Category: Apple

Here’s the lowdown in the next generation of wireless charging

(Image credit: Anker)

Qi2 wireless chargingwas first announcedall the way back inCES 2023, promising that something akin to Apple’s MagSafe would come to Android phones in the near future. So far there hasn’t been much progress in making that promise a reality. But rumor has it that 2025 could be the year that Qi2’s magnetic wireless charging could finally go mainstream.

It’s claimed that Samsung could be including Qi2 on theGalaxy S25series, which may make it the first major Android phone to feature the new technology. Considering Samsung probably won’t be the last phone maker to adopt Qi2, it’s somethingI am very excited about seeing. There’s improvements to wireless charging speed and efficiency, opportunities to exploit the magnets in other ways, and more.

Here’s everything you need to know about Qi2 wireless charging — and why I’m so excited to finally see it arrive.

What is Qi2?

Qi2 wireless charging is the second generation of the Qi wireless charging standard. Like Qi1, which is more or less ubiquitous now, Qi2 was developed as an open standard by the Wireless Power Consortium.

The idea behind Qi2 is to improve upon what wireless charging already offers in a bunch of different ways. This includes adding magnets, with the help ofMagSafedevelopers Apple, while also offering big upgrades to the charging itself. Upgrades like faster speeds, better power efficiency and improved safety. All so that the wireless charging experience is better for everyone involved.

While Qi2 was first revealed by the WPC atCES2023, the standard wasn’t finalized until January 2024. This meant phone makers, barring Apple who had MagSafe, couldn’t implement the technology for at least a year after its initial reveal.

What are the benefits of Qi2?

(Image credit: Anker)

The major benefit to Qi2 is the ring of magnets in the back, positioned around the wireless charging coil. These are designed to connect to other magnets in Qi2 wireless chargers, ensuring that the coils in your device and the charger are perfectly positioned every single time. Anyone that’s ever had to shift their devices around to start wireless charging will know how frustrating that process can be.

That instant positioning also ensures that your phone is able to wirelessly charge more efficiently. Because the coils are in perfect alignment, it means that more power goes into your battery and less power is wasted as a result. Not only does this prevent the lost power turning into heat, which is pretty bad for your phone and battery in high-enough doses, it has the added benefit of speeding up your charging session.

Speaking of which, Qi2 offers noticeably faster charging speeds.Normally Qi1 has a maximum charging speed of 7.5W, which isn’t all that great. Qi2 ups that number to 15W, allowing all Qi2-certified phones to charge at double the speed than before using any Qi2-certified charger.

This speed pales in comparison to some wireless charging speeds, some of which can hit speeds of 80W. However, those speeds are only accomplished by proprietary wireless charging technology, meaning they rely on specialized chargers made by the phone’s manufacturer. Qi2 can’t replace that, but it will ensure faster speeds for all those times where you can’t use the official charger.

Qi2 also offers adaptive charging speeds, which is new for wireless charging, rather than fixed power output. This allows your phone and charger to communicate, ensuring that no unnecessary power is sent through. Not only does this boost efficiency, it’s another feature that helps prevent excess heat build-up. Again, that’s bad for the long-term health of your phone — and potentially a safety hazard.

Finally, the magnets in the back of the phone opens up the opportunity for non-iPhones to use magnetic accessories. Many iPhone-compatible options are on sale and we’ve seen the likes of magnetic phone stands, grips and tripods already. I’ve also seen magnetic wallets, and wireless charging batteries that snap to the back of your phone. Since MagSafe and Qi2 are compatible, it means all those iPhone accessories will work with Qi2 phones.

How is Qi2 different from MagSafe?

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple’s involvement in the development of Qi2 means that it bears a striking similarity to Apple’s MagSafe. The two are close enough that a casual observer could consider Qi2 as the “MagSafe for Android phones”. But it’s important to remember that they are not identical.

