It’s not a secret that Apple is working hard to be independent when it comes to the hardware of its devices. The company wants to get control of certain components and reduce the reliance on companies like Qualcomm or Broadcom. The company has been working on 5G chips that will free itself from its ties with Qualcomm. As per reports, Apple was also working on a Wi-Fi chip that was set to make its debut in 2024. However, the reputed analyst Ming-Chi Kuo states that the development of such a chip has been halted. According to him, Apple will hold off on it “for a while”.
Apple halts development of its Wi-Fi chips
With this news, Broadcom will remain the provider of Wi-Fi chips for Apple. The company probably had its reasons, but that represents a major shit on the plans. To recall, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman was pointing to the launch of a new Wi-Fi + Bluetooth chip for iPhones. Apple would begin the transition to these chips in 2024, and would completely replace Broadcom components by 2025. According to Kuo, the halt stands for the previous chip with Wi-Fi technology. The combined Wi-Fi and BT combo chip is even more challenging, and so far there are no details about its development.
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Apple’s master plan is to combine Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Cellular chips into a single solution. The 5G cellular modem has been in development for years to replace Qualcomm’s solution. However, considering the recent adjustments, we don’t know what will happen with this chip. Apparently, Apple is also working to replace the radio-frequency chips and chips for wireless charging that it gets from Qualcomm. As we’ve said at the top of this article, the company is working effortlessly to become independent.
As per the report, the development of the Wi-Fi chip is on halt because Apple wants to focus the chip design resources on the 3nm chip for future iPhones. Kuo states that “insufficient resources” are delaying the mass production of Apple’s chips. Further, he states that the next years will be risky for Apple to use its Wi-Fi chips. The standards are changing and Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 are the new things. So, Apple will wait to launch a product with Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 available as standards.
