Apple Could Launch iPhone SE With an In-House 5G Modem in 2025

Apple may be developing an iPhone SE equipped with its proprietary 5G modem, according to a research note from analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong International Securities (via MacRumors). Pu indicated that Apple’s chipmaking partner TSMC would be responsible for manufacturing the modem.

The latest report challenges earlier predictions from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who anticipated that mass production of the iPhone SE would begin in the first half of 2024. Kuo did note, however, that the in-house 5G modem for the new iPhone SE would only support sub-6Ghz initially, with mmWave support not yet included.

iPhone SE: Rumored Design & Specifications

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the upcoming iPhone SE will feature a design similar to the 6.1-inch iPhone 14, which includes a smaller notch and an OLED display. In contrast, the current iPhone SE has a design reminiscent of the iPhone 8 with a Home button and Touch ID.

Recent reports have also indicated that the OLED display for the iPhone SE 4 will be manufactured by display maker BOE. This switch to OLED is expected to save Apple some money in production costs, which could help keep the iPhone SE at its current price point.

That said, the report makes it clear that this will not be the same OLED displays expected to feature in the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro models, which are supplied by LG and Samsung.

The new iPhone SE is expected to adopt the design of the iPhone 14 and therefore may include Face ID as the primary biometric option. While previous models have utilized Touch ID, Apple’s shift towards facial recognition could signal a new direction for the SE lineup.

Despite this design change, details about the processor and camera optics for the upcoming iPhone SE have yet to surface.

We’ll keep you updated on the upcoming iPhone SE as it tries to find a release date in 2024 or 2025.