The next Apple TV and HomePod mini models could serve as a launchpad for Apple Proximity, an in-house designed Wi-Fi and Bluetooth combo chip.
Refreshed Apple TV and HomePod mini models coming down the pike later this year should swap the combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip that Broadcom has supplied to Apple for many years for an all-new wireless chip from Apple, dubbed “Proxima.”
No further information was provided, but this isn’t the first time we hear about “Proxima”. In 2024, Mark Gurman wrote on Bloomberg that “Proxima” chip would debut in the next Apple TV and HomePod mini models, replacing Broadcom.
Apple’s all-new “Proxima” chip could debut in the next Apple TV and HomePod mini models coming later this year
MacRumors has received a tip from an anonymous source regarding unreleased Apple chips for upcoming devices, which reveals the “Proxima” chip name:
- Apple A19: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17e
- Apple A19 Pro: iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max
- Apple M5: MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, iPad Pro, Vision Pro
- Apple M5 Pro: MacBook Pro, Mac mini
- Apple S11: Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3
- Apple C2: iPhone 17e, possible other devices
- Apple Proxima: Apple TV, HomePod mini
“Our tipster also claimed that Apple has tested a Mac Pro with an M3 Ultra chip, but it is unclear if it will be released at this point,” writes MacRumors. “They also uncovered evidence that Apple has no plans to release an M4 Ultra chip, as the company already strongly implied, so it is possible that the Mac Pro might not be updated until an M5 Ultra chip is ready.”
Apple should release some of the devices using these new chips in the fall, probably in September and/or October, including new iPhones, iPads and Macs.
What we know about “Proxima” so far
This isn’t the first time we heard the “Proxima” name. In 2024, Mark Gurman wrote on Bloomberg that an all-new “Proxima” chip would be used in new Apple TV and HomePod mini models instead of a Broadcom component.
“The chip, code-named Proxima, has been in development for several years and is now slated to go into the first products in 2025, according to people familiar with the matter,” reads the Bloomberg piece. “Like Apple’s other in-house chips, Proxima will be produced by partner Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.”
He added the chip will support either Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7. In comparison, the current Apple TV 4K model supports Wi-Fi 6, while the HomePod mini uses the older Wi-Fi 4 protocol. Apparently, “Proxima” will be able to work as a Wi-Fi extender.
Gurman claims that “Proxima” will eventually work together with Apple’s in-house modem chip, creating a tightly integrated end-to-end wireless solution that’s more energy-efficient than third-party chips.
Now Apple will have domain over how devices connect to cellular networks and Wi-Fi hubs — areas where other chipmakers have long had an edge. That should give it more control over the user experience and pave the way for new device formats, such as thinner iPhones and wearable technology.
Apple’s custom modem chip
Apple has been working on additional in-house silicon to replace more of the chips it buys from other companies. After years of development, Apple released its first cellular mode, the C1, which has so far appeared in the iPhone 16e.
The Cupertino company is rumored to use a new version of the modem in the upcoming iPhone 17 Air model, expected to be released later this year. Gurman expects the C2 to make its way into the iPad and Mac models starting next year.