Apple wants more control over some of the components it uses on iPhone and other devices،
Apple has a mission. Not wanting to rely on its supply chain for certain iPhone components, Apple prefers to design these parts itself since this gives them more control over production. Apple also hopes to stop paying a major iPhone rival like Samsung and would like to stop doing business with Qualcomm, a company whose business practices have been scrutinized (remember “no license, no chips?”).
Apple would like to design more components in-house
In today’s day To light up newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman created a list of some of the DIY projects Apple is currently working on. One of them is the 5G modem chip that Apple initially hoped to have ready in time for this year’s iPhone 15 lineup. Apple has a high bar to clear here, given that past court testimony revealed that Apple considered Qualcomm’s modems to be the best, even though it wasn’t thrilled with the chip design company.
Apple wants to replace Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 5G modem chip with one it designs itself
Other components that Apple is designing internal versions of include a combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip that would replace components currently purchased from Broadcom. Apple hoped to have this component ready in time for the iPhone 17 in 2025, but that project is also experiencing delays.
One of the longest DIY projects Apple is working on is one that it hopes will eventually allow it to produce micro-LED displays. Last May, a report from Japanese news agency Nikkei indicated that Apple had spent more than $1 billion on the technology over the past decade. The first device to use Apple’s micro-LED display is expected to be the Apple Watch. These displays can be integrated with sensors, making them perfect for adding more health-related features to the Apple Watch.
A Nikkei source, who has seen examples of Apple’s micro-LED displays, said: “Apple’s ultimate plan is to introduce these technologies to its iPhone, which is its main source of revenue and whose volume is much greater, to justify the investments over the years. “
Apple will still have to find industrial partners
Apple is also reportedly considering designing its own camera sensors. The photography system on the iPhone is still one of the device’s biggest selling features, and right now it relies on the company considered the best in the business, Sony, for the iPhone camera sensors. Apple needs to make sure it can add value here before replacing Sony.
Another long-standing project that Apple has been working on is the non-invasive glucose monitor for the Apple Watch. This feature, if implemented correctly, would allow insulin-dependent diabetics to determine their insulin dose without painfully drawing blood with a lancet and placing that blood on an expensive test strip. We’ve been following the development of this feature for years, and in September Apple handed the project over to Tim Millet, Apple’s vice president of platform architecture.
Even if Apple seeks to design these components, it will still need to find a company to manufacture them. This is similar to how Apple designs the A-series application processor for the iPhone every year, but still relies on TSMC to manufacture the chipset. By designing its own components, Apple can add certain features that it cannot add when purchasing commercially available parts.
