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Why Apple is not the dominant smartphone maker

benb

Well-known member
This post will explore why the best mobile processor maker (Apple) does not have the largest market share.

As the forum knows, SOCs can integrate many functions essential to success in the marketplace. The crucial triad is processor, graphics, and modem.

There are many ARM processor licensees (in the hundreds), fewer graphics core vendors (in the tens), but when it comes to LTE modem vendors, it is down to two, just Intel and Qualcomm. The LTE modem concentration is interesting and I think market shaping.

LTE modems have proliferated to the point that even low-cost smartphones have them now. They are indispensable even at the volume, $200 smartphone price point.

Apple 2017 iPads come with and without LTE functionality. This unbundling is highly interesting, since you can buy an iPad without LTE for $329 and with LTE, $459 (thus, LTE costs $130). This price delta is consistent. And as we know Apple makes their own processors, bakes Imagination Technology graphics into their SOC, but must purchase the LTE chip from either Qualcomm or Intel.

The discrete LTE modem increases the $329 iPad cost by 40%. This is interesting for several reasons. Apple has split the product stack with LTE and non-LTE. This must be painful for Apple since it runs counter to their usual practice (which is to decide what the best customer experience would be, build only that device, and expect Apple customers to understand regardless of the cost). LTE seems to be a special case.

Another indication that LTE is a special case is Apple’s dual sourcing and underspecing of LTE modems. The best LTE modems have (on paper) Gigabit speed (Qualcomm X16). Apple’s latest products spec 600 MB/s though, which opens the door for dual sourcing (since Intel can only manage 600 MB/s). And the iPad modem spec is 150 Mb/s (which is 2014 spec).

Given Apple’s reputation for driving vendors hard to obtain the very best components, the LTE underspecification, and the split product stack, is highly interesting. I will now discuss a market segment that doesn’t exist, that I think should exist, and link it back to these issues.

Qualcomm has the largest smartphone market share, with the best modem, but mediocre processor and graphics technology. Apple has the best processor. In the PC market, having the best processor delivers the largest market share. How is Qualcomm able to prevent their market share from collapsing?

As we’ve seen, the discrete LTE modem adds $130 to a device cost. Qualcomm, unlike Apple, can integrate their modem in the Qualcomm SOC (such as Snapdragon 820, floorplan picture here) which does not increase the SOC cost by $130, because the modem takes up a relatively small part of the floorplan. Integration of the modem creates a huge value proposition for the mid and low end of the smartphone range.

In a $200 high-volume smartphone, the $130 discrete LTE cost is unsustainable, giving Qualcomm leverage. Qualcomm’s offering of a modem that includes processor and graphics, all in one chip, enables this market. There is no other competitive option. (Note: I’m aware that Mediatek and Hisilicon have offerings in the $200 smartphone market. While Hisilicon has a competitive processor, graphics and modem in a single integrated die, on a modern process, they are offering their product internally to Huawei only, indicating that they can compete only without competition and would likely not stand alone. And Mediatek offers such low value processors, graphics, modem and process to obtain the $200 price point that they will essentially never be competitive with Qualcomm. I think this proves my point.)

It makes sense that Qualcomm can achieve dominance by offering the full integrated package (3 out of 3; processor, graphics, and modem) where competitors can only offer 2 out of 3. This indicates the value the LTE modem integration offers Qualcomm. I believe this explains why Qualcomm dominates the smartphone market instead of Apple; it is the optionality of the $130 LTE discrete modem cost leveraged over phones with $100-500 price points.

Qualcomm’s modem is a gold mine. It gives them a moat. The moat is so high I think they could stop or slow modem, processor and graphics development without repercussion. Qualcomm appears to desire to improve their offerings but they are under no obligation.

Qualcomm’s SOC processors offer the minimum cost, rather than maximum performance. They have no incentive to offer maximum performance.

I would argue that in a slightly different world, a world without LTE modem integration optionality, most smartphones, even the lowest cost, would have Apple rather than Qualcomm inside. I think consumers would be better served in this world. Imagine the 9.7 inch 2017 iPad (at $329) scaled down to 5 inches, with an integrated LTE modem adding a nominal cost.

I would argue that it is reasonable to expect Apple, not Qualcomm, to have the dominant smartphone market share, absent LTE-related leverage. In the PC market, which doesn’t have the bundling of LTE function optionality, the best processor (Intel) achieves the highest market share (90%). Apple processors are to Intel processors as Qualcomm is to AMD. In this analogy Apple market share should be like Intel’s.

In conclusion, it seems likely that Qualcomm’s LTE-related leverage restricts Apple’s market share and changes the market. Better processor and graphics options are restricted by the $130 discrete LTE modem cost. Qualcomm doesn’t have to compete on processor performance and consequently just licenses stock ARM cores and mildly tweaks them. Qualcomm is lucky not evil. Intel has a parallel position to Qualcomm, in LTE modems, in most respects, and could disrupt Qualcomm but chooses not to.

The LTE modem seems to be a king-maker in mobile. I could imagine in the future Apple, Intel, or Qualcomm will change the status quo in some way (perhaps through acquisitions) to unlock the value of Apple’s dominant processor, so that more value is created, similar to the PC market.

 
LTE modems don't increase the cost to Apple by $130, nor anything remotely close to it. You're confusing Apple's bloated profit margins, with "cost". Apple extracts whatever it can get away with, then extracts 30% of all in-app purchases for the "privilege" of entering its walled garden.

I have no idea where you got the misimpression that QCT's CPU/GPU/Modem/DSP offerings are anything less than first class, but hey, you know what they say about opinions. Many years ago, Qualcomm bought the mobile ATI graphics IP and engineering team, and their Adreno mobile GPUs are excellent by any measure.

