Apple's update to the iPhone SE adds a new design and Apple Intelligence, as well as a new name: iPhone 16e.
Apple didn't simply change the expected iPhone SE 4 name to iPhone 16e — they're distinct product lines and all the data points to a strategy shift.
It makes its debut in the iPhone 16e, but it isn't clear if the in-house modem will be ready for Apple's iPhone 17 lineup in the fall.
Apple has finally introduced its first in-house modem alongside iPhone 16e, the C1, marking a major shift in its hardware strategy.
By 2023, Apple was still finalizing its modem supply chain, with companies like ASE Technology and Amkor Technology competing to handle packaging for its custom chips.
