Apple has apparently decided to cancel its plans for the release of a fourth-generation iPhone SE, according to well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
This news comes as a change from Kuo’s previous statement that the release of the device would simply be postponed. The iPhone SE was expected to be the first device from Apple to feature an in-house 5G chip, but with the cancelation of the device, it seems that the company will now continue to rely on Qualcomm for its 5G chip needs in 2024, including for the highly anticipated iPhone 16 series.
It was previously reported that Apple had planned to test the 5G chip in the iPhone SE before rolling it out to the iPhone 16 in order to ensure that real-world performance was up to par.
According to Kuo, Apple had hoped to use the iPhone SE as a sort of trial run for the in-house chip before deciding whether or not to use it in the more expensive iPhone 16 models. However, with the cancelation of the iPhone SE, it seems that Qualcomm will now have a greater chance of remaining the exclusive supplier of baseband chips for the iPhone 16 series in the second half of 2024.
The cancelation of the iPhone SE is certainly disappointing news for those who were looking forward to the device, but it remains to be seen how this will impact Apple’s future plans for in-house 5G chips.
It could be that the company will simply choose to wait until it feels more confident in the performance of its own chips before releasing a device that utilizes them. In the meantime, it seems that Qualcomm will remain a key player in the world of 5G technology for Apple devices.
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