Analysts have expressed concerns about Qualcomm’s potential acquisition of Intel. While such a deal could diversify Qualcomm’s business, it would also involve taking on Intel’s loss-making semiconductor manufacturing unit. Turning around or selling this unit could prove to be a significant challenge. Furthermore, the proposed merger would face intense antitrust scrutiny worldwide. As the largest deal in the semiconductor industry, it would combine two major players in the smartphone, personal computer, and server markets, potentially creating a market-dominating behemoth. Aditya Soni and Yuvraj Malik for Reuters: ‎ Shares of Inte rose nearly 3% on Monday, after media reports late on Friday about Qualcomm’s early-stage approach for the struggling chipmaker. Qualcomm’s shares were down 1.8%. “The rumored deal between Qualcomm and…

iPhone 16 Pro offers significantly faster 5G speeds vs. iPhone 15 Pro Apple’s new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro contain Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon X75 modem which delivers several notable improvements, including 5G Advanced support, lower power consumption, and enhanced 5G carrier aggregation for faster upload speeds. These upgrades should offer a noticeable boost in mobile connectivity for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. SpeedSmart: ‎ By comparing speed test data from the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max with last year’s iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, we’ve observed an impressive average increase of 23.7% in download speeds across all three major US networks. Verizon stands out with a 26.4% improvement in average 5G download speeds.…

Apple is rumored to have been working on its own 5G modem for iPhones since 2018, and it appears the chip will finally debut next year. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today estimated that shipments of Apple's in-house 5G chip will reach 35-40 million units in 2025, and "grow rapidly" to 90-110 million units in 2026 and 160-180 million units in 2027. Kuo previously said two iPhone models with an Apple-designed 5G modem will be released in 2025, including a fourth-generation iPhone SE in the first quarter of the year and an all-new, ultra-thin iPhone 17 model in the third quarter. All existing iPhones that are currently sold by Apple are equipped with Qualcomm modems for cellular connectivity, but…

Microsoft and its partners launched Copilot+ PCs this spring, featuring AI-powered capabilities like generating images and videos. These new laptops deviate from the traditional Intel-powered architecture that has dominated Microsoft Windows PCs for nearly four decades. Instead, the initial Copilot+ models are powered by Qualcomm chips based on Arm designs. While most PC games, especially popular multiplayer titles, are optimized for Intel’s x86 chips, some can be run on the Qualcomm-Arm system through a software layer that translates x86 instructions into Arm-compatible code. However, this approach can introduce compatibility issues, leading to bugs, glitches, or even non-functional games. Yang Jie for The Wall Street Journal: ‎ The problem is widespread. About 1,300 PC games have been independently tested to see…

Qualcomm will supply Apple with 5G modems at least through 2027 Apple’s in-house modem project has encountered significant hurdles, including performance issues and overheating. As a result, the company has been compelled to delay the modem’s launch until at least next year. The rollout will be phased, beginning with limited product models and extending over several years. Reflecting this extended timeline, Apple has extended its partnership with Qualcomm until March 2027. Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News: ‎ Saving money is one reason for the move. The iPhone maker has argued for years that it pays Qualcomm too much for modems. But Qualcomm has said that Apple will still have to pay it some royalties regardless (the chipmaker believes that Apple…

On Monday, Wolfe Research analyst Chris Caso downgraded Qualcomm stock to “Peer Perform” from “Outperform” as it expects the company will face headwinds as Apple begins to move away from its modem chips next yea Tae Kim for Barron’s: ‎ “It’s no surprise Apple has been pursuing a modem,” he wrote. “Recent checks suggest the Apple modem is indeed coming.” The analyst expects Qualcomm to lose 35% of its current Apple revenue with the iPhone 17 next year, and another incremental 35% loss with the iPhone 18 in 2026. He predicts Qualcomm will retain its modem business for iPhones sold to U.S. carriers that require mmWave wireless technology. “While Qualcomm has provided this commentary in the past (making an assumption…