The iPhone SE 4 is expected to be the first iPhone to feature Apple's in-house 5G modem, but it will likely have some drawbacks compared to using Qualcomm modems[1][3][10].
Potential drawbacks:
* No mmWave Support Apple's modem will not support mmWave 5G, which is the fastest 5G technology but has a short range and is limited to major cities and venues[1][2][4]. The iPhone SE 4 will likely offer slower upload and download speeds compared to the iPhone 16 series, which features the Snapdragon X75 modem[1]. It will instead focus on Sub-6 5G, which is more prevalent and has a longer range[2][4].
* Slower speeds In testing, Apple's modem reached download speeds of approximately 4 gigabits per second, which is slower than Qualcomm's existing models[4]. Apple's modem chip will support theoretical download speeds of up to 4Gb/s, which is slower than the Qualcomm modems in the current iPhone 16 models[2][7].
* Fewer carrier aggregation features Apple's modem could offer fewer carrier aggregation features than Qualcomm's chip[1]. It will provide four-carrier aggregation, unlike Qualcomm's six-carrier aggregation[4]. This technology merges frequencies from multiple wireless providers to enhance network capacity and speed[4].
* Inferior performance Apple's own modem will perform worse than the Qualcomm chips it has been using for years[3]. Prototype chips tested in late 2022 were allegedly "three years behind Qualcomm's best modem chip"[2].
* Testing issues Building a 5G wireless modem that works well on the myriad of 2G, 3G, and 4G wireless frequencies in use around the world has been trickier than expected[5]. The effort has been plagued by unrealistic goals and deadlines[5]. Initial prototypes of Apple's modem faced hurdles in carrier testing and certification in dozens of markets[9].
[1] https://www.gsmarena.com/iphone_se_4s_modem_to_lack_mmwave_support-news-66580.php
[2] https://www.macrumors.com/guide/apple-5g-modem/
[3] https://vocal.media/chapters/i-phone-se-4-will-have-worse-cellular-coverage-but-will-also-save-apple-money-zprl80x2g
[4] https://www.yahoo.com/tech/the-next-iphone-ses-new-modem-reportedly-wont-be-as-capable-as-qualcomms-205330204.html
[5] https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/21/23883565/apple-5g-modem-failure-inside-story
[6] https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/1er7waw/iphone_se_4_likely_to_feature_8gb_of_ram_for/
[7] https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/what-you-should-know-about-apples-5g-modem.2440267/
[8] https://9to5mac.com/2024/11/26/apple-5g-modem-rumors/
[9] https://www.rdworldonline.com/iphone-se-4-launch-hints-at-apples-long-game-in-5g-modems-challenging-qualcomms-reign/
[10] https://bgr.com/tech/apples-plan-to-use-in-house-5g-modem-leaks-in-iphone-roadmap/
[11] https://discussions.apple.com/thread/254072667
[12] https://www.phonearena.com/news/iphone-se-4-worse-cellular-coverage-but-will-save-apple-money_id167635