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iPhone SE 4 Could Include A18 Chip, All-in-One Apple-Designed 5G Modem With Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS

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The iPhone SE 4 that's set to come out next year could include a "quite ambitious" Apple-designed 5G modem that will incorporate Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, according to a report from 9to5Mac. The next-generation iPhone SE is also expected to get the same A18 chip as the current iPhone 16 models, which would allow it to support Apple Intelligence.

5G-Modem-Feature-Blue.jpg

Apple has been working on its own 5G modem technology for quite some time, and multiple prior rumors have suggested that the new hardware will first come to the iPhone SE, giving Apple a chance to test it out with a lower volume product.

The 5G chip, codenamed "Centauri," is said to be more than just a modem, alleviating the need for separate Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS components. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said earlier this year that while Apple was working on a modem that was part of a new wireless chip that also included Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, such a product would not be coming until a later date, so it is not clear which report is accurate.

It is Gurman's opinion that the first Apple-designed modem will not yield immediate improvements for users, and there won't be major benefits over Qualcomm modem technology. Over time, though, Apple plans to evolve its modem, more deeply integrating it into the iPhone's chipset.

Gurman has also said that the iPhone SE 4 will get Apple Intelligence, a claim echoed in 9to5Mac's report. The next-generation iPhone SE will reportedly include an A18 chip, which is the chip used in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. It is also expected to get 8GB RAM, the minimum for Apple Intelligence.

Prior rumors have suggested the iPhone SE 4 will have a design similar to the iPhone 14, with a 6.1-inch OLED all-display design and support for Face ID. When Apple introduces the iPhone SE 4, it will officially be the end for the Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the iPhone lineup.

Though the iPhone SE 4 will have an iPhone 14-like design, it is expected to have a single-lens rear camera. Apple could use the same 48-megapixel Wide camera that was used in the iPhone 15.

Other features that could come to the iPhone SE 4 include a notch for the TrueDepth camera system (instead of a Dynamic Island), an Action Button, and a USB-C port.

The iPhone SE is expected to be introduced in early 2025, and it will be priced between $400 and $500.

Article Link: iPhone SE 4 Could Include A18 Chip, All-in-One Apple-Designed 5G Modem With Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/10/03/iphone-se-4-a18-apple-modem/
That might be my next phone. i'm tired of paying the higher prices over two years. My 13 Pro was just too darn expensive for my budget, but it continues serving me well.

I've had Lightning fail on me for three phones in a row, including the 13 Pro, so I never connect a cable and only use Qi charging. I'll be happy with the switch to USB-C.
 
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Probably not the same A18 chips of iPhone 15 instead a lower performance ones from the silicons remained that didn’t get the enough power for an iPhone 15
 
I don't understand who buys the SE. It's friggin' tiny and the one person I know who has one has to expand the text size to read it. What's worse is that developers have to support that screen size which has a significantly smaller view port thus screwing up UI design that works fine for every other phone on the market including Android phones.
 
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I suggested several times here that Apple could build a modem around Globalstars terrestrial use spectrum Band 53/53N which is located at 2483.5-2495 MHz. This is in WiFi Channel 14 plus it is also adjacent to Bluetooth. Band 53/53N is only FCC approved for TDD-LTE use. The original successful testing Globalstar did with this spectrum for the FCC was for use in WiFI networks. The FCC settled on allowing it for TDD-LTE networks. Band 53/53N is also 3GPP approved for 5G worldwide. Apple has 85% use for all Globalstar spectrum.
 
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DEMinSoCAL said:
No way I'll be a guinea pig for a 1st generation Apple 5G modem! Historically, Apple is constantly screwing up WIFI and BT when they do updates. I'd be shocked if their first 5G chip offering was solid.
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would it be a problem if they offer the phone cheap? If it’s anything like the intel modem then it might be slower and slightly more power hungry. this could be mitigated by using a downclocked A18 to maintain battery life expectations.
 
DEMinSoCAL said:
No way I'll be a guinea pig for a 1st generation Apple 5G modem! Historically, Apple is constantly screwing up WIFI and BT when they do updates. I'd be shocked if their first 5G chip offering was solid.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't buy one in the first month, but we'll know soon enough. The potential for it to suck is probably not going to hang over the generation its entire lifespan.
 
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I would not bet against Apple's silicon team, given how they've outpaced the industry as newcomers who surprised even Intel right out of the gate with the M1 chip.
It won't be easy to match Qualcomm without infringing on its patents but the major benefits will come from miniaturization and the efficiency of a self contained system on a chip.
A complete SoC will bring always-on connectivity to Apple Watch, iPad and Mac and enable the kind of miniaturization needed for Vision glasses.
 
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Shouldn’t the headline read “GNSS” and not “GPS”? GPS is US NAVSTAR satellites only. I’m pretty sure that Apple has added support on their chips for Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou, etc. That’s called - Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). 😉
 
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RogueWarrior65 said:
I don't understand who buys the SE. It's friggin' tiny and the one person I know who has one has to expand the text size to read it. What's worse is that developers have to support that screen size which has a significantly smaller view port thus screwing up UI design that works fine for every other phone on the market including Android phones.
Click to expand...
Companies who want their employees to have iPhones (MDM purposes) but want the cheapest iPhone available.
 
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rymc02 said:
Why would anyone spend $600 on the iPhone 14 if this launches this spring at roughly $450?
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Rumors seem to be pointing to the new SE launching at $499, but point taken. iPhone 14 will look like a bad value at $600 (it will also likely be discontinued when the new SE launches). The 15 will be a tough sell at $700 too... older chip and no Apple Intelligence support, with the only upsides being dynamic island, ultra-wide camera lens and a frosted back? Honestly I think anyone not looking at the Pros or a Plus phone will probably gravitate to the SE.
 
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So basically identical to the iphone 16 save the dynamic island and ultra wide view lens, for almost half the price?

Yeh righght. Not gonna happen.
 
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