Granted Apple's CPUs are excellent, being specifically and solely tuned for iOs usage, and not fit for the merchant chip market. But that gives them no advantage, and many disadvantages, as compared with Qualcomm's integrated multi-function offering. And why do you mention Intel in the context of mobile CPUs? They are virtually nowhere to be found, and sport a poor power profile and a love of fans.
 
I would argue that it is reasonable to expect Apple, not Qualcomm, to have the dominant smartphone market share, absent LTE-related leverage. In the PC market, which doesn’t have the bundling of LTE function optionality, the best processor (Intel) achieves the highest market share (90%). Apple processors are to Intel processors as Qualcomm is to AMD. In this analogy Apple market share should be like Intel’s.

This comparison is flawed IMHO, as AMD and Intel make the same products (processors) and therefore directly compete; while Apple makes mobile phones (and does not offer its SoCs to third parties) and Qualcomm makes SoCs, so they do not compete at the same level. Considering that I am perfectly happy with my ca. EUR 300 Xperia, I am surprised that anybody pays ca. EUR 1000 for an iPhone. I also I only partly understand why CPU performance should be such a big topic for mobile phones - maybe to compensate slow software? (OK, some will argue for features like speech recognition and AI.) In summary I am surprised that they have even the market share they have.

But it appears that Apple understands customers and markets better than I - one of the reasons they have billions of cash and I have not...

(If they would sell their SoCs alone and competitive pricing, your analogy would apply.)

Regards,

Thomas
 
Another indication that LTE is a special case is Apple’s dual sourcing and underspecing of LTE modems. The best LTE modems have (on paper) Gigabit speed (Qualcomm X16). Apple’s latest products spec 600 MB/s though, which opens the door for dual sourcing (since Intel can only manage 600 MB/s). And the iPad modem spec is 150 Mb/s (which is 2014 spec).

Given Apple’s reputation for driving vendors hard to obtain the very best components, the LTE underspecification, and the split product stack, is highly interesting.

US carriers today won't deliver speed faster than 50Mb/s, or even 20 or 30Mb/s. Especially these are peak performance, not a sustained speed. So in two to four years time frame, Intel modem's 600Mb/s or iPad modem's 150Mb/s are probably good enough. This is a business decision Apple and Qualcomm made. Does the much faster modem speed give Qualcomm any advantage? Or that's just a talking point which can't be utilized in the real world?
 
US carriers today won't deliver speed faster than 50Mb/s, or even 20 or 30Mb/s. Especially these are peak performance, not a sustained speed. So in two to four years time frame, Intel modem's 600Mb/s or iPad modem's 150Mb/s are probably good enough. This is a business decision Apple and Qualcomm made. Does the much faster modem speed give Qualcomm any advantage? Or that's just a talking point which can't be utilized in the real world?

How many people buy smartphones based on benchmarks? Is modem speed really the decision point? I think the Apple strategy is to keep as much data as possible on the phone by building the fastest SoC possible and including an enormous amount of memory. What surprises me is that Apple has not successfully integrated the modem into the SoC. I know that Apple has a modem team, I know they are working on it, but where is it? What am I missing here? Very disappointing.
 
as @tenter pointed out, there is much confusion in the original post. It conflates LTE modem performance with smartphone market unit volume and ignores profit or margins.

In terms of global unit volume, Apple ranks #2 only behind Samsung. Both appear to be slipping behind Chinese products for the China market.
Apple, Samsung Smartphone Market Share Fell in Q1: Gartner | Fortune

In terms of global profit, Apple is #1 and there is no #2 worth analyzing. Samsung does not appear to make any profits on Smartphones.
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/23/app...nt-of-global-smartphone-profits-research.html

In terms of LTE or processor performance, who cares? The reality of global smartphone market share is a complex interplay of Chinese politics vs Western innovation and branding vs Korean persistence.

I would argue that in a slightly different world, a world without LTE modem integration optionality, most smartphones, even the lowest cost, would have Apple rather than Qualcomm inside.

Apple does not sell chips. Compare Apple's margins to those of the chip industry to understand why.
 
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Apple lives in its own world without modem integration. Intel likewise lives in that world.
No one can dispute that Apple drains 92% of the total profits from the smartphone ecosystem. Their model of overcharging for hardware, while scalping a 30% high margin cut from all in-app transactions (resulting in a 30% surcharge to consumers) has allowed them to bank $265 billion in cash and cash equivalents, and a great reserve of hubris.
 
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Good point. I'm sure if Apple gave away their phones like the Koreans and the Chinese Apple would be #1 in units "sold". Security is a big plus for me with Apple. You have to trust someone and Apple is my pick.


as @tenter pointed out, there is much confusion in the original post. It conflates LTE modem performance with smartphone market unit volume and ignores profit or margins.

In terms of global unit volume, Apple ranks #2 only behind Samsung. Both appear to be slipping behind Chinese products for the China market.
Apple, Samsung Smartphone Market Share Fell in Q1: Gartner | Fortune

In terms of global profit, Apple is #1 and there is no #2 worth analyzing. Samsung does not appear to make any profits on Smartphones.
https://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/23/app...nt-of-global-smartphone-profits-research.html

In terms of LTE or processor performance, who cares? The reality of global smartphone market share is a complex interplay of Chinese politics vs Western innovation and branding vs Korean persistence.



Apple does not sell chips. Compare Apple's margins to that of the chip industry to understand why.
 
Is it confusing to extrapolate from a $329 tablet to a hypothetical $200 Apple smartphone?

I would like to buy this phone, but it is currently missing LTE (which obviously it needs to have to exist). I'm not going to speculate but there are weird things afoot with LTE, and it seems to shape the largest consumer market there is.
 
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