Apple’s highly anticipated in-house 5G modem is finally set to arrive in 2025, but it won’t quite match the performance of Qualcomm’s current top-of-the-line chips. The new modem, codenamed Sinope, will be featured in select iPhone models, including the iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 17 Air.
However, compared to Qualcomm’s latest modems, Apple’s first 5G modem has limitations. It won’t support mmWave technology, which offers faster download speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second. Instead, Sinope will rely on the Sub-6 standard, used in current iPhone SE models. This means the modem can only support four-carrier aggregation, whereas Qualcomm’s modems can handle six or more carriers simultaneously.
Lab tests have shown that Apple’s first modem caps out at download speeds of around 4 gigabits per second, significantly lower than top speeds offered by non-mmWave Qualcomm modems. While this may not be a major issue for many users, it could lead to some compromises in terms of performance.
On the bright side, Apple is planning to release more advanced modems in 2026 and 2027, which will offer support for mmWave, download speeds of up to 6 gigabits per second, and six-carrier aggregation when using Sub-6. The company aims to replace Qualcomm entirely with these new modems.
Ultimately, the choice between Apple’s first 5G modem and Qualcomm’s current top-of-the-line chips depends on individual priorities. Some users may not notice a significant difference in performance, while others may be willing to pay for faster speeds. As the modem landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how consumers respond to these advancements.
Source: https://9to5mac.com/2024/12/06/gurman-apple-designed-5g-modem-coming-to-2025-iphones-will-be-worse-than-qualcomms