It seems likely that Apple’s fourth-generation iPhone SE will be equipped with the company’s first 5G modem developed in-house. A new report from Bloomberg confirms an earlier report from 9to5Mac, revealing that Apple’s first modem wasn’t as powerful as the chip the company is trying to leave behind.
The new modem, called “Sinope,” will reportedly not support mmWave, a short-range 5G technology offered by Verizon that can theoretically reach speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second. The company also plans to offer only four-carrier aggregation, as opposed to Qualcomm’s six-carrier aggregation, which is “a technology that simultaneously combines bands from multiple wireless providers to increase network capacity and speed,” Bloomberg said. states.
Apple’s modem will instead focus on offering Sub-6 5G, a more popular standard already supported by the current iPhone SE, which launches in 2022. In testing, Apple’s new modem reportedly “caps download speeds at around 4 gigabits per second.” 2nd is slower than Qualcomm’s current mmWave model, but the difference is easier to justify on a cheaper device and may not be that noticeable anyway. The ultimate goal is to achieve even tighter integration between the modem and other components of the phone, providing important benefits beyond download speed, such as improved battery life.
Bloomberg writes that Apple is considering launching with the iPhone SE first as it plans to manage the risk of betting on new hardware. Debuting with the iPhone 17 Pro would be a show of confidence, but most people expect a $1000+ phone to work just fine. Until Apple can guarantee that, SE makes sense as a modem guinea pig. But that won’t last long. Apple’s second-generation modem, Ganymede, will be ready for iPhone 18 in 2026 and should rival Qualcomm’s current offering with mmWave support and faster download speeds. In 2027, the company’s Prometheus modem aims to completely surpass Qualcomm in “performance and artificial intelligence features.”
A report released later today suggests that these new modem designs could have a pretty big impact beyond the iPhone. Bloomberg attributes the rumored thinness of the iPhone 17 Slim to the space-saving efficiency of Apple’s new modem, suggesting that future Macs and Vision headsets could also enable cellular connectivity. The iPad has had that option since the beginning, but this is the first time a Mac has had cellular capabilities.
There are still many years to go before that happens, and the road to get here has been long and winding. First, the relationship between Apple and Qualcomm has had its ups and downs. The two companies engaged in a legal battle over patent infringement, eventually reaching a settlement and licensing agreement in 2019. That was also the same year that Apple’s intention to exit Qualcomm became more public with its acquisition of Intel’s modem business. Apple has since been trying to build a team capable of developing its first modem, and in 2023 it re-extended its contract to use Qualcomm’s modems through 2026. Now, the company appears to think it could be its last contract. It’s made by Qualcomm.
