Apple's 5G Modem Expected to Debut in iPhone SE 4, iPhone 17 Air, and Low-End iPads Next Year

Following more than five years of development, Apple's long-rumored 5G modem will debut in the fourth-generation iPhone SE, the so-called iPhone 17 Air, and low-end iPads next year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Apple iPhone SE 4 5G Modem 1
A new iPhone SE, iPad Air, and entry-level iPad are expected to launch as early as March, while the iPhone 17 Air should be released in September.

In a detailed report about Apple's modem efforts today, Gurman said the chip will be able to achieve theoretical 5G download speeds of up to 4 Gbps, which would be slower than Qualcomm modems in current iPhones. However, real-world data speeds are far slower regardless, so this may be a non-issue. As previously rumored, Gurman said Apple's first 5G modem will not support the ultra-fast 5G standard known as mmWave, but he does expect the chip to maintain support for dual-SIM, dual-standby functionality.

Apple has already been secretly testing the new modem on devices deployed to hundreds of employees around the world, according to the report.

For now, the modem is not expected to be used in higher-end devices, such as the iPhone 17 Pro models. Apple's switch away from Qualcomm modems will have risks, as solid performance for phone calls and cellular data is crucial. By testing the modem with lower-end products, Apple can mitigate this risk. Early issues with prototypes of the modem, such as excessive heat and power consumption, are said to have been resolved.

On the other hand, the report outlined some advantages of Apple's first modem compared to the Qualcomm chips, including lower power consumption, improved cellular network scanning, and satellite connectivity enhancements.

While designed by Apple, the modem is said to be manufactured by iPhone chipmaker TSMC.

Apple is rumored to have been working on its own 5G modem for iPhones since at least 2018, as part of a plan to reduce and eventually eliminate its dependance on Qualcomm. Earlier this year, Apple extended its 5G modem supply agreement with Qualcomm for iPhone launches through March 2027. In line with that timeframe, Gurman said that Apple hopes that its in-house modem will overtake Qualcomm's technology by 2027.

In 2017, Apple sued Qualcomm over anticompetitive practices and $1 billion in unpaid royalty rebates. The two companies settled the lawsuit in 2019, and Apple acquired the majority of Intel's smartphone modem business that same year. That purchase provided Apple with a portfolio of cellular-related patents to bolster its development.

Related Roundups: iPad, iPad Air , iPhone 17
Related Forums: iPad, iPhone

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Top Rated Comments

turbineseaplane Avatar
11 months ago
I need to get a shirt that says “low end Apple customer”
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wanha Avatar
11 months ago
Considering how valuable the iPhone is to Apple and how meticulous Tim Cook is, does anyone actually think that Apple hasn't done very extensive testing on this modem?

That they'd piss away the most valuable product and brand in the world to save a few bucks?

If you think the above, we must not be paying attention to the same company.

Apple may not be the innovative company they once were, but they are meticulous when it comes to HW.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roar08 Avatar
11 months ago
Apple's Beta 5G Modem Expected to Debut in iPhone SE 4, iPhone 17 Air, and Low-End iPads Next Year.

Fixed.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
NMBob Avatar
11 months ago
Just imagine how big the price drops will be!!
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
KeithBN Avatar
11 months ago

Low end?
I wonder why?
For lower performance expectations?
Lower volume devices - makes sense to test first release on those, learn from the units in the wild, before adding them to higher volume products.

Pretty common way to test new stuff
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
wanha Avatar
11 months ago

It'll be interesting to see what download speeds this new modem achieves connected to T-Mobile USA's mid-band 3GPP NR 5G network. On my iPhone 16 Plus, I've seen 1,600 megabits/second download speeds if I'm close to a cellphone tower, thanks to using the Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 modem.
Apart from speed test results, what exactly do you need 1600 MB/sec on a phone for? Genuinely curious.

I don't think I would be able to use more than a 100MB/sec for anything even if tried REALLY hard
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)