New iPads in 2025 Rumored to Feature Apple-Designed Wi-Fi Chip

[MacRumors]

Apple's rumored in-house Wi-Fi chip might debut in devices as early as next year, according to Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes.

The report cites insiders from Apple's supply chain who suggested that at least some new iPad models launching in 2025 might be equipped with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi chip, although they said there is a chance that the chip might not debut until the iPhone 18 series in 2026. Apple's plans to design its own Wi-Fi chip were first reported in 2021, so the project has seemingly been in development for quite some time now.

While it is unclear if an Apple-designed Wi-Fi chip would have any consumer benefits, it would allow the company to reduce its reliance on its current Wi-Fi chip supplier Broadcom, as part of Apple's effort to design more components in house.

All four iPhone 16 models support Wi-Fi 7, which is advertised as being up to 4× as fast as Wi-Fi 6E. A router with Wi-Fi 7 is also required.

Similarly, the first devices with an Apple-designed 5G chip are rumored to launch next year, including a new iPhone SE and the tentatively-named iPhone 17 Air. This chip would allow Apple to move away from its current 5G chip supplier Qualcomm.

Article Link: New iPads in 2025 Rumored to Feature Apple-Designed Wi-Fi Chip

 

[t0rqx]

Cancelled my cancelled my preorder, i do not want to be a beta tester.

 

[efktd]

Now, bring back the Airport team.

 

[iMac The Knife]

Hopefully Apple knocks it out of the park on this one. Otherwise, it is going to be a **** show of epic proportions.

 

[StoneJack]

Oo, i thought Apple modem went Apple car way

 

[sublunar]

Sounds like the next base model ipad is the testing ground there then - unless iPad mini is going it get tested.

 

[ggibson913]

This rumor is why I order the iPhone 16. Been here before with Apple Chip, it was terrible as compared to the Qualcomm one.

 

[ralph_sws]

wifi 7 will not be 4 times faster in iphones 16. stop misleading. in iphone 16 it will be 2800Mbit, iphone 15 pro has 2400Mbit.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Been here before with Apple Chip, it was terrible as compared to the Qualcomm one.

No you haven’t.
Apple has never made chips like this before.
You could be thinking of previous occasions when Apple used two separate chip manufacturers, but Apple themselves was not one of them.

 

[jz0309]

interesting, wifi is very much a commodity, not really much to go wrong, low risk with this move.

 

[Chuckeee]

interesting, wifi is very much a commodity, not really much to go wrong, low risk with this move.

Agreed but not sure the of the benefit. Is the current Broadcom chip that expensive?

 

[metalsiren]

wifi 7 will not be 4 times faster in iphones 16. stop misleading. in iphone 16 it will be 2800Mbit, iphone 15 pro has 2400Mbit.

not sure if its full 4x times faster, but wifi 7 lets you connect to multiple bands at the same time. Now cant test the chip right now so not sure how the wifi 7 chips is set up on the iPhone if its in MLMR mode or ELMSR mode its prob possible its 4x as fast. if its MLSR then no

MLMR = Multi link Multi radio as in multi bands are sending dat at the same time, either both up, or one band down one band up.

MLSR = single radio, the other connection to the other band is like a backup you might say

 

[metalsiren]

interesting, wifi is very much a commodity, not really much to go wrong, low risk with this move.

actually there is a lot to go wrong, wireless hardware and drivers do a TON of work that people dont realize. they decide what AP to talk to, all the encryption back and forth, all the protocols used including the fast roaming ones etc.

example, even time there is a new wifi card, Broadcom / Intel etc it thats them a while to nail out all the software bugs that happen. Since it would be new hardware and even new low level firmware for the card it might take them longer to nail them down.

 

[ducknalddon]

Agreed but not sure the of the benefit. Is the current Broadcom chip that expensive?

Broadcom is a risk for them because they can't exert the control they can with other suppliers. It's similar to dumping Intel.

 

[SMH4KIDIOT]

No you haven’t.
Apple has never made chips like this before.
You could be thinking of previous occasions when Apple used two separate chip manufacturers, but Apple themselves was not one of them.

Apple used Intel designed modem then bought the IP and team that designed it. I think that's what they are getting at.

 

[jz0309]

Agreed but not sure the of the benefit. Is the current Broadcom chip that expensive?

I don’t think it is, but then again, Apple probably sells in excess of 300M units with WiFi every year so it might add up

 

[jz0309]

actually there is a lot to go wrong, wireless hardware and drivers do a TON of work that people dont realize. they decide what AP to talk to, all the encryption back and forth, all the protocols used including the fast roaming ones etc.

example, even time there is a new wifi card, Broadcom / Intel etc it thats them a while to nail out all the software bugs that happen. Since it would be new hardware and even new low level firmware for the card it might take them longer to nail them down.

All true, but compared to a 5G or later modem, it’s simple

 

[ralph_sws]

not sure if its full 4x times faster, but wifi 7 lets you connect to multiple bands at the same time. Now cant test the chip right now so not sure how the wifi 7 chips is set up on the iPhone if its in MLMR mode or ELMSR mode its prob possible its 4x as fast. if its MLSR then no

MLMR = Multi link Multi radio as in multi bands are sending dat at the same time, either both up, or one band down one band up.

MLSR = single radio, the other connection to the other band is like a backup you might say

chip in the iPhone 16 does not support 320mhz or multi link

 

[iamgalt]

But the big question is, can it run iPad OS without being bricked?

 

[timber]

Working with Apple seems like a double edged sword.
On one hand you get a large contract, on the other you know Apple will actively try to get rid of you.

 

[johnsc3]

Now, bring back the Airport team.

www.ui.com

 

[rexhunt]

Agreed but not sure the of the benefit. Is the current Broadcom chip that expensive?

Broadcom is one the single most challenging expensive and least collaborative companies in tech to work with

 

[yyzguy]

Now, bring back the Airport team.

Yes! I’m using the last generation time capsule with a dead hard drive. I buy and recommend used AirPort Extremes for friends and family. They work great and don’t have a bunch of ugly antennas sticking out

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Next chip/spec/etc,

Forget it.

Just enjoy what you have now, or you will never be happy.

 

[juju90]

This rumor is why I order the iPhone 16. Been here before with Apple Chip, it was terrible as compared to the Qualcomm one.

What was Intel not Apple