Intel XMM modems explained

The Intel XMM modems are a series of 4G LTE, LTE Advanced, LTE Advanced Pro and 5G modems found in many phones, tablets, laptops and wearables (sans 5g-technology) developed by Intel Mobile Communications.^[1] Intel Mobile Communications was formed after Intel acquired the Wireless Solutions (WLS) division of Infineon early in 2011 for US$1.4 billion.^[2]

On April 16, 2019, Apple and Qualcomm reached a settlement which included Apple paying an unspecified amount, entering into a six-year patent licensing agreement, and a multi-year agreement for Qualcomm to provide hardware to Apple.^[3] Shortly after Intel announced they will exit the 5G smartphone modem business to focus 5G efforts on network infrastructure.^[4]

On July 25, 2019, Apple and Intel announced an agreement for Apple to acquire Intel Mobile Communications' smartphone modem business for US$1 billion.^[5] Intel will continue to develop modems for non-smartphones such as PCs, Internet of things and autonomous vehicles.

On November 25, 2019, MediaTek and Intel announced a partnership to bring 5G to PCs in 2021.^{[6] [7]}

5G modems

Intel XMM 8160 5G modem

• Protocols: 5G NR NSA & SA, EN-DC, LTE NR dual-connectivity, Legacy 2G/3G/4G modes, FDD/TDD^[8]
• Single Chip Multi-mode support
• Downlink speeds of up to 6 Gbit/s
• Sub-6 GHz and 26/28/39 GHz mmWave
• Intel 10nm process
• Cancelled as of April 16, 2019

Intel XMM 8060 5G modem

• Protocols: 5G NR NSA & SA, EN-DC, LTE NR dual-connectivity, Legacy 2G/3G/4G modes, FDD/TDD
• Multi-mode support
• Downlink speeds of up to 6 Gbit/s
• Sub-6 GHz and 26/28/39 GHz mmWave
• Intel 14 nm process
• Cancelled as of November 14, 2018

4G modems

Intel XMM 7660 modem

• Protocols: LTE Advanced Pro, FDD/TDD, DC-HSPA+, TD-SCDMA, GSM/GPRS, CDMA/EVDO,^[9] LAA, CBRS
• Downlink LTE: LTE Category 19 (1600 Mbit/s). 7x20 MHz carrier aggregation. Up to 256-QAM. Up to 4x4 MIMO
• Uplink LTE: LTE Category 13 (225 Mbit/s). 3x20 MHz carrier aggregation. Up to 64-QAM
• Support of more than 45 (4G/LTE) bands simultaneously
• Featured in: iPhone 11,^[10] 11 Pro/11 Pro Max,^[11] iPhone SE 2^[12]
• Intel 14nm+ FinFET process
• Released Q3 2019

Intel XMM 7560 modem

• Protocols: LTE Advanced Pro, FDD/TDD, DC-HSPA+, TD-SCDMA, GSM/GPRS, CDMA/EVDO^[13]
• Downlink LTE: LTE Category 16 (1000 Mbit/s). 5x20 MHz carrier aggregation. Up to 256-QAM. Up to 4x4 MIMO
• Uplink LTE: LTE Category 13 (150 Mbit/s). 2x20 MHz carrier aggregation. Up to 64-QAM
• Support of more than 35 (4G/LTE) bands simultaneously
• Featured in: iPhone XS/XS Max/XR,^[14] iPad Pro (2018),^[15] HP Spectre Folio^[16]
• Intel 14nm process
• Released Q3 2018
• Fibocom L860-GL

Intel XMM 7480 modem

• Protocols: LTE Advanced, FDD/TDD, DC-HSPA+, TD-SCDMA, GSM/GPRS^[17]
• Downlink LTE: LTE Category 12 (600 Mbit/s). 4x20 MHz carrier aggregation. Up to 256-QAM
• Uplink LTE: LTE Category 13 (150 Mbit/s). 1x20 MHz carrier aggregation. Up to 64-QAM
• Featured in: iPhone X/iPhone 8 (some model used Snapdragon X16 LTE Modem).^[18]
• TSMC 28nm process
• Released Q3 2017
• Apple iPhone 8/iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X

Intel XMM 7360 modem

• Protocols: LTE Advanced, FDD/TDD, DC-HSPA+, TD-SCDMA^[19]
• Downlink LTE: LTE Category 10 (450 Mbit/s). 3x20 MHz carrier aggregation.
• Uplink LTE: 50 Mbit/s
• Featured in: iPhone 7 (some model used Snapdragon X12 LTE Modem),^[20] HP Envy x2^[21]
• TSMC 28nm process
• Released Q3 2016
• Apple iPhone 7/iPhone 7 Plus, Fibocom L850-GL

Intel XMM 7260/7262 modem

• Protocols: LTE Advanced, FDD/TDD, DC-HSPA+, TD-SCDMA^[22]
• Downlink LTE: LTE Category 6 (300 Mbit/s). 2x20 MHz carrier aggregation.
• Uplink LTE: 50 Mbit/s
• Featured in: Microsoft Surface 3^[23]
• Released Q2 2015
• Fibocom L830

