By next year, Apple might have its proprietary Wi-Fi chips installed in at least one of its phones.
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-regarded analyst known for his accurate predictions, Apple is in the process of developing its own Wi-Fi chips to replace those currently supplied by Broadcom. However, there is no concrete timeline for their release (via MacRumors). Kuo suggests that the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro may feature this new chip, while others speculate that broader implementation won’t happen until the iPhone 18.
While Wi-Fi 7 is not a new technology—since all iPhone 16 models already support it—these devices use Broadcom’s chips. By switching to in-house production for these network chips, Apple aims to reduce manufacturing costs, which could lead to more affordable devices in the future.
Broadcom currently supplies Apple with over 300 million Wi-Fi+BT chips annually. However, the company plans to minimize its dependence on Broadcom and introduce its own Wi-Fi chips in new products by the second half of 2025, including the iPhone 17.
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) October 31, 2024
The forthcoming shift to in-house chip production might enhance Apple’s software integration capabilities. However, critics of Apple’s tightly controlled ecosystem argue that proprietary chips could detract from the user experience, especially in terms of repairability.
Kuo noted that the new Wi-Fi chip would be produced using the 7nm N7 process, a more advanced technique than that which was employed to create the A13 Bionic chip.
If you’re not familiar with Wi-Fi 7, here’s what to expect: It offers increased bandwidth and the ability to transmit data across 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands at the same time, achieving speeds of over 40 Gbps. This is more than four times faster than Wi-Fi 6, outpacing many wired connections.
Should the iPhone 17 Pro be the first to feature Apple’s new chips, it’s highly likely that the entire iPhone 18 lineup will make the switch. As Apple continues to innovate, faster speeds and more reliable connectivity are becoming increasingly necessary.