Rumor: Apple wants to use its own Bluetooth and WiFi chip in iPhones from 2025

Apple plans to use its own Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip in iPhones from 2025, where it currently uses a Broadcom chip. For example, the smartphone maker wants to become less dependent on other companies. That’s according to sources from Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman.

The smartphone maker has reportedly been working on Bluetooth and WiFi chips for iPhones for some time, but according to Gurman’s sources the first phones with the bluetooth and wifi chip should appear in 2025. After that, Apple will remain a customer of Broadcom: iPhones, for example, use wireless charging chips from Broadcom, but Apple is also said to be working on its own versions of these chips.

Broadcom declined to comment to Bloomberg, but the company’s CEO, Hock Tan, said earlier that he is confident Apple will remain a customer of the company. He said he believes Broadcom can provide the best technology and value to customers. Customers would therefore have no reason to look for alternatives.

For several years now, Apple has wanted to reduce its dependence on chip manufacturers and has therefore developed its own SOCs for its products, for example. The company is also working on its own modem for iPhones, for which it acquired Intel’s modem division. Gurman’s sources say Apple expects to have that modem ready late next year or early 2025. That Qualcomm replacement should have been presented this year, but developing the chip is taking longer than expected. For example, there would be problems with overheating and battery life.

The smartphone manufacturer would like to gradually introduce its own modem, initially with the top model. It would then take three years before it no longer sells products with a Qualcomm modem. After 2025, a combined chip with WiFi, Bluetooth and a modem must appear.

Apple is a major customer of Broadcom and Qualcomm, so the approaching retirement could be a major blow to these two companies. Apple would be responsible for 20 percent of Broadcom’s revenue, or $7 billion in the previous fiscal year. At Qualcomm, Apple would account for 22 percent of sales, almost $ 10 billion. Qualcomm previously said it expected its Apple revenue to be “minimal” in fiscal year 2025, which begins October 1, 2024.