Apple’s self-developed honeycomb-style modem chip, which has been in development for more than five years, is rumored to debut in the new iPhone SE set to be released next spring. The chip, codenamed Sinope, will be manufactured by TSMC. Apple aims to fully replace its long-term partner Qualcomm’s modem chip technology by 2027.
According to Mark Gurman, a Bloomberg columnist familiar with Apple news, insiders revealed that the self-developed honeycomb-style modem chip, codenamed Sinope, has been in development for over five years and will be unveiled in the spring of 2025 through a new version of the iPhone SE, with production handled by TSMC.
Self-developed honeycomb-style modem chip to debut next year
The modem is an essential component of any mobile phone, enabling devices to connect to cellular base stations for calls and internet access. Apple’s goal is to launch its first honeycomb-style modem chip in 2025, followed by a higher-end version in 2026. The 2027 version is expected to achieve superior performance, aiming to fully replace the chips supplied by its long-term partner Qualcomm.
The report mentioned that Apple’s self-developed honeycomb-style modem chip has been brewing for a long time. Originally, Apple hoped to bring it to the market before 2021. To expedite development, Apple invested billions of dollars in establishing testing and engineering labs worldwide. It also spent approximately $1 billion to acquire Intel’s modem division and millions of dollars to recruit engineers from other semiconductor companies.
Over the years, Apple has faced repeated setbacks. Early prototypes were too bulky, prone to overheating, and had insufficient performance. There were also concerns internally that Apple was only developing the honeycomb-style modem as retaliation against Qualcomm due to its previous legal battles over licensing fees.
However, after adjusting the development process, reorganizing management, and hiring a large number of new engineers from Qualcomm, Apple now has full confidence in its honeycomb-style modem chip project. This will be a major victory for Apple’s hardware technology team, led by senior vice president Johny Srouji.
Hoping to replace Qualcomm chips
Qualcomm has had a monopoly in the smartphone honeycomb-style modem chip market, especially in the 4G LTE and 5G fields. However, the situation may change starting next year. For a long time, Qualcomm has been preparing for the possibility of Apple abandoning its modem chips. Nevertheless, over 20% of Qualcomm’s revenue still comes from Apple. Qualcomm previously reached an agreement with Apple to continue supplying chips to them until at least 2026.
Mark Gurman pointed out that Apple’s self-developed honeycomb-style modem chip will lay the foundation for a range of new devices, starting with the launch of thinner and lighter iPhones. The new honeycomb-style modem chip can be more tightly integrated with other in-house components, reducing space requirements and power consumption. In the future, this technology may expand to Macs and wearable devices with cellular connectivity.
Gurman also mentioned that by using its own honeycomb-style modem chip, Apple can create smartphones that are about 2 millimeters thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro, while still accommodating batteries, displays, and camera systems. Over time, this transition may also give rise to other new designs, such as the folding devices Apple continues to explore.