Kuo: 2020 iPhones to Support 5G, Qualcomm and Samsung Likely to Supply Modems

Monday April 22, 2019 7:31 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
2020 iPhones will support 5G networks, with chipmaker Qualcomm likely to be one of two 5G modem suppliers for the devices after settling its high-profile legal battle with Apple last week, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.


Interestingly, Kuo expects Samsung to be the other supplier in select markets. Apple frequently aims to diversify its supply chain in an effort to reduce risk and have improved bargaining power, potentially reducing its costs as multiple suppliers engage in a price war to secure the lucrative orders.

An excerpt from Kuo's latest research note, obtained by MacRumors:
Apple and Qualcomm's end of patent dispute and entrance into a six-year licensing deal implies new 2H20 iPhone models will support 5G; Qualcomm and Samsung are potential 5G baseband chip suppliers: The market was worried that Intel's disappointing 5G baseband chip development might be the most severe uncertainty for the new 2H20 ‌iPhone‌ models' adoption of 5G. But we believe the uncertainty has been removed after Apple and Qualcomm's end of patent dispute and entrance into a six-year licensing deal, and Intel's announcement that it will exit the 5G baseband chip business. We expect Apple will likely adopt 5G baseband chips made by Qualcomm (focus on mmWave markets) and Samsung (focus on Sub-6GHz markets) for lowering supply risk, reducing costs and having better bargaining power.
Kuo believes that 5G will be a boon for both ‌iPhone‌ sales and Apple's supply chain in 2020. He forecasts total ‌iPhone‌ shipments of 195–200 million units in 2020, including 70–75 million 5G models released in the second half of the year.

Qualcomm was already the widely expected frontrunner for 5G modems in 2020 iPhones after Intel announced it is exiting the 5G smartphone modem business.

Related Roundup: iPhone 12
Tags: Ming-Chi Kuo, Qualcomm, 5G, TF International Securities, 5G iPhone Guide
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bodonnell202
10 months ago
In other news sky is blue, water is wet...
Rating: 9 Votes
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RamGuy
10 months ago

Has Apple not learned from dual-sourcing their modems? Some people don’t want the inferior modems, they want Qualcomm. I know I’d rather have theirs than anyone else’s.


I bet Apple knows that the majority of consumers don't know or care whoever supplied the modem hardware within their phones. We have no evidence or real comparisons between Qualcomm's 5G modems and Samsung's 5G modems either so who can say for certain which one are the superior option?

Reminds me of all the nonsense we got when Apple SoC manufacturing was split between TSMC and Samsung, and everyone convinced themselves that the Samsung production nodes was superior but it provided that TSMC was actually superior...

EDIT:

And of course there's a reason why Apple is dual-sourcing. Perhaps Qualcomm can't supply enough modems for Apple to meet production and demand? What if there is some event that hits the Qualcomm production line? Would Apple be stupid enough to not have another source for the chips limiting production? Apple tends to dual-source most of their hardware and for good reason.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Baymowe335
10 months ago
We can't even properly utilize 4K TVs for broadcasted TV...It's still freaking 1080i. 5G is going to be years before it's even useful consistently.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Ortiz83
10 months ago

Don’t think I will get an iPhone in 2020 if it has 5g. Going to wait until 2021.

Well please let us know once your done thinking about it so we can all know if you will or not get an iPhone in 2020 so we can comfortably sleep at nights.
Rating: 3 Votes
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squizzler
10 months ago
Will be another 10+ years till we can properly utilise 5G.
Rating: 3 Votes
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johnyslats
10 months ago
Kuo is merely making the same inferences as the rest of us following last weeks news. Nothing new to report.


Edit: Article updated after initial comment. The Samsung link is new I guess. Please let me have the Qualcomm variant ;)
Rating: 3 Votes
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apolloa
10 months ago
Kuo staring the blindingly obvious.... again... probably more chance he won’t get this one wrong though, luckily for him.

I’m just damn glad for Qualcomm modems.
Rating: 3 Votes
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iReality85
10 months ago
So basically, there will be almost no reason for people to get an iPhone XI this year.

Good thing I replaced my iPhone 7 Plus battery back in December for $29.99. Going to ride this until 2020. :cool:
Rating: 2 Votes
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EugW
10 months ago

So basically, there will be almost no reason for people to get an iPhone XI this year.

I think this is the reason Apple is putting three cameras in the iPhone this year. That would push a lot of people to buy IMO.

Good thing I replaced my iPhone 7 Plus battery back in December for $29.99. Going to ride this until 2020. :cool:

Yup. Plus the 7 Plus has a higher pixel density than the XR, has dual cameras (one more than the XR), and has 3 GB RAM (same as the XR). The mainstream iPads didn't even get 3 GB until 2019. The 7 Plus had 3 GB RAM 3 years ago.
Rating: 2 Votes
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martyjmclean
10 months ago
Let’s hope 2020 iPhones will support USB C as well.
Rating: 2 Votes

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