Qualcomm renews global patent license with Apple

Qualcomm has renewed its global patent-license agreement with Apple, keeping a key part of the companies' relationship in place beyond March 2027.

The renewal takes effect April 1, 2027, according to Qualcomm's announcement. Qualcomm did not disclose the length of the renewed agreement, its price or other commercial terms.

Patent royalties are separate from modem sales

The agreement concerns Apple's license to Qualcomm's patent portfolio. It is not a new agreement for Qualcomm to supply modem chips. Reuters corrected its initial report to make that distinction clear.

That separation matters because Apple has been reducing its reliance on Qualcomm's modem hardware. Reuters reported that Qualcomm expects revenue from Apple products to decline faster than previously anticipated. The companies also have a separate 2023 supply agreement covering Snapdragon 5G modem systems for iPhone launches through at least 2026.

The patent relationship traces back to the companies' 2019 settlement, which ended a two-year global fight over wireless-patent royalties and modem-chip supply. Apple made an undisclosed payment, both sides dropped litigation, and they entered a six-year global patent-license agreement effective April 1, 2019, with an option to extend it by two years. The new announcement confirms that patent licensing will continue, but leaves the renewed deal's duration and economics private.