Apple debuted the iPhone 16e with its first in-house cellular modem, which has been rumoured for months. The C1 model reduced the brand’s reliance on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon modems for connectivity. But it seems like Apple is set to take things even further with the next-gen iPhone 17.
Apple is developing an in-house WiFi chip for the iPhone 17
The Cupertino-based giant could have plans to make its very own WiFi chips, as per known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo on X (formerly Twitter). The Apple iPhone 16’e C1 modem enabled the brand to move away from Qualcomm and its Snapdragon modems. Meanwhile, the WiFi chips used in Apple devices are from Broadcom. So Apple could soon be replacing them with its own in-house chips.
Ming-Chi Kuo further added that his latest industry survey has hinted that the iPhone 17 series could be the first to launch with Apple’s in-house WiFi chips. The iPhone 17 lineup is expected to launch in the second half of this year, but only the iPhone 17 Air model may adopt the Apple C1 modem chip. The company using its self-developed WiFi chips would help it reduce the cost by removing its reliance on other manufacturers. However, one of the bigger benefits might be related to the Apple ecosystem.
Over time, Apple could use its in-house WiFi chips across all of its devices like the MacBook, iPad, iPhones, and more, allowing for enhanced multiplatform connectivity. Keep in mind that this is still just an unconfirmed report, so take this news with a pinch of salt and stick around for more.