Buzz
Previously, Kuo mentioned that the fourth generation would be the first from Apple with a custom-designed 5G modem, but it's unclear if this plan still holds true.
Apple's custom-designed 5G modem for iPhones is slated for release in 2025In July, there were reports that the mass production of the fourth-generation iPhone SE has been delayed until 2025, making it likely to be the first device with an Apple modem.
The tech giant has reportedly been planning its own modem for over 5 years and acquired the majority of Intel's smartphone modem business in 2019. By 2025, models like the iPhone 16 are expected to feature Qualcomm modems. The transition to Apple modems could commence with the iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 17, if the development process goes smoothly.
It remains unclear whether Apple's designed 5G modem will bring any benefits to consumers compared to Qualcomm's modem. However, it will reduce Apple's dependency on Qualcomm as a supplier. In 2017, Apple sued Qualcomm over alleged anti-competitive practices and unpaid copyright royalties totaling 1 billion USD. The two companies settled the lawsuit in 2019.
Explore more: Apple's 5G modem will be manufactured using TSMC's 3nm process.
