Apple's iPhone SE 4 is set to be released in March 2025, marking a significant milestone with the introduction of the company's first in-house 5G modem chip, reducing its reliance on Qualcomm.
According to reports from MacRumors and Wccftech, Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley indicated in a recent research report that the iPhone SE 4, equipped with Apple's own 5G modem chip, will debut by the end of the first quarter of 2025. The analyst's insights come following his recent trip to Asia, where he met with various electronics manufacturers and suppliers.
The iPhone SE 4 is expected to adopt a design similar to the base model of the iPhone 14. Key features are rumored to include a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, an updated A-series chip, USB Type-C port, a 48mp single main camera, and an 8GB RAM configuration supporting Apple Intelligence, alongside Apple's internally developed 5G modem chip.
Since 2018, Apple has been working on its own 5G modem chips, aiming to reduce and eventually eliminate its dependence on Qualcomm's 5G modem chip supply. To ensure a smooth transition, Apple extended its supply agreement with Qualcomm for iPhone 5G modem chips until 2026 earlier this year.
A Tianfeng Securities analyst has also noted that beyond the iPhone SE 4, the iPhone 17 Air will incorporate Apple's self-developed 5G modem chip. However, it remains unclear whether Apple's first self-developed 5G modem chip will outperform Qualcomm's products in terms of computational performance and power consumption.
For context, Apple launched the iPhone SE 3 on March 8, 2022, featuring specifications similar to the iPhone 8 but retaining outdated features such as the Touch ID button, Lightning port, and thick bezels around the display. While the iPhone SE currently starts at US$429 in the United States, analysts expect the new model to command a slight price increase.