MagSafe is a proprietary standard owned and operated by Apple, and means Apple can do whatever it likes with it. MagSafe phones are Qi2 compatible, but the opposite isn’t necessarily true.Apple increased MagSafe charging speedsforiPhone 16, allowing up to 25W speeds — so long as you buy the new, faster, MagSafe charger. Slap those same phones onto a Qi2 charger, and the most you’ll get is 15W.

MagSafe also features an NFC chip that can communicate with MagSafe chargers. This allows the phone to remember chargers, and any setting you may have set up. For example, if you have specific Standby mode widgets and settings on one charger, but want things set up differently for another, MagSafe can remember this and act accordingly. Qi2 can not.

MagSafe and Qi2 also have different requirements and certification processes. Typically, Apple is a lot more restrictive about what third-party developers are allowed to do if they want to be certified and able to use Apple trademarks — and that’s before you bring up the associated costs. So expect officially-licensed MagSafe accessories to be more expensive than Qi2.

So while MagSafe iPhones are compatible with Qi2, the opposite isn’t true for Qi2 Android phones. Unfortunately, the lack of Qi2 phones on the market means we don’t really know what happens if you try and charge a Qi2 phone with MagSafe. Android phones can wirelessly charge with a MagSafe charger at Qi1 speeds, so there shouldn’t be an issue of compatibility. We just don’t know if Qi2 phones will get a Qi2 experience or if the charger will default to Qi1.

Which phones actually support Qi2 right now?

(Image credit: HMD)

There aren’t many phones that support Qi2 right now, and the overwhelming majority of them are MagSafe iPhones. Qi2 chargers will still wirelessly charge phones that support Qi1, but your experience will be identical to using an ordinary Qi1 charger — unless you’ve invested in amagnetic phone case that ensures perfect alignment.

Here are all the phone that can charge with Qi2 wireless charging.

• iPhone 12series (including mini, Pro and Pro Max)
• iPhone 13series (including mini, Pro and Pro Max)
• iPhone 14series (including Plus, Pro and Pro Max
• iPhone 15series (including Plus, Pro and Pro Max)
• iPhone 16series (including Plus, Pro and Pro Max)
• HMD Skyline

That’s right, currently the only Android phone that supports Qi2 is the HMD Skyline, a mid-range $499 phone that’s been built for DIY repairs. While not a bad phone, it’s certainly not the kind of place you’d expect to see brand new technology debut.

Rumor has it that theSamsung Galaxy S25could feature Qi2, so hopefully this list gets to expand a little bit over the next 12 months. But until that happens, this is what you’ve got.

Image Wand makes your notes stand out

The Notes app has evolved into a powerhouse withiOS 18.2’s new Image Wand feature, which generates AI images from your descriptions or sketches. It’s part of Apple Intelligence’s growing toolkit, alongsideVisual Intelligencefor object and place recognition,Writing Toolsfor smarter messaging and, of course,Image Playground.

It’s a wonderful way to dress up your notes and you can choose from one of three styles: sketch, illustration and animation. It’s also possible to use the feature on an iPad. When combined with a Pencil, Image Wand really comes into its own as you’re able to hand write notes and create images based on that text.

Generated images can be moved around and resized, and there are few limitations. Beyond standard prohibited content, a notable limitation is it can’t generate images of people. Still, Image Wand is a great feature. Here’s how to get started with Image Wand.

How to replace a rough sketch with a professional image

Quickly get an image out of your head and on to the screen and then get Image Wand to produce something more stylish.

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1. Tap the sketch icon

First of all,launch the Notes appand eitherstart a new noteoropen an existing note. Thentap the Sketch iconwhich looks like a pencil in a circle.

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2. Draw a sketch

You can nowuse your finger to start drawingon the screen. It’s up to you what you draw — a castle or car, perhaps, if you want to experiment a bit.

3. Select Image Wand

When you have completed your sketch, simplytap the Image Wand icon. It’s the one which looks like a magician’s wand with a colorful tip.

4. Circle your sketches

Now,draw a circlearound your sketch and enter a description of the image you’ve created andtap Done.

