Apple cancels plans to launch fourth-generation iPhone SE in 2024

Apple has allegedly scrapped plans to launch a fourth-generation iPhone SE in 2024, with respected industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claiming on Friday that the cancellation is due to concerns regarding the performance of its first in-house 5G chip, which was due to debut with the device.

Kuo noted last year how he learnt that Apple would either cancel or postpone the device, at the time citing lower than expected shipments of the current-generation model.

However, in a post on Medium, Kuo now claims that concerns over performance is the reason Apple has scrapped its fourth-generation iPhone SE, reporting how the Cupertino company had planned to launch its first in-house baseband chip as part of a transition award from Qualcomm, although it is understood that testing concluded that the performance of Apple’s own chips were inferior to the Qualcomm’s, with Apple deciding to cancel the device altogether rather than release it without using its own custom 5G technology.

According to Kuo, “the cancelation of the iPhone SE 4 has significantly increased the chances of Qualcomm remaining the exclusive supplier of baseband chips for the 2H24 new iPhone 16 series, which is better than the market consensus that Qualcomm will start losing iPhone orders in 2024.”

Apple’s most recent iPhone SE update came in March last year, with the launch of the 5G iPhone SE, featuring the A15 Bionic chip from the iPhone 13, 5G connectivity, better battery life, improved durability, and a new camera system with Photographic Styles, Deep Fusion, and more for a new, higher price of $429 (US).