Apple’s first in-house modem will make its debut in the iPhone SE launching next year, marking a significant step in the company’s strategy to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm.
The modem, codenamed Sinope, has been in development for over five years. In addition to the iPhone SE, it is expected to feature in some low-end iPads by 2025.
While this modem is a milestone for Apple, it won’t match the performance of Qualcomm’s latest modems.
The Sinope modem supports Sub-6 5G but lacks mmWave 5G support and features four-carrier aggregation compared to Qualcomm’s six or more.
In lab tests, it reaches speeds of about 4Gbps, which is lower than Qualcomm’s non-mmWave modems.
Despite these limitations, the key advantage for Apple is cost savings. By developing its own modem, Apple eliminates the need to pay Qualcomm for licensing fees.
The Sinope modem is also tightly integrated with Apple-designed processors, optimizing power efficiency and on-device features, including satellite connectivity.
Looking ahead, Apple plans to enhance its modem capabilities. In 2026, the second-generation modem, which will support mmWave 5G and six-carrier aggregation for Sub-6, will debut in the iPhone 18 and top-tier iPads in 2027.
By 2027, Apple’s third-generation modem aims to surpass Qualcomm’s offerings, with support for next-generation satellite networks and AI features.
