Apple's self-developed 5G baseband is delayed until 2026

On November 17, according to foreign media reports, Apple once again encountered problems with its self-developed 5G baseband and they had to continue to delay their usage plans.

According to sources, Apple's self-developed 5G baseband has encountered problems again. The overall development process is very unsmooth, and the earliest it will be launched is the end of 2025 or early 2026.

The report also mentioned that Apple's self-developed 5G baseband is still in its early stages and may lag behind its competitors by "several years". Even after it is launched, it will encounter embarrassing problems because its competitors have begun to focus on the 6G era.

Apple currently faces two main difficulties in developing its own 5G baseband. The first is Intel's legacy code, which needs to be rewritten by Apple, and adding new features may interrupt existing functions. The second is that in the process of developing the chip, it must be careful to avoid infringing on Qualcomm's patents.

And these are just the beginning. Even after the baseband comes out, Apple will have to continue testing its own baseband on global operators, and this process will be even longer.

Relevant experts said that even a strong manufacturer like Apple has to lament its lack of competitiveness when faced with communication patents such as 5G.

In comparison, Huawei appears to be even more powerful, with an annual R&D investment of hundreds of billions, and it can also handle 5G baseband and patents. This is indeed not easy.