This is exactly what many Apple commentators have predicted for several years that Apple would do if they finally got a workable modem chipset.

Not only do they avoid any risk of wrecking their annual flagship phone launch, but they also don't have to attempt to churn out the massive volume of chips they'd need for an iPhone + iPhone Pro launch. It also gives them a good reason not to try to deliver 5G mmWave on their first modem (though I'd not be surprised if they just quietly dropped it from all the iPhones).

Releasing it on a lower volume non flagship model doesn't reflect a lack of confidence, it is just sensible. And most of the people who have followed Apple for years expected them not to launch it on their high end phones.

Edited by andynormancx (Fri 21-Feb-25 22:38:27)

I think squeezing every last bit out of 4G/5G bandwidth is probably far less important than things like battery life.

Though we've yet to find out if Apple's design actually uses less power or if it is just that they've put it on a very power efficient TMSC process...

This is a good video from Rene R. with Ben Barajin that goes into some more details of Apples logic and reasoning for going down this path. Interesting.

https://youtu.be/1mr-JZR0-K4?si=cfdV0mVLbw7PPodR

Thanks!

Yeah, I thought it was a very interesting and insightful conversation. 👍