Apple's In-House 5G Modem Chip "Sinope" Nears Launch: A Five-Year Journey to Surpass Qualcomm

Apple's In-House 5G Modem Chip "Sinope" Nears Launch: A Five-Year Journey to Surpass QualcommAccording to prominent tech journalist Mark Gurman, Apple is on the verge of launching its ambitious self-designed cellular modem chip, marking the end of its long-standing partnership with Qualcomm. After more than five years of development, the modem system codenamed "Sinope" is slated for its debut next spring, initially powering the updated iPhone SE lineup

Apple's In-House 5G Modem Chip "Sinope" Nears Launch: A Five-Year Journey to Surpass Qualcomm

According to prominent tech journalist Mark Gurman, Apple is on the verge of launching its ambitious self-designed cellular modem chip, marking the end of its long-standing partnership with Qualcomm. After more than five years of development, the modem system codenamed "Sinope" is slated for its debut next spring, initially powering the updated iPhone SE lineup. This move represents a significant step for Apple in the mobile communication sector, aiming ultimately to surpass Qualcomm's technological prowess and eliminate its reliance on Qualcomm's costly chips.

Apple's in-house modem project began several years ago. To accelerate development, Apple invested billions of dollars, establishing testing and engineering labs globally and spending approximately $1 billion to acquire a division from Intel. However, the project wasn't without its hurdles. Issues with size, overheating, and power consumption resulted in multiple delays. An initial target of a 2021 launch was ultimately missed. These problems were mitigated after using Qualcomm's modems. By adjusting its development approach, restructuring management, and recruiting dozens of engineers from Qualcomm, Apple overcame these challenges and is confident in Sinope's success.

The new modem chip, manufactured by TSMC, is currently undergoing secretive testing on Apple employee devices and undergoing quality assurance testing with carrier partners worldwide. Notably, Sinope isn't initially intended for Apple's premium phone models. Gurman indicates that Sinope will first appear in the updated iPhone SE lineup next year, as well as lower-end iPad models. Apple plans to introduce a new mid-range iPhone codenamed "D23" later next year, featuring a thinner design than current models and also incorporating the Sinope chip.

The decision to launch with lower-end devices stems from the inherent high risk associated with modem chips. A malfunctioning modem could lead to dropped calls, missed calls, and other serious user issuesrisks that are unacceptable for Apple's high-end iPhones, which cost over $1000. Sinope's current specifications aren't without limitations. It lacks mmWave (millimeter wave) support, relying instead on the more widely used Sub-6 technology, consistent with the current iPhone SE. It only supports four-carrier aggregation, compared to six or more for Qualcomm's offerings. Its peak download speed is around 4 Gbps (500 MB/s), slower than Qualcomm's, though Apple believes the difference will be imperceptible in daily use.

Despite these limitations, Sinope boasts key advantages. Its tight integration with Apple's main processor contributes to lower power consumption; it offers more efficient cellular service scanning and improved support for satellite connectivity; and it excels in SAR (Specific Absorption Rate), crucial for user health. Apple also plans to include DSDS (Dual SIM Dual Standby) support in Sinope, enabling data connections on both SIM cards when using dual numbers.

Apple's ambitions extend far beyond Sinope. A second-generation modem, "Ganymede," is targeted for 2026, aiming for near-Qualcomm capabilities, supporting up to 6 carriers for Sub-6 and 8 carriers for mmWave, with speeds reaching 6 Gbps. Ganymede is expected in the iPhone 18 lineup in 2026 and high-end iPads in 2027.

By 2027, Apple aims to launch its third-generation modem, codenamed "Prometheus," which will surpass Qualcomm in performance and AI capabilities, supporting next-generation satellite networks. Longer term, Apple is also exploring the possibility of merging the modem and main processor into a single component for further performance and efficiency gains.

The launch of Apple's self-designed modem chip marks a significant endeavor in mobile communications and signals a shift in the competitive landscape with Qualcomm. While Sinope's initial performance may not fully match Qualcomm's, Apple, leveraging its strong R&D capabilities and ecosystem advantages, aims to ultimately break free from its Qualcomm reliance and achieve a dominant position in mobile communication. The five-plus years of investment and technological accumulation signal Apple's continued commitment to in-house chip development, further enhancing its hardware and software integration. The success of Sinope will directly impact Apple's future competitiveness in the mobile device market. This will be a long-term battle, and Apple is well prepared.