Apple Inc. is preparing to finally bring one of its most ambitious projects to market: a series of cellular modem chips that will replace components from longtime partner — and adversary — Qualcomm Inc.

The first Apple modem is rumored to come to the iPhone SE before appearing in the rumored iPhone “Slim” and entry-level iPads. Down the line, Apple is reportedly planning to roll out a second-generation modem with mmWave in 2026,

The new modem chips are first expected in the Spring of 2025 as part of the updated iPhone SE, followed by an unnamed mid-range iPhone in the latter part of 2025.

Apple is preparing three generations of 5G modem with the first arriving in the 2025 iPhone SE 4. The third generation may be coming to Macs and possibly Vision Pro too.

An upcoming version of the Apple Vision Pro headset could be equipped with a custom-designed Apple modem chip, according to Bloomberg's

According to Gurman, a cellular MacBook won’t happen before 2026, because Apple will use a later-generation modem that supports faster speeds. Apple’s first modem, the one that will be in the new iPhone SE, will have some performance limitations, such as no support for mmWave and a maximum speed of 4Gbps.

Using iPhone SE 4 as a launching pad for new hardware, like the Apple 5G modem, is a brilliant move on Apple's part.

Apple is reportedly developing an in-house modem, codenamed Sinope, to replace Qualcomm chips in iPhones by 2025. It is likely to promise improved efficiency and design, paving the way for innovations like foldable iPhones and cellular connectivity for Macs.