A 5G-enabled iPhone is the "number one priority" for Qualcomm, according to the company's President Cristiano Amon.
Speaking at the launch of the Snapdragon 865 chipset , President Amon took the opportunity to confirm that not only is a 5G-enabled Apple iPhone in the works, that it's now the company's number one priority to work with the tech giant to get it launched.
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The comments were made at the company's annual Tech Summit in Hawaii. Amon told PC Mag that the two tech giants have put their differences aside, following a lengthy and messy legal battle, Amon said: "Priority number one of this relationship with Apple is how to launch their phone as fast as we can. That’s the priority."
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The lack of 5G support in the iPhone 11 range was notable, especially considering Apple's major competitors – Samsung and Huawei – had launched 5G-ready phones earlier in the year, and now that all the main network operators in the UK and US now offer 5G plans.
If Apple sticks to its traditional launch strategy, we won't see the 5G iPhone 12 release date earlier than September 2020, putting the devices way behind the curve.
However, there are rumours Apple is looking to split its launches between Spring/Summer and the Autumn to offer desired features sooner and if they expedite these plans, we could see a 5G iPhone as soon as March.
"We re-engaged later than both of us would like, and I think we've been working together to try to get as much as possible done, and take as much possible advantage of what they’ve done before so that we can actually launch a phone on schedule with 5G,” Amon added.
The comments made by Amon back up predictions made by JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee earlier this month. Citing "supply-chain checks", Chatterjee believes that in 2020, Apple will release four 5G iPhones – a 5.4in model, two 6.1in devices, and a 6.7in phone at its traditional Fall event.
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He then claims that in 2021, the tech giant is expected to launch two phones at the start of the year, and two phones towards the end to help Apple "smooth seasonality".
By currently launching phones at the end of the year, earnings are weighted towards Q4, but by launching devices earlier in the year, its earnings would be more consistent all year round.
