Apple is reportedly preparing to take another significant step in its silicon independence journey, according to Mark Gurman reporting for Bloomberg. The shift is expected to first appear in refreshed Apple TV and HomePod mini hardware as soon as the upcoming year.
The company plans to replace Broadcom’s combined Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chips with its own custom-designed solution starting next year, according to the well-sourced Mark Gurman.
The chip, internally dubbed ‘Proxima,’ has been in development for several years and represents Apple’s latest move to reduce reliance on third-party suppliers, per the report. TSMC will manufacture the component, continuing their ongoing partnership in Apple’s chip development strategy.
The rollout of Proxima will begin with updates to Apple’s home devices, specifically new versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini planned for 2025, Gurman is first to report. The technology is expected to make its way to the iPhone later that same year, with iPad and Mac integration following in 2026.
This initiative is separate from Apple’s previously reported plans to transition away from Qualcomm modems, though the two custom chips are designed to work together as part of Apple’s comprehensive wireless strategy. The company aims to create a more tightly integrated and energy-efficient wireless solution across its product lineup.
Broadcom has established itself as an industry leader in wireless components, and Apple’s first-generation chip will need to meet high performance expectations. The new component will support the Wi-Fi 6E standard, offering improved bandwidth and faster speeds.
The timing of this transition aligns with Apple’s broader smart home strategy for 2025, which reportedly includes plans for an AI-powered home hub device and a standalone security camera. The custom wireless chip could enable better integration and faster data synchronization between Apple’s home devices.
Speaking of Broadcom, it was reported yesterday that Apple and Broadcom are developing Apple’s first server chip designed for AI processing. This could very well be part of Apple’s plans to release a conversational, LLM-powered version of Siri similar to ChatGPT. Gurman has reported that this in on Apple’s roadmap for launch as soon as 2026.
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