Apple 5G expect joins the Redmond-based software giant

Apr 15, 2020 07:19 GMT  ·  By

Everybody knows that Apple is currently giving the finishing touches to its first-ever 5G iPhone, with the debut set for the fall of 2020, so you wouldn’t normally expect the company to leave one of its top experts to depart the company at such an important time.

But Rubén Caballero, one of Apple’s key wireless engineering VPs, has recently decided to leave the Cupertino-based tech giant and join none other than the long-time rival Microsoft.

The details on the departure are very scarce at this point, but it looks like Caballero, who was previously involved in the development of the majority of iPhone models since iPhone 4, will now be part of Microsoft’s mixed reality and AI division. His focus will be HoloLens and “other special projects,” as he noted in an update on the LinkedIn profile page, as per Bloomberg.

Helping the Surface push

But Caballero joining Microsoft could be bigger news for the Redmond-based software giant, as the HoloLens and the other AI products that the company is currently developing may not be the only projects to benefit from the experience of the former Apple engineer.

During his time at Apple, Caballero was also involved in the development of wireless chips and antenna parts for a series of other devices, including here not only iPhones, but also MacBooks, iPads, and the Apple TV. What this means is that Caballero can now help improve Microsoft’s Surface lineup, especially as the software giant is pushing hard for new form factors, including dual-screen models.

Microsoft will launch the first dual-screen Android smartphone in the holiday season of 2020, with a dual-screen laptop powered by Windows 10X expected next year.

Caballero could thus help improve the wireless and cellular side of these devices, all at a time when Apple needs to do the same thing on the iPhone. It remains to be seen how big of a loss Caballero’s departure actually is for Apple, as the first 5G iPhones are due to see daylight later this year.