5. Choose an image

You can nowswipe through the suggested imagesandtap one you’d liketo use. You canrewrite the descriptionif you wish.

6. Select a different style

Don’t like what you see?Tap the + iconandchoose a different style. You canselect Animation, Illustration or Sketch.

7. Use the image

Once you’re satisfied you like an image,b in the top right corner and you cancopy, share or save the image. When youtap Doneand go back to your note, you’ll find the chosen image has replaced your sketch.

How to edit an image you’ve created

You can make alterations to an existing image.

1. Select an image

Choose the imageyou want to edit andselect the edit buttonwhich looks like a blobby circle.

2. Make your edits

You will now see the image and any associated descriptions. You canadd a new description,tap an existing oneand modify it ortap “—”next to any element to remove it.

3. Remove backgrounds

Once an image has been placed within a note, you cantap the image,select the three-dot iconandchoose Remove Backgroundto isolate the main image.

How to use surrounding content to create an image

Image Wand can also be used to pull information from other words and pictures.

1. Tap Image Wand

Launch the Notes appandopen a note. Thentap the Sketch iconwhich looks like a pencil in a circle,select Image Wandanddraw a circle in an empty spaceclose to some words or images.

2. Draw a circle

Image Wand will be inspired by the nearby elements ans use them as the basis for your new image. You canswipe through the suggested imagesand make alterations.

It is also possible tohighlight some textandtap Create Image. Image Wand will get to work on a fresh creation.

And there you go. You now know how to use Image Wand in iOS 18.2. You can also learn How to use ChatGPT with Siri in iOS 18.2and try Apple Intelligence’s Photos Clean Up feature. You might also be interested in how to bring the volume slider back to your iPhone lock screen in iOS 18.2.

Here’s a rundown of what’s new on your iPhone with iOS 18.2

Apple Intelligence is definitely the headliner when it comes toiOS 18.2, the most recent update to Apple’s iPhone software. But the list of new features doesn’t end with Image Playground, Genmoji and any of the other AI-powered tools that iOS 18.2 brings to the table.

And that’s good news for most iPhone owners who either haven’t upgraded to the latestiPhone 16 modelsor own aniPhone 15 ProoriPhone 15 Pro Max. Those are the only iPhones that can run Apple Intelligence, making additional AI capabilities irrelevant to other iPhone owners. In contrast, nearly all of the remaining iOS 18.2 improvements benefit any iPhone that supports theiOS 18update — which includes devices dating back to the iPhone XR and XS models released in 2018. (For the record, there are a few iPhone 16-specific features in iOS 18.2, which we talk about later.)

We’ve detailedall the currently available Apple Intelligence featuresbrought about the iOS 18.2 update this month as well as theiOS 18.1 releaseat the end of October. Here’s a look at the rest of the iOS 18.2 improvements and additions aimed at your iPhone.

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iOS 18.2 Photos

Video playback in Photos in iOS 18.2 (left) vs. video playback in Photos in iOS 18.1 (right) 

Outside of Apple Intelligence, Photos probably sees the biggest batch of changes in iOS 18.2, with the most significant ones giving you expanded control over how to customize the redesigned photos app. I’ve shown youhow to use many of the new iOS 18.2 features in Photos, including deleting images from the Recently Viewed and Recently Shared folders, turning off auto-looping on video playback and re-ordering your albums so that they’re listed in alphabetical order.

But there are some other changes to be aware of, too, starting with video playback. It’s now full-screen in iOS 18.2 — previously, you had to tap on the video as it played to switch to full screen mode. You can also now scrub frame-by-frame when watching videos by pressing and holding on the slider, before dragging it back and forth.

There are a few other cosmetic changes to Photos in iOS 18.2. An album of Favorites now appears in the Utilities section. When looking at Collections, swiping right now takes you back to the previous view.

