Apple and Qualcomm have renewed their global patent license agreement. Here is why the deal matters even as Apple builds its own chips.

The new agreement takes effect on April 1, 2027, exactly when the current deal expires. Qualcomm disclosed no term length or payment details.

The renewal covers Qualcomm’s cellular patents, not its modem chips. That distinction matters. Apple can use its own modems while continuing to license Qualcomm’s patented wireless technology.

Apple has been moving to in-house modems since the iPhone 16e in 2025. The iPhone 18 Pro uses Apple’s C2 modem worldwide, though the US Pro Max still carries Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X80.

The original 2019 settlement ended a bitter legal fight over royalties. Apple extended that deal to March 2027, and the new agreement continues the relationship.

We are pleased to extend the Apple license agreement, said John Han, head of Qualcomm Technology Licensing.

Why it matters: the royalty stream outlasts the hardware relationship, protecting Qualcomm’s most profitable business as Apple goes its own way on chips.