Qualcomm Fires Back as Apple Ditches Its Modems

Apple plans to stop buying modems from Qualcomm when their contract ends during March 2027. The iPhone maker already released the 16e model with its custom C1 modem that performs better than Qualcomm chips. Qualcomm earns between 5.7 and 5.9 billion dollars each year from Apple business relationships. The chip supplier expects 70 percent of iPhones to use their modems this year before dropping to 20 percent next year.

Qualcomm Chief Executive Officer downplays the importance of losing Apple as a customer during recent interviews. He says the company already prepares for business without iPhone contracts after 2027. The executive believes other opportunities will replace lost revenue from Apple partnerships. Qualcomm explores automotive technology, internet devices and artificial intelligence server chips to compete against Nvidia graphics cards.

Apple works on next generation C2 modems that will deliver even faster connectivity than current versions. The company plans to put custom modems inside ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air models launching during September. Apple also develops MacBooks with custom connectivity chips but reveals few details about these products. Qualcomm faces major revenue losses when Apple becomes independent from their modem technology.