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According to analyst Jeff Pu, Apple plans to launch an iPhone SE with a specially designed 5G modem in 2025. In a research note from Haitong International Securities on Tuesday, he said the modem will be manufactured by Apple's chipmaker TSMC.
This information (via MacRumors) comes two months after analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple has resumed development of a fourth-generation iPhone SE with a 6.1-inch OLED display and an Apple-designed 5G modem. He said the modem will be manufactured using TSMC's 4nm process and will only support sub-6GHz bands, meaning mmWave will not be supported initially. Kuo stated that mass production of the fourth-generation iPhone SE would begin in the first half of 2024, and the Qualcomm CEO also expected a 2024 timeframe for the Apple modem. But Pu believes the device's launch will be delayed until 2025.
iPhone SE 4: Reports on the launch are contradictory
The current iPhone SE was launched in March 2022 and is equipped with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X57 chip for 5G under 6 GHz. The 4.7-inch device is Apple's last iPhone with a home button and Touch ID but Face ID is likely for the new model as Kuo said the device will have a similar design to the standard iPhone 14 model. Alternatively, the device could also rely on Touch ID in the side button. Apple acquired the majority of Intel's smartphone modem business in 2019 to develop its own iPhone modem, reducing its dependence on Qualcomm. It is unclear whether Apple's modem will offer any advantages for customers compared to Qualcomm's modems, such as faster 5G performance or better power efficiency. (Image: Ian Zelebo x Jon Prosser)
