Following reports earlier this month that Apple plans to use its own 5G modem in the upcoming iPhone SE, a new report claims that Apple will begin implementing its own Wi-Fi chip in the iPhone 17 starting of next year.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo published on X that in the second half of 2025, Apple will use its own Wi-Fi chip in new products, abandoning the chip created by Qualcomm. The chip will be manufactured using “TSMC’s N7 process and will support the latest Wi-Fi 7 specification.” See post X below:
Broadcom currently supplies more than 300 million Wi-Fi+BT chips (hereinafter referred to as Wi-Fi chips) per year to Apple. However, Apple will quickly reduce its dependence on Broadcom. With new products during 2H25 (e.g. iPhone 17), Apple plans to use its own Wi-Fi chips, which will be manufactured using TSMC’s N7 process and support the latest Wi-Fi 7 specification Apple plans to migrate almost all of its products to in-house Wi-Fi chips within about three years. This move will reduce costs and improve Apple’s advantages in ecosystem integration.
Ming-Chi Kuo, October 31, 2024
Interestingly, Kuo cites the iPhone 17 as an example, making it unclear whether he thinks the iPhone 17 will use the same 5G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth combo chip that was reported by 9to5Mac earlier this month, or if it refers to a completely different chip.
Apple could also update its new M4 Mac line with the M5 chip in the second half of 2025 and install its own Wi-Fi chip, which will use “the latest W-Fi 7 specification” according to Kuo. Surprisingly, the new M4 Macs don’t have Wi-Fi 7 like the iPhone 16 line. Instead, they have Wi-Fi 6E, so maybe Apple waited for Wi-Fi 7 until until its own chip is ready.
Rumors of an Apple-made 5G modem have been circulating for years, and it looks like they could finally come to fruition next year. By creating its own chip instead of relying on a third-party chip, Apple can optimize its performance, which could improve power efficiency and performance. It could also save the company money.
