iPhone SE and iPhone 17 rumored to get Apple's 5G modem first, in 2025

It's been previously reported that the Apple-built 5G modem would come in 2025. Whenever it comes, the modem will replace the Qualcomm ones that Apple currently buys in.

According to Digitimes Asia, the Apple modem will appear first in the forthcoming iPhone SE 4 — and then in select models of the iPhone 17 range. Although the report does not specify which models, it's almost certainly going to be the regular editions, instead of the Pro ones.

That's because the publication's sources say that Apple's in-house modem has yet to include the faster mmWave version of 5G. Currently, Apple only uses Qualcomm's mmWave modem in the US; no other countries get it.

This could also account for how other recent claims that Apple will continue using Qualcomm until 2027. It could very well be that Qualcomm's modems continue in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

However, 2027 is reportedly when the firms' current contracts run out, though.

If the new report is correct, it means Apple is confident enough of its modem to use it at scale. This follows five years of development since Apple bought Intel's modem division in 2019.

It also follows many reports of the project being in difficulty. At one stage, a dubious rumor even claimed that the entire project had been shut down.