Apple fans usually have to dig deep into their pockets when they buy a product from the American tech group. Apple devices are no longer just technical hardware. They are now also seen as a lifestyle and status symbol. That has its price.
For example, the latest model in the popular smartphone series, the iPhone 14, currently costs at least 929 francs (or 999 euros). Enthusiasm was therefore great when the company first launched a model in 2016 that cost only a fraction of the usual Apple prices. However, it should be over now.
Specifically, it is the cheaper iPhone SE series, where prices for the latest model currently start at 479 francs (or 549 euros) – considerably less than usual for other iPhones. As renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has now confirmed via medium.com and Twitter, there will be no fourth generation of the iPhone SE.
According to Kuo, the company’s decision came about because Apple was lagging behind in designing 5G chips. In concrete terms, this means that the first in-house 5G chip was originally intended to be installed in the iPhone SE 4 as a test. If the test run is successful, the modem should be upgraded to the full iPhone 16 model line.
According to Kuo, this was done to ensure that the performance also met their own requirements. At the moment, however, the 5G chip is probably not at a satisfactory level. Apple therefore decided to scrap the iPhone SE 4 completely.
Rumors about the end of the SE series have been going on for a long time. As the technology portal giga.de reports, there were already public concerns at the end of last year. Accordingly, the iPhone SE 4 has too few market opportunities anyway.
Although the iPhone SE 3, which was released in spring 2022, is externally unchanged from its predecessor, the fourth generation should be different.
Apple would have opted for a completely new design, based on the appearance of the iPhone XR. However, the resulting higher development costs would have had an impact on profitability.
However, the previous supplier of Apple chips should benefit from the end of the iPhone SE 4: the semiconductor manufacturer Qualcomm. As Ming-Chi Kuo says:
Qualcomm will therefore remain Apple’s exclusive mobile chip supplier for the time being and will also contribute the 5G chips.
Apple will be doubly annoyed.
Because: Apple has been involved in a legal dispute with the semiconductor manufacturer since 2017. Apple sued Qualcomm for $1 billion over excessive licensing fees and withheld discounts. Qualcomm in turn sued Apple for infringement of its patents.
With the in-house 5G chip concept, Apple wanted to emancipate itself a bit from the controversial trading partner. Now you must admit your own inability. With consequences: the dependence on the semiconductor manufacturer Qualcomm, also based in Silicon Valley, continues.
(t-online/dsc)
Source: Watson
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
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