Intel XMM 7160 modem

• Protocols: LTE-FDD and DC-HSPA+^[24]
• Downlink LTE: LTE Category 4 (150 Mbit/s)
• Uplink LTE: 50 Mbit/s
• Featured in: Samsung Galaxy S5^[25]
• Released Q2 2014
• Telit LN930

Intel XMM 7120M modem

• Protocols: LTE FDD and DC-HSPA+^[26]
• Downlink LTE: LTE Category 1 (10 Mbit/s)
• Uplink LTE: LTE Category 1 (5 Mbit/s).
• Featured in: Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1
• Released Q2 2013

3G and 2G modems

• Intel XMM 6260 (HSPA+)^[27]
• Intel XMM 6255/6255M (HSPA)
• Intel XMM 6140 (HSPA)
• Intel XMM 2250/2230 modem (EDGE)
• Intel XMM 1180 modem (GSM/GPRS)
• Intel XMM 1100 modem (GSM/GPRS)

Similar platforms

• Balong Modems by HiSilicon
• Exynos Modems by Samsung
• Helio M Modems by MediaTek
• Makalu/SC Modems by Unisoc (formally Spreadtrum)
• Snapdragon Modems by Qualcomm

References

1. Web site: Intel Mobile Modem Solutions. Intel. en. 2019-05-11.
2. Web site: Intel to Acquire Infineon's Wireless Solutions Business - Infineon Technologies. AG. Infineon Technologies. www.infineon.com. 2019-07-26.
3. Web site: Apple and Qualcomm drop all lawsuits in surprise settlement. Kastrenakes. Jacob. 2019-04-16. The Verge. 2019-05-11.
4. Web site: Intel to Exit 5G Smartphone Modem Business, Focus 5G Efforts on Network Infrastructure and Other Data-Centric Opportunities. Intel Newsroom. en-US. 2019-05-11.
5. Web site: Apple to acquire the majority of Intel's smartphone modem business. Apple Newsroom. en-US. 2019-07-26.
6. Web site: MediaTek and Intel Partner to Bring 5G Connectivity to the Next…. MediaTek. 2019-11-29. MediaTek. en. 2019-11-29.
7. Web site: Intel and MediaTek Partner to Deliver 5G on the PC. Intel Newsroom. en-US. 2019-11-29.
8. Web site: Intel Accelerates Timing for Intel XMM 8160 5G Multimode Modem to Support Broad Global 5G Rollouts. Intel Newsroom. en-US. 2019-05-11.
9. Web site: Intel XMM 7660 Modem Product Brief. Intel. Intel. en. 2019-05-11.
10. Web site: iPhone 11 Teardown. www.ifixit.com. 14 October 2019 . 2020-11-22.
11. Web site: iPhone 11 Pro Teardown. www.ifixit.com. 8 January 2020 . 2020-11-22.
12. Web site: iPhone SE 2020 Teardown. www.ifixit.com. 27 April 2020 . 2020-11-22.
13. Web site: Intel XMM 7560 Modem Product Brief. Intel. Intel. en. 2019-05-11.
14. Web site: The Apple iPhone XR Review: A Different Display Leads To Brilliant Battery Life. Frumusanu. Andrei. www.anandtech.com. 2019-05-11.
15. Web site: The 2018 Apple iPad Pro (11-Inch) Review: Doubling Down On Performance. Frumusanu. Brett Howse, Andrei. www.anandtech.com. 2019-05-11.
16. Web site: Intel's Customized SoC for HP: Amber Lake-Y with On-Package LTE Modem. Shilov. Anton. www.anandtech.com. 2019-05-11.
17. Web site: Intel Introduces Intel XMM 7480 Modem for Ultrafast Connectivity and Worldwide LTE Coverage in a Single SKU. 2016-02-22. Technology@Intel. en-US. 2019-05-11.
18. Web site: How to Find Out If Your iPhone X Has Qualcomm or Intel LTE modem. 2017-12-03. iPhone Hacks #1 iPhone, iPad, iOS Blog. en-US. 2019-05-11.
19. Web site: Intel XMM 7360 Product Specifications. ark.intel.com. en. 2019-05-11.
20. Web site: iPhone 7 Plus Qualcomm LTE Modem Outperforms Intel LTE Modem by Significant Margin. Clover. Juli. www.macrumors.com. en. 2019-05-11.
21. Web site: Intel version of HP's Envy x2 is awful — but not for the reasons you expect. 2018-06-22. Windows Central. en. 2019-05-11.
22. Web site: Intel XMM 7262 Slim Modem—LTE Advanced. Intel. en. 2019-05-11.
23. Web site: Chip Shot: New Microsoft Surface 3 (4G LTE) Based on Intel LTE ADVANCED XMM 7260 Modem. Intel Newsroom. en-US. 2019-05-11.
24. Web site: Slim Modem for LTE Smartphones, Data Cards, and M2M Apps. Intel. en. 2019-05-11.
25. Web site: Intel LTE poised to join upcoming Galaxy S5 family. Tibken. Shara. CNET. en. 2019-05-11.
26. Web site: Intel XMM 7120 M Modem for Industrial and Machine Applications. Intel. Intel.
27. Web site: Intel Mobile Modem Solutions. Intel. en. 2019-05-11.