Apple designing custom 5G iPhone antenna after disappointment with Qualcomm’s version
Tom Sykes
Posted On 14/02/2020 
Apple is said to be designing a custom 5G iPhone antenna module in-house after being dissatisfied with the version that partner Qualcomm designed, reports Fast Company, citing a source with close knowledge of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 12 development.
The report claims rather than relying on Qualcomm for both the antenna module and 5G modem chip for its future iPhone models, Apple will leave the latter to Qualcomm due to the fact their proposed version “doesn’t fit into the sleek industrial design Apple wants for the new phone.”
According to the report, Apple “balked” at Qualcomm upon receiving their proposed antenna module design…
Apple balked at the QTM 525 millimeter-wave antenna module offered to it by Qualcomm because it doesn’t fit into the sleek industrial design Apple wants for the new phone, a source with knowledge of Apple’s plans told Fast Company. Qualcomm will provide the 5G modem chip–its Snapdragon X55, also used in Samsung’s new Galaxy S20 phones–for the newest iPhone, which will likely be announced in the fall.
The Apple-designed 5G iPhone antenna module is expected to launch as part of the iPhone 12 lineup arriving in September. According to reports, Apple will unveil four new 5G-enabled iPhone models, including both sub-6GHz and mmWave versions.
