Abstract: Fast Company's latest report pointed out that Intel has solved the yield problem of the latest baseband chip XMM 7560 and is expected to win all orders for this year's iPhone baseband. Although the cooperation with Apple is in full swing, in the future, Intel may face the issue of MediaTek's baseband order. reality.
Set micro-network news (text / Xiaobei) Fast Company latest report pointed out that Intel has solved the yield problem of the latest baseband chip XMM 7560, is expected to win all orders of this year's iPhone baseband. According to analysts' research results, XMM 7560 yield is very high .
Prior to this, the discussion about whether Intel is the exclusive supplier of the new iPhone baseband chip in 2018 focused on the yield issue of Intel's baseband. In February, Apple supply chain analyst Guo Mingxi revealed that Apple plans to launch this year's new iPhone. The baseband chip orders were all handed over to Intel because the offer offered by the latter was more competitive and could meet Apple's technical requirements. But in April, it was denied by the Fast Company. Given the low yield of baseband chips, Intel will Get 70% of the 2018 new iPhone baseband orders, the remaining 30% will still be provided by Qualcomm, if Intel can solve the baseband chip yield problem, it is possible to get a larger share of the order.
Now, the Intel XMM 7560 has entered the trial production phase, and the yield problem has been solved, so it is possible to become the exclusive supplier of the new iPhone baseband chip in 2018.
In addition to the yield, XMM 7560 is expected to win more orders from Apple and its own strength.
The XMM 7560 is Intel's first baseband chip to reach Gigabit speed and is an important part of its 5G plan. More importantly, the XMM 7560 is Intel's first baseband chip that supports CDMA, which was previously based on the Intel baseband iPhone. Sales of operators such as Verizon and Sprint have restricted Intel's access to more Apple orders. Achieving support for CDMA standards means Intel's base is expected to occupy a larger market share.
With the escalation of patent disputes between Apple and Qualcomm, Intel took the opportunity to enter the Apple supply chain in 2016 and began to provide baseband chips for the iPhone. Now it has become the main supplier of iPhone baseband and is expected to become the exclusive supply of 2018 new iPhone baseband chips. Business.
Although the cooperation with Apple on the baseband is in full swing, Intel will also welcome a rival, MediaTek. Supply chain manufacturers believe that Apple intends to completely get rid of Qualcomm in the baseband chip, MediaTek is expected to become the baseband supplier selected after Intel. In addition, In the report of the famous financial media in the United States in late June, MediaTek is expected to break into the iPhone supply chain and replace Intel in the baseband chip, and supply it as soon as next year.
It is reported that Apple has been hesitant to give baseband chip orders to MediaTek, and this move makes MediaTek slightly embarrassed.
During the 2018 MWC Shanghai Summit, MediaTek announced the release of the Helio M70, the first 5G baseband chip to be shipped in 2019. Industry insiders believe that MediaTek released the Helio M70 information in advance, not only to show its 5G technology and IP to the market. It is quite mature, and it can better match the industry's upgrade to 5G, and it is to pave the way for Apple's baseband chip orders. At the same time, some insiders predict that if MediaTek and Apple develop baseband chips, there may be two models. One is a simple supply baseband chip, and the other is a cooperative design of a baseband chip.
Only a few days after MediaTek announced the release of Helio M70 news, there will be foreign media will be 'Apple has notified Intel, the future iPhone will no longer use Intel's Sunny Peak chipset' misunderstood as 'Apple abandoned Intel 5G baseband core' After collecting the micro-network, it was found that the chipset of 'Sunny Peak' is a component that integrates WiFi and Bluetooth functions, and is a connection module of the mobile phone SoC, instead of the 5G baseband understood by the media.
The misunderstanding of 'Sunny Peak' reflects the concern that Intel can 'stay' Apple's baseband orders.
Maybe Intel will be split by MediaTek in the future, but at present, Apple and Intel are still closely standing together. Intel insists on chasing the 5G market and promises that the iPhone will be able to use the 5G baseband next year.