The launch of the iPhone 13 is only a few months away, but attention is already focused on what comes afterward: according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple may use its own 5G modem in the iPhone 15.

It has long been known that Apple wants to break away from Qualcomm's near monopoly on cellular modems. Being able to mark off another one in the supply chain would help Apple immensely.

Kuo claims that Apple may be ready to roll out its own 5G modem by 2023. However, Kuo noted that Apple might delay that to the iPhone 16 in 2024. Research and development of this kind of thing takes a long time, especially with Apple's penchant for near perfectionism.

Recall, Apple invested $1 billion in Intel's floundering mobile modem business in 2019. That alone showed that the company intended to go its own way; a four-year turnaround, especially adapting to the challenges of 5G, is not bad.

Of course, we can't forget Apple and Qualcomm's settlement in 2019. Outside of court, the two companies reached an agreement for Apple to use Qualcomm's modems in its iPhones, iPads, and Watches. It was a huge mess, with Apple losing several court battles around the world.

This year's iPhone 13 is expected to feature Qualcomm's X60 modem, which supports carrier aggregation and is manufactured in a 5nm process. This could improve performance and extend battery life.

Although 2023 still seems a long way off, given the rate of progress this year, an iPhone with an Apple 5G modem may appear sooner than expected. So far, Qualcomm's has been more than adequate.