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iOS 18.2 Mail

We’ve covered the changes to Mail in iOS 18.2, but just to be thorough, iOS 18.2 introduces a new organizational layout, where your inbox is split into different categories. Besides Primary, you get a Transactions inbox that houses receipts; Updates, which features newsletters and other notifications; and Promotions, which is where various e-commerce and sales promos will appear.

I’m not necessarily a fan of the new look in iOS 18.2 Mail, primarily because it’s hard to tell when new mail has arrived in the different folders. Managing older emails from the same sender is also more difficult than it needs to be. If you feel the same way — or if you don’t like the look of iOS 18.2 Mail for any other reason, just tap the More button in the upper right corner. (It’s the one with three dots.) That summons up the option of reverting to the familiar list view featuring a single inbox.

Here’s another reason to explore the More pop-up menu: in the shipping version of iOS 18.2, it’s added an option to disable Group by Sender. Tap that option and emails from the same source are no longer bunched together, addressing my complaint that it’s too difficult to delete individual messages while keeping the ones that are still relevant to you.

iOS 18.2 Safari

Besides some security improvements — URLs are now upgraded to HTTPS wherever possible, and Apple’s browser now warns you when a website doesn’t have a valid SSL certificate for an encrypted connection —Safarimakes a few house-cleaning changes. You’ll see new options for your start page background images. (Hit Edit at the bottom of the start page to find them.) Import and Export controls let you move browsing data between Safari and other browsers.

Download a file in Safari, and you can now chart the progress of the download in the Dynamic Island area of your iPhone if your handset offers that feature. The feature appears as a circle that fills in, much like an AirDrop transfer, but if your Safari downloads are as speedy as mine, the download indicator will likely appear and disappear before you even notice it.

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iOS 18.2 Apple Music, TV and Podcasts

TV app searches (left) and favorite genres in Podcasts (right) in iOS 18.2 

As part of Apple Intelligence,the Photos app supports natural language searches— a capability that’s even supported by older iPhones based on my iOS 18 testing. The same thing now goes for searches in the Music and TV apps. You can type things like “Coen Brothers movies from the 1990s” and the TV app will bring “Fargo” and “Barton Fink” to the top of your results list.

As for Apple’s Podcasts app, it now invites you to designate your favorite genres — doing so will apparently influence recommendations the app makes on podcasts you should listen to. I’m guessing it also has an impact on another change from iOS 18.2 that promises a “personalized serach page,” where Podcasts will highlight the most relevant categories and collections based on your interests.

iOS 18.2 Voice Memos

I’m told musicians like to use the Voice Memos apps as way to try out music and lyrics they might be working on, and it sounds like there’s a change in the Voice Memos app that will appeal directly to that use case. As of iOS 18.2, the app supports layered recordings, where you can add a vocal track over an existing song.iPhone 16 ProandiPhone 16 Pro Maxusers can also import any two-track projects into Logic Pro.

iOS 18.2 Apple News Plus

The array of puzzles available to Apple News Plus subscribers continues to grow. AfteriOS 17.5 brought the Quartiles word puzzleto the subscription news service earlier this year, Sudoku now joins the ranks of games.

You can try out a sample Sudoku game in the Puzzles section of the News app. But if you find yourself hooked, you’ll need to pay $12.99/month for an Apple News Plus subscription.

iOS 18.2 Find My

You have a new option aimed at giving strangers a better opportunity of finding any lost items you’ve equipped with anAirTag. Enabled the new Share Item Location feature, and you can get a link showing the last known location of the item, that you can then handle over to a trusted third party — Apple specifically mentions airlines in its iOS 18.2 documentation.

The link is live for a limited time and doesn’t recall an Apple device, widening the pool of people who can track down anything you’ve left behind.

iOS 18.2 Camera Control

Here’s an iPhone 16-specific addition to iOS 18.2 that brings three new control options to the button Apple added to this year’s models. You now have the option to lock the autofocus and auto exposure settings when you apply light pressure to theCamera Control button, releasing that lock when you lift your finger. That option can be setting in the Camera section of the Settings app: just select Camera Control and toggle on the AE/AF Lock option.

