The iPhone SE 4 launch will mark a major milestone for Apple in a lot of ways. For one, the device will rock an OLED panel, which means that it will finally shift Apple from LCD displays to OLED panels on the iPhone. Additionally, it will also be the first device to incorporate the company’s first custom 5G modem. A new report claims that the iPhone SE 4 will house Apple’s latest A18 chip, custom 5G modem, and much more at launch early next year.
iPhone SE 4 is expected to feature an A18 chip with a custom 5G all-in-one modem
We have previously covered that Apple plans to bring its custom 5G modem to the entire iPhone lineup, starting with the SE 4. Now, 9to5mac has corroborated the same information, suggesting that the company’s custom 5G modem will house WiFi, Bluetooth, and GPS capabilities. Additionally, the device is also slated to launch with the new A18 chip, which was introduced with the new iPhone 16 models.
As mentioned, Apple has been working on its custom 5G modems for years, and next year, it could finally see fit to begin incorporating the modem into its different product lineup. We have previously covered that the company’s custom modem will offer subpar performance compared to the current versions from Qualcomm, and it remains to be seen how the company will compensate for the loss. However, there will be some benefits as well, as it will be an all-in-one solution, allowing the chip also to house Bluetooth, WiFi, and GPS capabilities.
To be precise, the new chip will be dedicated to all the connectivity and network needs of the device, eliminating the need for dedicated chips inside the device. Ultimately, this could lead to spare space inside the iPhone for extra batteries or new components. Apple’s iteration of the 5G modem will gradually improve with time, and it will better compete against the likes of Qualcomm.
Other than a custom modem, the iPhone SE 4 will also come with Apple Intelligence features baked in. We already know that the company has set certain hardware standards for Apple Intelligence to work, and it is gradually upgrading its devices to include AI features. As for internals, the publication notes that the iPhone SE 4 will come with an A18 chip instead of last year’s A17 Pro chip. This is particularly important for the SE 4 as the device is speculated to incorporate Apple Intelligence features. This means that the device’s RAM could also be set at 8GB, similar to the iPhone 16 lineup.
The iPhone SE 4 is speculated to have a bigger display this time around, with a design resembling the iPhone 14 lineup. It is also reported that the device will come with the same 48MP main camera as the iPhone 15, which is a big jump from the current SE. The device is expected to be announced in the first half of next year, potentially at its Spring event. Would you upgrade to the iPhone SE 4 instead of the iPhone 16? Let us know in the comments.
