Leak claims that the iPhone SE 4 will feature an Apple-made 5G modem

Now that the iPhone 16 launch is in our rearview mirror, we can take a look at the models launching in 2025. And first, let's look at a very exciting update to the cheapest iPhone – it could include a major new component that Apple has been working on for more than five years.

According to 9to5Mac, the 4th generation iPhone SE will feature Apple's first homegrown 5G modem, codenamed Centauri. According to the report, the chip will also be capable of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS and will be the first iPhone modem not made by Qualcomm. Apple has been planning to release its own 5G modem since at least 2019, when it bought Intel's smartphone modem division, which has about 2,200 employees as well as intellectual property, equipment and leasing contracts.

Switching to its own modem could be groundbreaking for Apple. Beyond the obvious cost savings, the 5G modem plays one of the biggest roles in battery life and efficiency, and control over development could dramatically increase battery efficiency.

The modem will likely only connect to sub-6GHz networks like the current iPhone SE. The 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 this technology. Most rumors say this probably wouldn'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 48MP wide-angle camera as the iPhone 16, although not a second ultra-wide-angle 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 introduce the iPhone SE 4 in spring 2025. Find out more about the upcoming iPhone SE.