Apple is preparing to update and launch the iPhone SE model for the first time since 2022 with the iPhone SE 4. According to 9to5Mac, this new model will be the first device to use Apple’s own 5G modem.
The company purchased the majority of Intel’s smartphone modem unit for $ 1 billion in 2019 and has since accelerated its efforts to produce its own modems. However, Apple has not yet released a device using its own self-developed modems.
Apple and Qualcomm’s relationship has become quite complicated over the years. In 2017, Qualcomm sued Apple, accusing the company of infringing patents that enable phones to connect to fast internet, as well as patents related to battery efficiency, graphics processing and data download speeds of applications. The parties reached a settlement in which Apple agreed to pay royalties to Qualcomm and signed a six-year licensing agreement. Additionally, a multi-year wireless chipset supply agreement was also signed.
Currently, Apple continues to use 5G modems produced by Qualcomm in its devices. In a statement made last year, Qualcomm announced that it would continue to supply modems to Apple until 2026. It seems likely that Apple will want to test its self-developed modem with a single iPhone model first and then integrate this technology into more devices.
Apple may launch iPhone SE 4 in spring 2025
According to 9to5Mac, the iPhone SE 4 will be similar to the iPhone 14 in design and will be powered by the A18 chip with 8 GB of RAM. In this way, it will be able to include some Apple Artificial Intelligence features. In addition, the home screen button found in previous SE models will not be included in this model and the device will have the Face ID feature. The iPhone SE 4 will reportedly be equipped with the 48 MP wide-angle camera and 12 MP front camera found on the iPhone 15. The new model is expected to be introduced, probably in the spring of 2025.