Apple supply chain analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Jeff Pu both say Apple will use its in-house developed WiFI and Bluetooth chips in next year’s iPhone.
Broadcom currently supplies over 300 million Wi-Fi+BT chips (hereafter referred to as Wi-Fi chips) per year to Apple. However, Apple will rapidly reduce its reliance on Broadcom. With new products in 2H25 (e.g., iPhone 17), Apple plans to use its own Wi-Fi chips, which will be made by TSMC’s N7 process and support the latest Wi-Fi 7 spec. Apple expects to move nearly all products to in-house Wi-Fi chips within about three years. This move will reduce costs and enhance Apple’s ecosystem integration advantages.
Kuo later cleared things up a bit with another X post:
Starting from 2H25, both Apple’s 5G and Wi-Fi chips will gradually be used in new products simultaneously. However, since these are two different chips (using different TSMC processes), the early switch-over timelines will differ due to separate production schedules. For example, the iPhone SE4 will move to an Apple 5G modem but still use a Broadcom Wi-Fi chip.
Meanwhile, Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu said Apple is expected to roll out its custom-made 5G modem starting with the next-generation iPhone SE 4. Apple’s in-house modem will then be joined by a secondary Apple-made Wi-Fi 7 chip in the iPhone 17 Pro in the second half of 2025.
Apple’s current iPhone 16 device lineup still uses Qualcomm modems. Apple earlier this year extended its 5G modem contract with Qualcomm, which now runs until at least through 2026.
Apple has long made it clear that it wants to break away from relying on Qualcomm for its connectivity chips. Apple acquired Intel’s smartphone modem business in July 2019, taking the first step toward developing its own connectivity chips. At the time of the purchase, Apple said it would “help expedite our development on future products and allow Apple to further differentiate moving forward.”
In November 2023, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple is still “years away” from being able to manufacture a 5G modem chip that would be competitive with Qualcomm’s modems.