Now that the iPhone 16 launch is in our rearview mirror, we can start looking at the models coming in 2025. And first up, what’s shaping up to be a very interesting update to the lesser iPhone expensive – it could include a major new Apple component. which I have been working on for over five years.
According to 9to5Mac, the 4th generation iPhone SE will feature Apple’s first 5G modem, called Centauri. The report claims that the chip will also handle Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS and will be the first iPhone modem not made by Qualcomm. Apple has been planning to launch its own 5G modem since at least 2019, when it purchased Intel’s smartphone modem division, which has some 2,200 employees as well as intellectual property, equipment and leases.
Switching to its own modem could be a game-changer for Apple. Besides the obvious savings, the 5G modem plays one of the most important roles in terms of battery life and efficiency, and controlling its development could significantly increase battery efficiency.
The modem will likely only connect to networks below 6GHz like the current iPhone SE. iPhone 16 models in the US also connect to faster mmWave networks for faster Wi-Fi-like speeds, so if Apple uses its own modem in these phones, it will likely support that technology. Most rumors claim that it probably won’t happen until the iPhone 18.
Elsewhere in the report, 9to5Mac’s source claims that the iPhone SE will have the same A18 processor and 48 MP wide camera as the iPhone 16, but will not have a second ultra-wide camera. As previously reported, it will have a similar design to the iPhone 14, with a notch for Face ID and a 6.1-inch OLED display.
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone SE 4 in spring 2025. Learn more about the upcoming iPhone SE.
