Sources: Apple's in-house modems will debut next spring in the new iPhone SE, with 2nd-gen modems expected in higher-end products like iPhone 18 lineup in 2026
- Company plans first modem in 2025 and high-end version in 2026 — Initial chip, in iPhone SE, won't match Qualcomm capabilities
Context & Ripple Effects
Apple’s modem effort has been framed as a staged replacement of Qualcomm rather than a single-device switch. Earlier reporting pointed to a debut in select models and a rollout that would take years, while the iPhone SE was identified as the first model likely to carry the chip.
This report adds a product-tier sequence: an initial modem for the lower-cost iPhone SE, followed by a more capable generation for premium devices. That matters because the first chip’s reported capability gap makes the later generation—not merely the debut—the key test of Apple’s transition.
First-order effects
- Apple is expected to introduce its first in-house cellular modem in the iPhone SE next spring, beginning a limited replacement of Qualcomm components in its iPhone lineup.
- The reported performance gap versus Qualcomm keeps the initial deployment confined to a product where Apple can validate the modem before putting it in higher-end iPhones.
Second-order effects
- A second-generation modem becomes the gating item for Apple’s planned expansion into premium iPhones in 2026; a slower-than-expected improvement would prolong Qualcomm’s role in those models.
- Qualcomm faces a gradual, model-by-model reduction in Apple exposure rather than an immediate loss of the account, consistent with earlier expectations of a multiyear rollout.
Third-order effects
- If Apple reaches the stated premium-device milestone, cellular connectivity would join more of the iPhone’s core silicon under Apple’s direct control, reducing dependence on a specialist supplier over time.
- The modem program could also become a platform capability beyond phones: related reporting says Apple is investigating cellular connectivity for Macs and headsets, though that remains an investigation rather than a product commitment.
The trend: Apple’s modem program is part of a broader shift toward phased in-house control of strategically important device components, with capability parity determining how quickly supplier dependence falls.