Apple prepares the launch of the iPhone 13 for the month of September, and the next-gen iPhone could open up to significant innovation in communications via satellite support.
According to the latest rumours, highlighted by the well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple intends to insert LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites connectivity to allow communications even without 4G or 5G.
Kuo explains how the future lineup of the iPhone 13 will boast hardware capable of communicating with LEO satellites. Thanks to new software implementations with iOS 15, this change could allow iPhone users to make calls and send messages without the need for 4G or 5G cellular networks.
According to Kuo, iPhone 13 would take advantage of a completely revised and customized version of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X60 baseband chip to support satellite communications.
In Android, the chip is known from the Snapdragon 888 and Snapdragon 888 Plus, where it is integrated directly into the SoC. Apple’s own A processors have always been independent and connected the modem via an external chip.
Apple would be the first company to propose this possibility of communication, given that other companies are awaiting the arrival of Qualcomm’s X65 chip which will only allow communications via satellites in 2022.
According to the latest rumours, Apple’s next iPhone event will take place in the second half of September. The same design as before, but with a slightly smaller Face ID notch is expected for the iPhone 13. It also suppose to feature a 120 Hz display with always-on function, the A15 processor, new cameras and larger batteries.
