian Reviewand renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had previously predicted thatApple would use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X55 modemfor 5G connectivity in 2020 iPhones. A new report fromDigiTimes, however, begs to differ.

According to the report (viaMacRumors),the Cupertino giant would use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X60 5G modem. The company will reportedly start manufacturing A14 chips using 5nm process this month.

For the uninitiated, Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon X60 5G modem this February. The chipmaker’s current flagship offering –Snapdragon 865uses the X55 5G modem.

Since theSnapdragon X60 5G modem is based on a 5nm process node, it will be more power-efficientthan current 5G modems. Also, the modem helps in mmWave and sub-6GHzcarrier aggregation.

Considering that Snapdragon X60 is a relatively new modem and Apple typically finalizes the specifications for its iPhones months ahead, we can’t necessarily conclude if the 2020 iPhones would indeed feature X60 modem.

In addition, when Qualcomm announced Snapdragon X60 5G modem, the firm said that 5G smartphones featuring Snapdragon X60 modem are expected to launch in early 2021.

Apart from all these, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has disrupted the supply chain of most tech giants in the industry. Hence, it will be difficult to tell if the company manages to ramp up modem production right in time to meet the surplus demand for the long-awaited 5G iPhones.

Based on these factors, we will have to wait to see ifDigiTimes’claims hold true. If it does, it would mean a lot to the 2020 iPhone lineup in terms of overall efficiency. Stay tuned for more updates.

Subin B

Subin writes about consumer tech, software, and security. He secretly misses the headphone jack while pretending he’s better off with the wireless freedom.

Add new comment

Name

Email ID

Δ

01

02

03

04

05