Apple Adopting Custom-Designed Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Chip in 2025, Cutting Reliance on Broadcom - MacRumors
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Apple Adopting Custom-Designed Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Chip in 2025, Cutting Reliance on Broadcom

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Apple is switching over to a new Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip that it designed in-house starting in 2025, reports Bloomberg. The combined Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip will replace components from Broadcom, allowing Apple to reduce its reliance on the company.

Apple Wi Fi Modem Feature Triad
The chip, referred to as "Proxima" internally, will be introduced in Apple products starting in 2025. It will come to the iPhone 17 models, the Apple TV, and HomePod mini to begin with, and to the iPad and the Mac in 2026.

Apple's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip is distinct from the 5G modem chip that Apple is also designing, but eventually, Apple wants to combine these into a single component. The overarching goal is to create a wireless setup where the components are tightly integrated and more energy efficient, allowing Apple to cut down on the battery use of cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth technologies.

Apple will also be able to create thinner devices and new wearable technology with the custom chips that it is creating.

Like Qualcomm, Broadcom is a company that has long supplied components to Apple for its devices. Apple does not want to continue to rely so heavily on parts from either Qualcomm or Broadcom, and it will also start phasing out Qualcomm modems in 2025. The iPhone SE, low-end ‌iPad‌, and ‌iPhone 17‌ Air are set to adopt Apple's custom 5G modem.

Apple won't be able to stop using components from Broadcom entirely, and it will still use a Broadcom-designed radio frequency filter for modems. Apple is also working with Broadcom on future cloud server chips.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, HomePod mini, iPhone 17
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Related Forums: Apple TV and Home Theater, HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto Technology, iPhone

Top Rated Comments

turbineseaplane Avatar
turbineseaplane
17 months ago
Cutting costs

...and not to pass on any savings to you and me
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
citysnaps
17 months ago
Excellent news.

Makes a lot of sense for Apple not having to rely on others and having their own Bluetooth/WiFi modem tech and chip. I suspect going forward the tech will also be folded into other more complex chips.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
G
gpat
17 months ago
Everyone, please be sure to buy M4/A18 products, they're stable, good value and best in class.
After this gen, we're pretty much guaranteed to return to guinea pig status until M7/A21 at least.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
N
name99
17 months ago

why? the A and M chips are best in class, what's the reason you think they chips they will do will suck?
This is how a certain type of person currently thinks they can be cool. By being cynical.
Problem is, this only works if you're trying to show off to people who are as clueless as you...
So, mission accomplished -- you've looked cool to people no sane human being would care about impressing.

Meanwhile, in the REAL world, I'd remind people that Apple ALREADY ship
- the H2 (Bluetooth 5.3, in current AirPods, AirPods Pro, and Vision Pro)
- the W3 (BT5.3, WiFi 4 at 2.4GHz, in all recent Apple Watches)
- the U2 (UWB location/communication, in recent watches and phones, and presumably soon to replace the U1 in AirTags)

It's not like Apple has zero experience with RF or BT and WiFi protocols.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
T
TOM1211
17 months ago
The refunds for these products with apple WiFi and Bluetooth chip will start November 2027 after Apple finally admits its not your fault because your holding it wrong .
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
turbineseaplane
17 months ago

Well, at least they aren't increasing prices... 😟😉
Oh they will do that too, don't worry

The "Tim Cook Double Dip"



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Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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