Apple has announced that it will continue to buy 5G modems from Qualcomm for its smartphones and other products until 2026, despite its efforts to develop its own modems. The news comes a day before Apple’s “Wonderlust” event, where the iPhone 15 is expected to be unveiled.
Qualcomm, the leading supplier of 5G modems, has been in a long-standing dispute with Apple over patent royalties and licensing fees. In 2019, Apple bought Intel’s cellular modem business for $1 billion, hoping to reduce its dependence on Qualcomm and gain more control over its hardware.
However, Apple’s own 5G modem is not ready yet, and the company has decided to secure a backup plan with Qualcomm. The new agreement is not exclusive, meaning that Apple can still use its own modems or other vendors’ modems in some of its products. But it also means that Qualcomm will remain a key partner for Apple in the next few years, as 5G technology becomes more widespread and essential for mobile devices.
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