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Apple will update China iPhones to prevent ban, but Qualcomm still fighting
June 16, 2025
Earlier this week, a Chinese courtissued a set of preliminary injunctionsin the patent fight between Apple and Qualcomm. The injunctions — which heavily favor Qualcomm — essentially put a Chinese sales ban into effect for the Apple iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, andiPhone X.
Apple revealed today, viaReuters, that it will push a software update to the Chinese iPhones in question next week. This software update will change and/or remove the disputed Qualcomm technology, which Apple hopes will allow the company to avoid the sales ban.
“Early next week we will deliver a software update for iPhone users in China addressing the minor functionality of the two patents at issue in the case,” Apple said. “Based on the iPhone models we offer today in China, we believe we are in compliance.”
Originally, Appleclaimed the sales ban was irrelevantbecause the iPhone models in question all runiOS 12, which the company argues fixes the issues revolving around the case. However, Apple must have changed its mind, as now it is pushing an update.
Ultimately, it will be up to the Chinese courts to decide if this future software update will be enough to avoid the sales ban.
Meanwhile,Qualcommis pushing even harder on Apple, apparently emblazoned by the preliminary injunctions win this week. According toThe Financial Times(viaEngadget), Qualcomm is now pushing for the sales ban to also include theApple iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, andiPhone XR.
Should the Chinese courts deem the software update to not be enough to avoid the ban, Apple concedes it would have no other option but to settle with Qualcomm. If this comes to pass, it would be an enormous win for Qualcomm in its years-long fight with Apple over alleged patent licensing infringement.
However, Apple does not mince words when describing how destructive an Apple sales ban in China would be. Apple had this to say in a December 10 filing, viaThe South China Morning Post:
We can only assume that next week we will learn whether the Chinese courts will grant Apple some leniency in this case.
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