Julie Clover
Apple will switch to new Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chips developed in-house starting in 2025, Bloomberg reports. The combined Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip will replace components from Broadcom, allowing Apple to reduce its reliance on the company.
The chip, which the company calls “Proxima,” will be featured in Apple products starting in 2025. It will initially appear in the iPhone 17, Apple TV, and HomePod mini, and in iPad and Mac in 2026.
Apple's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip is different from the 5G modem chip that Apple is also developing, but Apple eventually wants to combine the two into a single component. The overall goal is to create a wireless setup where components are tightly integrated and more power efficient, allowing Apple to reduce battery usage across cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth technologies.
Apple will also be able to create thinner devices and new wearable technologies using the custom chips it creates.
Like Qualcomm, Broadcom is a company that has long supplied Apple with components for its devices. Apple doesn’t want to continue to rely so heavily on Qualcomm or Broadcom parts, and it will also begin phasing out Qualcomm modems in 2025. The iPhone SE, the budget iPad, and the iPhone 17 Air are all set to use Apple’s own 5G modem.
Apple won’t be able to completely phase out Broadcom components, and it will still use a Broadcom-designed RF filter for its modems. Apple is also working with Broadcom on future chips for cloud servers.
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