Apple bought the modem division of Intel, and intends to use the engineers there, plus the patents, to create its own 5G modems to integrate into products. Apple has set a very bold goal for this, namely 2021 to launch the first products to have integrated 5G modems, although the previous goal was 2025, when Intel still ruled things.
The first 5G iPhone will be launched by Apple in 2020, but with modems created by Qualcomm, which is the main reason why Apple decided to resume collaboration with this company. Even if the first iPhone 5S will be launched in 2020, in 2021 the Apple company could include its first 5G modems in iPad tablets or MacBooks, these being the only ones on which it could test the technology.
Apple's First iPhone with 5G Modem Will Be Released Very Late
Apple will not implement the first own 5G modems in the iPhone, because there is not much room for experiments there, but in the iPad and MacBook they can be done much more easily by the Americans. A MacBook with 4G connectivity through a SIM card has been expected for a very long time, and we could have this for 5G, together with the eSIM technology, already implemented even in last year's iPhones.
A person familiar with the matter said Apple plans to use Qualcomm modems for a 5G iPhone in 2020, but wants to have modern 5G modem technology ready for use in some of its products by 2021. Intel announced previously plans to have a 5G modem ready by 2020, so the acquisition of Intel assets could help Apple reach its target.”
Apple always wants to control almost everything that means operating system and components for its products, and the acquisition now is a new proof of the intentions to try to offer an experience controlled by it. Of course, it takes time for everything developed by Intel to make the transition to Apple products, and for there to be a very good optimization for them, so 2021 could still be a much too bold goal.
Even so, in 2020 we will have the first iPhones with 5G connectivity, and it's good that we won't have modems from Intel, the 4G ones being much worse than those from Qualcomm.
