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iPhone SE 4 First to Get Apple-Designed 5G Modem, iPhone 17 Pro to Add Custom Wi-Fi 7 Chip

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The iPhone SE 4 that's set to come out early next year is expected to debut Apple's first in-house 5G modem, according to Jeff Pu, an analyst who covers companies within Apple's supply chain.

Apple-iPhone-SE-4-5G-Modem-1.jpg

In a research note this week with Hong Kong-based investment firm Haitong International Securities, Pu said Apple is expected to roll out its custom-made 5G modem starting with the next-generation iPhone SE 4. Apple's in-house modem will then be joined by a secondary Apple-made Wi-Fi 7 chip in the iPhone 17 Pro in the second half of 2025.

Pu has previously said that iPhone 17 Pro models in 2025 will be equipped with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip, which matches his latest expectations for adoption. Pu believes that both custom modem and Wi-Fi 7 chips will achieve majority adoption in iPhones by 2027.

Pu's forecast also tallies with predictions recently made by Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. On Thursday, Kuo said that at least one iPhone 17 model launching next year will be equipped with an Apple-designed Wi-Fi 7 chip. Kuo also expects Apple's 5G modem to be used in the rumored ultra-thin iPhone 17 model.
Kuo believes that Apple's 5G and Wi-Fi chips are currently two different chips that will gradually be used in new products simultaneously starting in the second half of 2025. The early switch-over timelines will differ due to separate production schedules, according to Kuo. As Pu also suggests, the iPhone SE 4 will move to an Apple 5G modem but still use a Broadcom Wi-Fi chip.

Apple's shift to develop its own modem and Wi-Fi chip technology would be a significant strategic move. Currently, Apple relies on Qualcomm to supply its modems, and Broadcom for its Wi-Fi and Bluetooth components. For example, all four iPhone 16 models already support Wi-Fi 7 with Broadcom's chip, but with some limited specifications. By creating its own equivalents, Apple aims to reduce dependency on third-parties, gain more control over the technology, and potentially lower costs in the long run.

The fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to have a similar design as the base iPhone 14, with rumored features including a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a newer A-series chip, a USB-C port, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, 8GB of RAM to enable Apple Intelligence support, and of course the first-ever Apple-designed 5G modem. The new iPhone SE is expected to be released in the first half of 2025, with a launch in March or April most likely.

Article Link: iPhone SE 4 First to Get Apple-Designed 5G Modem, iPhone 17 Pro to Add Custom Wi-Fi 7 Chip
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/11/01/iphone-se-4-5g-modem-jeff-pu/
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Interesting… I have a feeling my next iPhone will be the SE 🤔

Too many of the premium features of more expensive iPhones I just don’t use enough to justify paying the increased cost. And with the SE I still get Apple build quality and support.

In fact, had I not been able to get an iPhone mini I think I’d have the current SE. that form factor is just so good to slip in your pocket, a small compartment in a bag and hold to your ear for phone calls. It’s so underrated. The only downside is the battery runtime but hopefully the next iPhone improves that dramatically.
 
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iMac The Knife said:
Good call Apple. It is better to beta test the new modem in the SE, instead of putting it in a real iPhone right out of the gate. Let the kids try it first. 😁
Click to expand...

I never see kids with them. My company, however, buys about 500 SEs/year as company phones and I'll get one in the spring to replace the SE 2022 I currently have.

I'm nervous...We'll see! 😬
 
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WarmWinterHat said:
I never see kids with them. My company, however, buys about 500 SEs/year as company phones and I'll get one in the spring to replace the SE 2022 I currently have.

We'll see!
Click to expand...
I was just teasing anyway. :) One of my best friends has the SE 3, and he is bummed that they appear to be getting rid of the home button on the SE 4.
 
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lol at the comments here

This is Tim Cook we're talking about, the ultimate businessman.

There is no way he would risk his most profitable product (the iPhone Pro) for technology that is subpar
 
If Apple's modem works in such a way that it can be built into the company's entire lineup, won't you have to pay outrageous premiums of nearly $200 for cellular versions of the iPad?
 
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My straight up guess here… Apple wants to own the silicon for all wireless processing because Apple eventually wants to add a custom chip to communicate between the iPhone and its Vision Glass. Where the glasses do the UI elements, tracking, media playback.. but the phone does the content processing and network calls. So loading a website for example would happen as efficiently as possible to make the Apple Glasses the headphones for your eyeballs as Steve said.

To make all of that possible Apple has to own its wireless communications stack. It’s all to control the battery and to achieve better than WiFi connectivity to the Apple Glasses
 
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iMac The Knife said:
Good call Apple. It is better to beta test the new modem in the SE, instead of putting it in a real iPhone right out of the gate. I kid, I kid.😁
Click to expand...
I see kids with hand me down iPhones more than the SE. These phones are very popular in enterprise the hospital I work for issues them to every employee and they can only be used on WiFi inside the facility.
 
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AND411 said:
If Apple's modem works in such a way that it can be built into the company's entire lineup, won't you have to pay outrageous premiums of nearly $200 for cellular versions of the iPad?
Click to expand...
It actually might lead to less expensive cellular options. They currently charge a $150 premium for cellular on iPad because Qualcomm gets a percentage of total sale price for every device with their chips.
 
wanha said:
lol at the comments here

This is Tim Cook we're talking about, the ultimate businessman.

There is no way he would risk his most profitable product (the iPhone Pro) for technology that is subpar
Click to expand...
Full thunderbolt speed for excample?
 
This is shaping up so the SE will go from being the most reliable phone to being the guinea pig model.
 
Remy149 said:
It actually might lead to less expensive cellular options. They currently charge a $150 premium for cellular on iPad because Qualcomm gets a percentage of total sale price for every device with their chips.
Click to expand...

Will be interesting if the reduced cost by not paying a percentage to Qcom will result in more devices which include cellular by default. For example Watch Ultra and Watch S10 Titanium only come with cellular + WiFi, so maybe iPad Pros will be offered the same way.
 
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