Published in Mobiles

MediaTek scores some mysterious Wi-Fi 7 chip orders

by on15 December 2023


What is Apple up to?

There is some confusion after an announcement that MediaTek won Wi-Fi 7 chip orders from a ‘leading American tablet brand’ and would give Broadcom some sleepless nights.

Apple is the dominant player in the tablet market at this time, so many of the Tame Apple Press wondered if their favourite hardware maker had worked a way around Broadcom’s near Wi-Fi monopoly.

However, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who knows Apple’s inside leg measurement for most things, says that Jobs’ Mob did not place the order, and Apple’s partnership with Broadcom remains unbroken. He thinks MediaTek is still expected to supply Wi-Fi chips, but not in the tablet category.

The chips going to Apple are for gear with a low Wi-Fi specification, which needs to be plugged in. His suggestion is for Jobs’ Mob’s Apple TV, which will be released in 2025.

The TF International Securities analyst notes that shipments of these chips are said to happen as early as 2025, which fits the time scale nicely.

MediaTek also mass manufactures 5G modems, but Apple has never partnered with the company for its basebands in any product. This is based on the recent renewal of the licensing agreement with Qualcomm, which has been extended for three additional years.

Apple may prefer to maintain a relationship with Broadcom and Qualcomm to procure reliable and high-quality parts for several products.

However, for MediaTek, it is still a positive outcome, as it means that if the company can prove to Apple that it is a reliable supply chain partner, it can win orders for the more premium devices such as the iPhone, iPad, MacBook and more.

Deals with Apple do end up being like shaking hands with the devil. MediaTek might find that by late 2025 or early 2026, it might have developed its modem and not need the company.

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