Apple’s Broadcom Deal Extends to 2031 as C-Series Modem Lags

Broadcom’s deal extension with Apple, now running through 2031, puts a number on something Apple rarely advertises: its in-house wireless ambitions are moving slowly, and outside suppliers remain deeply embedded in the product lineup.

Reuters reports that Broadcom will continue developing and supplying custom chips for Apple under the expanded agreement. Broadcom already provides radio frequency components along with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other networking parts used across iPhones and related devices. The deal was extended, not simply renewed, which suggests Apple needed a longer runway than its original timeline allowed.

Apple’s C-series modem program has made real progress. The C1 debuted in the iPhone 16E, the C1X followed in devices like the iPhone Air and some iPads, and Apple claims the chips deliver better power efficiency than third-party alternatives. The catch is mmWave 5G support, which the C1 lacks entirely, limiting performance in dense urban venues like airports and stadiums where the faster standard actually matters.

Apple’s C2 Still Has to Prove Itself

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to carry Apple’s C2 modem, which should finally add mmWave 5G and bring Apple’s in-house solution closer to what Qualcomm has offered for years. Pairing that chip with the A20 Pro could also produce meaningful battery gains that Apple will almost certainly lead with in its marketing. Whether the C2 matches third-party modems on every metric remains to be seen.

What the Broadcom extension makes clear is that Apple is not engineering a clean break from outside suppliers on any particular schedule. TSMC still fabricates Apple’s silicon, and Broadcom stays responsible for radio and connectivity hardware across the lineup for at least six more years.

A full transition to Apple-designed cellular components across all products, including lower-cost models, remains a multi-year project with no firm endpoint. Apple is comfortable owning part of the stack while leasing the rest.