According to Bloomberg News, US analyst Gus Richard of Northland Capital Markets analyzed and predicted in an investor report that the future Apple baseband chips may give up Intel and Qualcomm, according to Bloomberg News. The use of MediaTek products.
Qualcomm has been the sole supplier of Apple's baseband chips. Since 2016, Apple has introduced Intel baseband chips in the iPhone 7 to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm, but its share has been less than 20%. With the increase in the number of Apple and Qualcomm in 2017, The lawsuit dispute has led to the deterioration of the relationship. Apple intends to further reduce the share of Qualcomm's baseband chips. The baseband orders for the new iPhone to be released this year have been confirmed. It is said that 70% of the baseband chips are based on Intel and 30% are based on Qualcomm baseband.
Although Intel’s current baseband chip products are relatively different from each other, in order to suppress Qualcomm, Apple does not hesitate to lower certain properties of the baseband chip to achieve a balance between the two products.
The details disclosed in the analyst report are limited. Therefore, the accuracy of the forecast is doubtful. However, in November last year, Taiwanese media reported that Apple had secretly contacted MediaTek. It is reported that the cooperation between the two parties will center on mobile phone baseband and CDMA IP authorization. , WiFi custom chip and smart speaker HomePod chip in four directions to carry out.
Taiwan media reported that before the iPhone baseband chip order is finalized, MediaTek will first take down orders for upcoming HomePod Wi-Fi custom chips, which is the first cooperation between MediaTek and Apple, but MediaTek has not confirmed. At that time, Taiwan Media predicted that MediaTek The fastest order for iPhone baseband chips will be available in 2019.
MediaTek has not disclosed detailed information on 5G baseband at present. Whether it can meet the requirements for access to the iPhone supply chain still requires further observation and confirmation. It does not rule out Apple's move through this move, further putting pressure on Qualcomm, with Qualcomm. The possibility of negotiating bargaining chips in the game, because both Intel and MediaTek, have gradually become Qualcomm's powerful opponents in the communications chip field.
If the news is true, it will affect the iPhone products in 2019. At that time, MediaTek will form the main base, and Intel will supplement Qualcomm with its baseband chip procurement program. Currently, Apple and Qualcomm are including the United States, and China has already launched lawsuits in the EU and other places. , Qualcomm also used Intel's baseband chip for the iPhone's alleged patent infringement on the grounds of asking for more prohibition of iPhone7 and iPhone7 Plus and other related products imported and sold.
In addition, Apple has always sought independence in terms of chips. At present, it has planned to abandon Intel's chips as soon as possible in the 2020 PC products and switch to their own chips. In terms of baseband chips, Apple is also speeding up the development of independent chips. The future is likely to be Fully dependent on autonomous baseband chip.
Intel's recent days after CEO adjustments are a bit sad. Goldman Sachs reported today that after its analysts met with more than 25 supply chain companies last week, it predicts that future market share in its ruling server chip market will lose market share. Bernstein’s analysts also lowered Intel’s stock rating this week. Analysts believe that the company is in a transition period for CEOs with limited upside.
In the past week, Intel’s former CEO Ke Zaiqi resigned after being exposed to employees, and Intel’s stock has experienced tremendous fluctuations. At present, Intel’s market value has lost $13 billion. Ke Zaiqi has been actively expanding new business areas while in office. As a result, Intel’s stock has been on the rise, rising by 24% in early June, and most of the gains in market value in the past year have disappeared.