Feb 21 - Apple (AAPL, Financial) takes charge of its component strategy by moving to in-house hardware for iPhones. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities, Apple plans to swap Broadcom's (AVGO, Financial) Wi-Fi chips for its own design in every iPhone 17. This plan follows the recent announcement that the iPhone 16e carries an in-house modem chip known as the C1. Kuo explains that this shift brings Apple's proprietary technology into every new 2H25 iPhone 17 model, except the slim version, which uses only the C1 modem chip.
Apple focuses on cutting costs and boosting connectivity across its range while keeping its existing patent deals intact. Even though Qualcomm (QCOM, Financial) modems drop from some models, the company still earns royalties. Industry watchers see this as Apple streamlining production and sharpening its competitive edge, a balanced approach that combines internal innovation with strategic supplier ties.
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