iPhone SE 4, the new member of Apple’s affordable iPhone series, will most likely be introduced in March next year with the company’s self-developed 5G modem. According to the statements made by Barclays analyst Tom O’Malley, the launch date of the device will take place at the end of the first quarter of the year. This seems pretty consistent considering that previous iPhone SE models were introduced in March.
It is stated that the iPhone SE 4 will have a design similar to the basic model of the iPhone 14. The device is expected to feature a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, USB-C port and Apple’s latest A series processor. In addition, a 48-megapixel single rear camera, 8 GB RAM with Apple Intelligence support and the company’s self-developed 5G modem, which will be used for the first time, are among the important features of the device.
Apple has been working to develop its own 5G modem since 2018. With this move, it aims to reduce its dependence on Qualcomm and eliminate it completely in the long term. However, in this process, Apple’s modem supply agreement with Qualcomm has been extended until 2026. Therefore, it seems that the company still needs time in this transition process.
According to the claims of Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s own 5G modem will also be used in the “iPhone 17 Air” model, which is expected to be introduced in 2025 after the iPhone SE 4. However, it is not yet clear what benefits the first 5G modem developed by Apple will offer to consumers compared to the speed advantages offered by Qualcomm.
The foundations of Apple’s 5G modem development process were laid after the legal dispute with Qualcomm in 2017. The company accelerated its work in this field by purchasing a large part of Intel’s smartphone modem unit in 2019. This acquisition provided Apple with a broad patent portfolio and development capabilities. Now, it is stated that the results of the four-year study will be seen with the iPhone SE 4 in 2024.
Apple may set a higher starting price for the iPhone SE 4
The third generation iPhone SE, introduced in March 2022, was based on the iPhone 8 in design. It came with features such as Touch ID, thick screen frames and Lightning port, which can be described as old technology. It seems likely that there will be a small increase in the price of the new iPhone SE, which will replace this model, which is offered for sale in the USA at prices starting from $ 429.