Apple and Broadcom have extended their long-standing partnership, with the semiconductor company set to continue developing and supplying custom chips for Apple through 2031. The agreement reinforces a key supply relationship as Apple continues to strengthen its hardware ecosystem while managing global supply chain challenges.
Broadcom confirmed on July 6 that the two companies had reached an agreement extension, ensuring continued access to critical chip components for Apple’s iPhone lineup and other devices. The move provides Apple with greater supply stability and helps reduce potential risks caused by market disruptions, component shortages, or pricing fluctuations.
For Broadcom, the renewed partnership provides long-term business certainty. Apple currently represents a significant portion of Broadcom’s annual revenue, making the continuation of the relationship an important factor in maintaining financial stability and future growth.
The agreement follows Apple’s broader strategy of securing long-term supply commitments with key partners to ensure a reliable flow of essential components. Although Apple has increasingly focused on designing more components internally—including its own modem technology—the company continues to rely on external suppliers such as Broadcom for important wireless and radio frequency solutions.
Apple’s shift toward in-house chip development has created uncertainty for some suppliers, as the company gradually reduces dependence on third-party technologies. However, the extended agreement provides Broadcom with continued confidence in its role within Apple’s supply chain.
The partnership extension comes after earlier reports suggested that Apple could replace some Broadcom components with internally developed alternatives. Apple has since introduced its first custom Wi-Fi chip, known as the N1, in the iPhone 17 series, highlighting the company’s ongoing efforts to develop more proprietary technologies while maintaining strategic supplier relationships.
iPhone 18 Pro Max Could Deliver a Major Battery Life Boost After All
The iPhone 18 Pro Max may deliver a bigger battery upgrade than initially anticipated, with a new leak suggesting that Apple’s upcoming flagship could feature a battery capacity significantly higher than earlier estimates.
Reports from February 2026 suggested that the iPhone 18 Pro Max would come with a 5,000mAh battery in China, while US models were expected to feature a battery capacity between 5,100mAh and 5,200mAh. The difference is reportedly due to Apple no longer needing to reserve internal space for a physical SIM card in US models.
For comparison, the Chinese version of the iPhone 17 Pro Max features a 4,823mAh battery, while the US variant comes with a 5,088mAh battery. Earlier reports indicated that the iPhone 18 Pro Max would bring only a modest increase in capacity, with similar figures confirmed by another source in June 2026.
However, a new leak suggests those estimates may have been too conservative. According to Weibo-based tipster Digital Chat Station, data from China’s regulatory database indicates that the US version of the iPhone 18 Pro Max could feature a 5,567mAh battery.
If accurate, this would represent an increase of around 9.5% compared with the current iPhone 17 Pro Max, significantly higher than the previously expected improvement of roughly 2%.
However, the information should be treated with caution, as both the earlier and latest battery capacity claims originate from Digital Chat Station, whose leak record has been inconsistent. Apple has not yet officially confirmed the battery specifications of the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Apple and Broadcom Extend Strategic Partnership Through 2031
