Apple has been rumored to be working on a 5G modem for years now, but so far little has been achieved. The most recent rumors do not paint a good picture of Apple's progress, and we still expect to see a Qualcomm 5G modem in the iPhone 16. However, that may not be the case next year.

According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the first phones with Apple's 5G modem are expected to be the iPhone SE 4 and the new “ultra-thin” iPhone 17 Slim. These are the only two models that will feature Apple's modem, while the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup is likely to feature Qualcomm's model.

This makes sense given that Apple extended its supply agreement with Qualcomm earlier this year. This means that Qualcomm will continue to supply modems to cellular-connected Apple devices until March 2027.

Apple will likely gradually add its modems to a variety of devices before that deadline. Given the problems Apple has had in developing its own modems over the past few years, that is definitely a good thing. Serious problems would mean that only a handful of devices would be affected, not Apple's entire iPhone portfolio.

Apple's modem story has been quite tumultuous. Rumors have been heard here and there over the past few years, and last November it was reported that Apple had stopped development of a modem. The rumor then switched to Apple starting development on a 6G modem, presumably in preparation for when the first 6G towers start lighting up.

However, if what Kuo says is true, Apple's 5G modem project is not only still alive, but we may soon see it come to fruition. Recent rumors suggest that the iPhone SE 4 could begin mass production as early as October and be released later this year or early in 2025.

However, it is unlikely to be included in the iPhone 16, which will be unveiled at Apple's September event.