Apple has already been caught forwarding Qualcomm's restricted documents to Intel: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/25/technology/qualcomm-apple-intel-stealing.

Apple has already been caught forwarding Qualcomm's restricted documents to Intel: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/25/technology/qualcomm-apple-intel-stealing.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/25/technology/qualcomm-apple... The previous Intel 4g modem performed poorly. Equivalent iPhones with Qualcomm modems (for Verizon) were purposefully reduced in performance to match the bad part obtained from Intel. "The chipmaker claims that Apple also threatened the chipmaker to prevent it revealing it throttled Qualcomm-powered iPhones. A minor controversy erupted last year after tests found the iPhone 7 from Verizon could download data faster than the iPhone 7 from AT&T, but didn't." https://www.zdnet.com/article/iphone-7-throttling-qualcomm-says-apple-gag-stopped-it-revealing-speed-squeeze/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/iphone-7-throttling-qualcomm-s... Mediatek sells 5g modems. Taking these on as a secondary source seems cheaper, and would cause less legal risk. Apple could buy 20% of the company if they wanted design influence. https://www.mediatek.com/technology/5g/5g-modem https://www.mediatek.com/technology/5g/5g-modem