Skip to Main Content
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

2018 iPhones Expected to Use Intel Modems Exclusively

Qualcomm's legal battles with Apple mean the company's modems probably won't be used in new iPhone models this year.

Updated February 5, 2018
Apple iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus

The European Commission fined Qualcomm $1.2 billion last month after it found the company had paid off Apple to use its chips exclusively between 2011 and 2016. Now, in a complete reversal of fortunes, analysts believe we won't see any Qualcomm modems in this year's iPhone models.

As MacRumors reports, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Choo Kuo has revised his stance on the use of Qualcomm modems in 2018 iPhones. Initially he expected about 30 percent of modems to be provided by Qualcomm and the rest sourced from Intel. Now Kuo believes Intel will supply all the modems Apple requires, pushing Qualcomm out completely.

There seems to be two key reasons for a shift to Intel as an exclusive supply partner this year. The first is Qualcomm's ongoing legal action against Apple, which accuses the company of failing to protect Qualcomm's trade secrets as well as several allegations regarding modem performance, meddling in agreements with manufacturers, and breached agreements between the two companies. Qualcomm even went so far as to file suit against Apple's device manufacturers (Foxconn, Pegatron, Wistron, and Compal Electronics). With such a legal battle in full swing, you can understand why Apple would prefer not to be a customer.

The second reason is the fact Intel now has a modem Apple can use across all US networks. The Intel XMM 7560 modem includes support for GSM and CDMA, which allows the same modem chip to be used for iPhones on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint.

In the short term, Kuo believes it makes sense for Apple to choose Intel and therefore put extra pressure on Qualcomm to look again at its legal action against them. Longer term, however, he doesn't believe Intel will remain an exclusive supplier. It may be Apple finds another company to provide some of those modems beyond 2018, or Qualcomm could return as a supplier depending on its actions.

In terms of anyone planning to purchase a new iPhone model in 2018, it makes zero difference which modem is inside as long as it works.

Like What You're Reading?

Sign up for Fully Mobilized newsletter to get our top mobile tech stories delivered right to your inbox.

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.


Thanks for signing up!

Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!

Sign up for other newsletters

TRENDING

About Matthew Humphries

Senior Editor

I started working at PCMag in November 2016, covering all areas of technology and video game news. Before that I spent nearly 15 years working at Geek.com as a writer and editor. I also spent the first six years after leaving university as a professional game designer working with Disney, Games Workshop, 20th Century Fox, and Vivendi.

Read Matthew's full bio

Read the latest from Matthew Humphries