iPhone 18 Pro May Bring Apple’s Biggest Hardware Shift Yet… Qualcomm’s Surprise Hint Sparks Speculation

A fresh clue about Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 Pro has come from an unexpected source Qualcomm. During the company’s latest earnings discussions, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon indicated that the chipmaker expects a sharper-than-anticipated decline in revenue from Apple products later this year, fuelling speculation that Apple is preparing to reduce its dependence on Qualcomm technology.

While Apple has not officially revealed any details about the iPhone 18 series, Qualcomm’s comments have intensified rumours that the next-generation flagship smartphones could feature more Apple-designed components than ever before.

Qualcomm Expects Lower Apple Business

According to Qualcomm, its share of components used in Apple’s upcoming iPhone lineup is now expected to fall well below the previously estimated 20%.

The company also forecasts that its Apple-related chip revenue could decline by nearly 50% between the September and December quarters, coinciding with the expected launch window for the iPhone 18 lineup.

Qualcomm’s smartphone chip business generated $5.09 billion during the previous quarter, reflecting a 20% year-on-year decline, and the company expects another softer quarter ahead.

Apple’s Long-Term Plan to Build Its Own Modems

Industry analysts believe the development aligns with Apple’s long-term strategy of designing more hardware in-house.

Since acquiring Intel’s smartphone modem business in 2019, Apple has gradually developed its own modem technology. So far, its custom modem chips have reportedly been limited to select devices, including the iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, iPhone 17e, and certain iPad models.

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If reports prove accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro could mark the first significant expansion of Apple’s in-house modem technology into its flagship smartphone lineup.

Qualcomm Shifts Focus Beyond Smartphones

During the earnings discussion, Cristiano Amon also highlighted Qualcomm’s growing focus on artificial intelligence and data centre technologies.

The company expects its data centre business to generate around $5 billion in annual revenue by fiscal 2027, reflecting a strategic shift beyond traditional smartphone chip manufacturing.

At the same time, Qualcomm is preparing to increase modem prices from September 1, citing rising component and memory costs across the semiconductor industry.

What Could It Mean for iPhone Users?

Although Apple has not confirmed any hardware details, reports suggest that a broader rollout of its in-house modem could deliver improved battery efficiency, tighter hardware-software integration, and enhanced privacy features.

However, industry observers also note that certain premium connectivity features, such as mmWave 5G support in some markets, could depend on Apple’s final modem implementation.

With the iPhone 18 series expected to launch later this year, more official information is likely to emerge closer to Apple’s annual product announcement.