Huawei recently expressed that it is open to selling 5G chips to Apple. However, the Korean tech giant's being open to business does not seem enough for the sales to push through.
Apple's plan to bring iPhones into 5G wireless technology a track where Huawei has headed means the need to have a more consistent supply of chips which the tech giant has been doing since 2016. iPhone modems regularly came from Intel and Qualcomm, Apple's big suppliers.
The scenario changed in 2018 after Qualcomm filed a lawsuit against Apple for patent licensing. The case resulted in Apple relying mainly on Intel alone for all its chip supplies including the 5G chipsets that the company plans to use in its aim to produce 5G iPhones for 2020.
Huawei, on the other hand, has been known to develop its own high powered processors and modems or chipsets. With its aim to be the world's largest smartphone maker by 2020, the Korean tech giant has a reputation of exclusivity when it comes to its high powered chips, the 5G modems to be specific especially among its competitors such as Apple.
Surprisingly, a reliable source with knowledge of the situation revealed that Huawei expressed it's being open to selling Apple one of its high powered 5G modems to power the 5G iPhone release intended for 2020. The source said that the Korean company is softening its reputation of exclusivity for the Cupertino tech giant.
Huawei is offering to sell Apple the 5G Balong 5000, one of its high powered 5G chipsets and is currently being used for the Mate X phone. The source, however, stressed that the offer is open to Apple's iPhone alone and not to any other competitors.
Things, however, does not seem to fall into the right place for Apple as Huawei's helping hand for the 5G iPhone to materialize in 2020 does not seem enough. The 5G Balong 5000 chipset purchase may not just be for the next iPhone releases due to a national security concern.
Huawei because of its close ties with the Chinese government has been labeled as a security threat by the Washington Lawmakers. The US government is even encouraging countries to avoid 5G networks that are powered by Huawei technology. A stance which puts Apple and 2020 targeted 5G iPhone release on spot.
With Apple left with only Intel supplying all of its chipsets and the hindrances for Huawei's offer to sell its 5G chipsets, iPhone loyal customers are keeping their fingers crossed to see the reality of a 5G iPhone in 2020.
