Apple's modem won't support mmWave 5G, the faster variant
Apple enters a compressed period of product renewal, bringing its most affordable iPhone into the modern era with the same chip that powers its flagship devices — a quiet signal that the boundary between budget and premium is narrowing. The week of February 16th marks the arrival of the iPhone SE 4, while a Vision Pro announcement and an imminent MacBook Air refresh suggest the company is moving its entire product line forward in near-simultaneous fashion. These are not isolated launches but chapters in a longer story about Apple's ambition to own more of its own technology stack, from silicon to modem.
- Apple's in-house 5G modem debuts in the SE 4, ending its dependence on Qualcomm — but the chip's lack of mmWave support reveals the real cost of going it alone at a $499 price point.
- Thinning retail inventory for the M3 MacBook Air and 2024 iPad Air is sending a familiar signal: refreshes are close, with mid-March emerging as the likely window for M4 models.
- A mysterious Vision Pro announcement on February 14th has the spatial computing community speculating — third-party controller support, new content deals, or something else entirely remains unconfirmed.
- The SE 4's Face ID and A18 chip bring Apple Intelligence to budget buyers for the first time, compressing the gap between the entry-level and flagship iPhone experience.
- Apple's product calendar is accelerating across multiple categories simultaneously, leaving consumers and analysts scrambling to track what lands first and what it signals about the platform roadmap ahead.
Apple is moving faster than its usual cadence suggests. The iPhone SE 4 will arrive the week of February 16th, preceded by a smaller Vision Pro-related announcement on the 14th, with M4 MacBook Air models expected to follow by mid-March.
The SE 4 is a meaningful generational leap. Gone is the physical Home button that defined earlier models; in its place is the iPhone 14's design language and Face ID authentication. The A18 chip — the same processor inside the iPhone 16 — brings Apple Intelligence to a $499 device for the first time. More significantly, Apple is shipping its first in-house 5G modem here, cutting ties with Qualcomm's baseband solution. The trade-off is real: Apple's modem doesn't support mmWave 5G, the faster variant Qualcomm enables. For a budget device, that compromise appears calculated.
The MacBook Air refresh follows its own quiet signals. Inventory of the current M3 models has thinned at Apple retail locations — a reliable indicator that new hardware is close. Mid-March is the likely target, a window that could coincide with the release of macOS Sequoia 15.4.
What Apple intends to say about Vision Pro on Friday remains opaque. The company has been largely silent on its spatial computing platform since launch, and the fact that it's described as a smaller announcement suggests it won't compete for attention with the SE 4 reveal days later. Whether it points toward new input methods, content partnerships, or something else, it may offer the clearest hint yet of where Apple sees that platform heading.
Apple is about to move faster than expected. The iPhone SE 4, long rumored to arrive sometime in the coming weeks, will actually land the week of February 16th—not this week, as some had hoped. Before that happens, on Friday the 14th, the company will make a smaller announcement tied to its Vision Pro division, the details of which remain unclear. Within that same window, Apple is also preparing to introduce M4-powered MacBook Air models, likely by mid-March.
The budget iPhone has been one of Apple's worst-kept secrets. The fourth-generation SE will borrow the design language of the iPhone 14, ditching the physical Home button that defined earlier versions in favor of Face ID authentication. Inside sits Apple's A18 chip, the same processor that powers the iPhone 16 and brings Apple Intelligence capabilities to the device. The company is also taking a significant step by integrating its own 5G modem into the phone, marking the first time Apple has shipped a device with its in-house 5G baseband rather than relying on Qualcomm's solution. There's a catch: Apple's modem won't support mmWave 5G, the faster variant that Qualcomm's chips enable. The trade-off appears acceptable for a device expected to carry a $499 price tag.
The timing of these announcements reflects Apple's product calendar shifting into high gear. Inventory levels for the current M3 MacBook Air and 2024 iPad Air have thinned considerably at Apple's retail locations, a classic signal that refreshes are imminent. The M4 MacBook Air lineup should arrive within weeks, with mid-March emerging as a likely window. That timing could align with the release of macOS Sequoia 15.4, Apple's next major software update.
What Apple plans to say about Vision Pro on Friday remains a mystery. The company has been relatively quiet about its spatial computing device since launch, and press outreach from the Vision Pro team suggests something newsworthy is coming—whether that's support for third-party controllers, new content partnerships, or something else entirely. It's a smaller announcement, which suggests it won't overshadow the iPhone SE 4 reveal that follows days later.
For consumers watching Apple's product roadmap, the next two weeks will clarify what's actually coming and when. The iPhone SE 4 represents a meaningful upgrade path for budget-conscious buyers, bringing modern design and processing power to a lower price point. The M4 MacBook Air will likely deliver the performance gains professionals expect from a generational update. And whatever Vision Pro news arrives on Valentine's Day may hint at where Apple sees that platform heading next.
Notable Quotes
The new iPhone SE is still imminent and should be announced by next week, when the company is holding product briefings.— Mark Gurman, Bloomberg
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why is Apple splitting these announcements across two separate events instead of bundling them together?
The Vision Pro announcement on Friday is described as smaller—likely a software feature, a partnership, or an accessory. The iPhone SE 4 is the main event, the one that needs breathing room and full attention. Separating them lets each story land cleanly.
The in-house 5G modem is interesting. Why would Apple build its own if it's not as capable as Qualcomm's?
Control and cost. Building your own silicon means you're not dependent on a supplier, and over time you can improve it. For a budget phone, losing mmWave support—which most people don't use anyway—is an acceptable trade-off.
Is $499 actually budget for Apple anymore?
It is, relatively. The base iPhone 16 starts at $799. The SE has always been Apple's entry point, and $499 keeps it there. You're getting current-generation performance and design for half the price of the flagship.
What does the M4 MacBook Air tell us about Apple's roadmap?
That the company is moving through its chip generations quickly. M3 is barely a year old, and M4 is already here. It suggests Apple is confident in its silicon pipeline and wants to keep the MacBook line feeling fresh and competitive.
Should people wait for these announcements before buying, or is the current gear still solid?
If you need a device now, the current models work fine. But if you can wait two weeks, you'll know exactly what's coming and can make a real choice. That's the smart play.