Qualcomm and Apple renew global patent license agreement

Qualcomm and Apple have renewed their global patent license agreement, which is set to take effect on April 1, 2027. The new agreement covers Qualcomm’s cellular patents but does not include terms regarding the supply of modem chips.

This distinction allows Apple to continue transitioning its iPhone lineup toward in-house cellular modems while maintaining a licensing relationship for Qualcomm’s patented technologies. Qualcomm has not disclosed the duration of the new contract or specific financial terms.

Apple has been actively developing its own modem technology, such as the C2 modem found in various iPhone 18 models. While many regions use Apple’s proprietary modems, certain models, such as the U.S. version of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, still utilize Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X80 hardware. Qualcomm previously noted that revenue from Apple-related modems might decline more rapidly than anticipated as Apple’s internal modem adoption expands.