With the introduction of M-series processors and the new C1 cellular modem, Apple is steadily progressing toward total chip independence. The company is also developing its own Bluetooth and Wi-Fi solutions, expected to launch alongside new Home products and the iPhone 17 in the Fall.
An evident advantage of in-house chip development is increased energy efficiency. Apple showcased this with the launch of Apple Silicon and, more recently, its inaugural 5G modem, which provides the iPhone 16e with nearly 20% improved battery life compared to the flagship iPhone 16. While enhanced battery life is certainly a draw, there are also less apparent but more crucial benefits that arise from Apple having complete control over both its hardware and software components.
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Apple has gained insights from earlier vulnerabilities linked to third-party chips. For instance, in 2017, security researcher Nitay Artenstein uncovered the Broadpwn flaw—a significant memory corruption vulnerability in Broadcom’s Wi-Fi chipset firmware that permitted attackers to execute code remotely within a certain distance. This flaw impacted over a billion Wi-Fi-enabled devices, including the iPhone 7 and older models. By 2020, another vulnerability was identified in a Broadcom Wi-Fi chipset, exposing devices to potential eavesdropping. And that is just the tip of the iceberg concerning Wi-Fi chip vulnerabilities…
The concerning factor is often how long these vulnerabilities remain undetected before they are addressed—ideally by security professionals—and the duration it takes to implement a patch afterward. No one can control the former, but in the aforementioned instances, it took several months between reporting the flaws and releasing patches. Although Apple’s own components aren’t immune to flaws, their internal hardware and software teams are closely aligned, theoretically allowing for quicker response times, eliminating the need to depend on third-party vendors. Apple just needs to execute a Rapid Security Response, and voila, it’s automatically patched across billions of devices overnight.
A second crucial advantage comes from the supply chain perspective. Supply chain assaults—where hackers target suppliers or vendors with access to a company’s hardware, software, or network—have significantly increased in recent years.
On April 20, 2021, while Apple hosted its ‘Spring Loaded’ event, it faced a crisis behind the scenes. The REvil ransomware group announced it had breached Quanta Computer, a primary Apple contractor in Taiwan, obtaining schematics of unreleased products, which likely included MacBook designs. This illustrates that even an established company like Apple can be vulnerable at its weakest link.
Your corporate security measures are futile if a supplier is compromised. For Apple, which depends on a global network of chip fabricators and component suppliers (such as Broadcom and Qualcomm), this poses a significant security risk. By developing its own chips, Apple can reduce its exposure, thus lowering the probability of security threats.
Of course, this is my perspective on the company’s shift toward developing more in-house components. I see this as a substantial advantage for consumers, but I welcome feedback and would love to hear your thoughts! Please leave a comment below.
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