Apple needs Qualcomm to make a 5G iPhone anytime soon, experts say

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Years of squabbling between two giant tech companies came to an end on Tuesday, as Apple and Qualcomm settled their legal disputes globally. This is likely a good thing for consumers because it means Apple may now be able to get a 5G iPhone out the door in a somewhat timely manner.

According to a report from Bloomberg, working with Qualcomm was probably the only way for Apple to embrace the new wireless high-speed standard in the near future.

Put simply, Qualcomm has resources that Apple and any other company Apple could hire to make 5G modems do not. Apple had intended to work with Intel on making a 5G iPhone until the legal settlement, but even then, Intel seemingly couldn’t compete with Qualcomm’s expertise and resources in the 5G space.

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“Qualcomm’s probably the only company on the planet that can get a 5G modem in an Apple phone by next year,” Northland Capital Markets analyst Gus Richard told Bloomberg.

Indeed, the plan now is for Apple to release a 5G-capable iPhone in 2020 using Qualcomm technology, according to Bloomberg. But given the nature of Apple’s and Qualcomm’s partnership and the relatively short amount of time to get it done, it’s possible we won’t see a 5G iPhone next year.

Moor Insights & Strategy president Patrick Moorhead said a 2020 release target for the 5G iPhone could be “tight” and he predicted a 2021 release instead.

Though it wouldn’t hurt to get a 5G iPhone into consumers’ hands in 2020, a longer wait might not be the worst thing in the world. The ultra-fast wireless standard isn’t widely available across all carriers in the United States yet. Verizon launched its 5G network in Minneapolis and Chicago last week, while Sprint and T-Mobile have rollouts on the way, too. 

AT&T also launched a 5G network in 12 cities at the end of last year, with support for more markets coming this year. That said, one of the carrier’s 5G services is reportedly not much of an upgrade over regular 4G service. It could be a while before 5G fulfills its true potential with support in most markets and on most devices.