Apple making its own antenna for 5G iPhones because it’s “getting screwed” by Qualcomm − Report

Apple is reportedly working on its own 5G antenna for its next line of flagship iPhones, expected to be released in autumn. 

According to Fast Company, Apple think the alternative Qualcomm antenna is just too big. Now the company is said to be working on its own, smaller antenna unit to fit into a sleek new iPhone.

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Apple feels it is “getting screwed on royalties”, according to a Fast Company source. This factor, in combination with sizing issues, is what has apparently led the tech giant to break from the norm and move away from Qualcomm.

However, it’s a high-stakes decision if Apple does go with its own antenna. Qualcomm’s wares will feature in many competing phones and Apple’s in-house version will have to stack up.

We have, however, seen Apple-made antennas before. The company’s infamous effort to manufacture an antenna for the iPhone 4 went down badly and could drop calls when the phone was held in a certain way.

Currently, rumours suggest that Apple is trialling multiple designs in-case the antenna project does not go as planned. One, thicker design has the Qualcomm antenna, while a thinner version packs the company’s own antenna.

One interesting question this raises is: just how thin does Apple want this phone to be? The Qualcomm antenna is already packed into some pretty sleek phones, so it seems Apple are trying to take this to the next level.

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Apple will surely want to make a statement with the first 5G iPhone. It’s true too that the next generation of phones will be judged, at least to some extent, on their 5G performance. As the connectivity tech rolls out, users are going to expect faster, smoother experiences with their smartphones.