Now that Intel has exited the 5G modem business, Samsung's chip-making division could be about to land a colossal contract — Apple. That's according to renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who believes the firm will split production of the 5G modem that will be on board the 2020 iPhones between Qualcomm and Samsung, all but confirming that the 2019 iPhones won't come with 5G on board.
It's thought that Apple decided to split production between the two manufacturers to help it negotiate a better price, forcing them to compete to undercut each other in order to win a larger share of the total contract. But given the popularity of the iPhone, it's unlikely that the manufacturer assigned the smaller slice of the deal won't be taking home a significant amount in profit.
Samsung has worked with Apple before
This won't be the first time Apple and Samsung have worked together. Notably, the Cupertino firm commissioned our beloved Korean titan to manufacture OLED screens for the iPhone X. Since it was the only supplier who could meet Apple's demands in terms of quality and quantity, it was able to charge through the roof — with the total value of the deal thought to be worth around $22 billion.
Samsung took the wraps off its first 5G smartphone, the Galaxy S10 5G, back in February. It launched in South Korea on April 5 and is expected to hit the shelves in the United States through local carrier Verizon on May 16. There's no word on when it will launch in other regions, though. It's also scheduled to launch a 5G model of the forthcoming Galaxy Fold in Korea in the near future.
