iPhone 15 could offer faster internet speeds! Here's why

The iPhone 15 in 2023 could be using Apple's custom modem based on the TSMC 4nm process, suggests the latest leak. Here are all details.

Apple is already testing a prototype version of this modem based on the 5nm process before it goes for the 4nm manufacturing process in 2023. (Amritanshu Mukherjee / HT Tech)

iPhone 15 could theoretically offer faster internet speeds! If the latest rumours hold an ounce of truth, Apple is working with TSMC to build its own modem for future iPhone models. In fact, it is said that Apple is already testing a prototype version of this modem based on the 5nm process before it goes for the 4nm manufacturing process in 2023. And that means it should theoretically provide faster internet speeds than whatever Qualcomm has to offer that year.

Originating from a Nikkei report, it is believed that Apple could include this crucial component into the lists of things it designs on its own and manufactures via its partner TSMC. Even though this is a very early rumour and it should be taken with a pinch of salt, there are hints from Qualcomm that suggest a high possibility of this happening.

iPhone 15 could have Apple modem

Currently, Apple sources its 5G modem from Qualcomm for the iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 series. Qualcomm, however, said that it expects to account for only 20 percent of iPhone modems after two years. With Apple parting ways with Intel for its Mac computers, a move like this is highly possible.

Nikkei's reports suggest that Apple has plans to jump to the advanced 3nm chips by 2023. The next-gen iPhone in 2022 is said to have 4nm chips while a couple of iPad models (possibly the iPad Pro variants) could get 3nm chips by early 2023.

Apple's custom silicon for its iPhones and Macs provide for larger gains in performance, as Apple is able to optimize its chips better for its software products. In 2020, the Apple M1 SoC left critics impressed with its outright performance potential despite having a fan-less design on the MacBook Air. This year's M1 Pro and M1 Max chips on the new MacBook Pro models have promised comparable performance with top-tier chips.

On the mobile side, the A15 Bionic chip is currently among the fastest chipsets in the industry, dominating synthetic benchmarks in terms of raw performance. Apple, for the first time, has come up with variants of the same chip; the A15 Bionic on the vanilla iPhone 13 has four GPU cores whereas the same on the iPhone 13 Pro variants has an extra GPU core.