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

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.



(https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2023/04/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 (https://www.macrumors.com/2023/12/15/iphone-17-pro-apple-wifi-7-chip-rumor/) 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 (https://www.macrumors.com/2024/10/31/kuo-says-apple-5g-and-wifi-chips-are-separate/), 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 (https://www.macrumors.com/2024/07/24/kuo-iphone-se-4-thin-iphone-17-apple-5g-chip/).

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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 (https://www.macrumors.com/2024/10/30/m4-mac-models-no-wi-fi-7/). 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.<div class="linkback">Related Roundups: iPhone 17 (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-17/), iPhone SE (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-se/)</div><div class="linkback">Tags: Apple 5G Modem (https://www.macrumors.com/guide/apple-5g-modem/), Jeff Pu (https://www.macrumors.com/guide/jeff-pu/), Wi-Fi 7 (https://www.macrumors.com/guide/wi-fi-7/)</div><div class="linkback">Buyer's Guide: iPhone SE (Don't Buy) (https://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#iPhone_SE)</div><div class="linkback">Related Forum: iPhone (https://forums.macrumors.com/forums/iphone.99)</div>
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Source: iPhone SE 4 First to Get Apple-Designed 5G Modem, iPhone 17 Pro to Add Custom Wi-Fi 7 Chip (https://www.macrumors.com/2024/11/01/iphone-se-4-5g-modem-jeff-pu/)