Additionally, heading to the Accessibility section in Settings will let you adjust the double-click speed of the Camera Control button. Besides the default speed, your options are Slow and Slower.

In a settings change that’s sure to ease the worries of anyone who frets about inadvertently pressing the Camera Control button when reaching for their phone, you can now set the button to only work when your iPhone’s screen is active. Go to the Display & Brightness section of Settings and select Require Screen On for the Camera Control.

iOS 18.2 Audio controls

If you’d like the ability to adjust playback volume from your lock screen, you can add a volume slider in iOS 18.2. In the Settings app, select Accessibility, followed by Audio & Visual. On the ensuing screen, there’s a Always Show Volume Control button that restores a slider to the lock screen just under the playback controls. This setting works whether you’re listening via headphones or the built-in speaker on your iPhone.

Another new audio setting lets you adjust the limit of the iPhone speaker volume — helpful if you don’t want to damage the built-in speaker or annoy other people with the audio from whatever you’re listening to. That setting can be found in the Sound & Haptics section of Settings, where you tap Volume Limit to toggle on the control and adjust the volume with a slider. Note that changes you make only seem to affect playback and not things like phone call and FaceTime volume, alerts, alarms, ringtones or system sounds.

Change the default apps

iOS 18.2 expands the number of default apps you can change to include apps for phone calls and messaging.

If you’ve been following Apple Intelligence closely, you probably got excited when Genmoji arrived with iOS 18.2. In typical Apple fashion, Mac users were left wondering, “When’s our turn?” Well, surprise—Genmoji is officially coming to macOS 15.3, so you won’t have to sit around guessing if it’ll arrive in time for the holidays.

The downside is that it’s currently limited to Developer Beta, which isn’t exactly everyone’s first choice.

Understandably, you might not want to download an unstable version for just one new feature.

To satisfy your curiosity, I’ll walk you through what Genmoji has in store.

That way, you’re ready to hit the ground running when it rolls out to Public Beta or a stable release.

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How To Use Genmoji on macOS 15.3

Time needed: 10 minutes

Unlike standard emojis, Genmoji generates custom images from text-based prompts. Just type in your instructions and Apple Intelligence will respond with an appropriate output. You’ll find it in the ever-familiar emoji picker. It’s a simple, intuitive setup that makes it super easy to incorporate AI image generators into your daily conversations. Check it out here:

1. Update tomacOS 15.3. Click on theApple menu>System Settings>General>Software Update
2. Unless a stable or Public Beta version has launched, set Beta Updates to macOS Sequoia Developer Beta.
3. Click Update Now and wait for the installation to finish.
4. Next, open any app that supports text input. At the moment, Messages, Notes, and Mail support Genmoji.
5. Press Control + Command + Space to bring up the emoji picker, then select the Genmoji tab.
6. Type a description of the emoji you want (e.g. winking cat with a party hat)
7. Press Return and Apple Intelligence will generate a unique emoji based on your prompt.
8. Once the Genmoji is generated, click on it to insert it into your text.
9. The Genmoji will appear alongside regular text or emojis, ready to share in conversations or documents.

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Why Isn’t Genmoji Showing on macOS Sequoia

For Genmoji to appear, you’ll need an Apple Silicon Mac M1 model or above that’s runningmacOS 15.3(Public Beta, Developer Beta, or stable). You should also enable Apple Intelligence on your device.

If you still can’t access it, reach out toApple Supportbecause some features might still be unavailable in your country or region.

Genmoji is a pretty nifty AI feature, and I’m glad that it’s coming to macOS sooner that people thought. However, I don’t think it’s worth the risk of running Developer Beta. Unless you have experience testing beta OS versions, I suggest waiting for the feature to arrive in a Public Beta release first.

Please take a deep breath; it might not be so bad

We’ve all been there. That sinking feeling when you can’t find a crucial document, a precious photo, or that video project you’ve been working on for weeks. It can feel overwhelming, especially when deadlines loom, or memories are at stake. But before you panic, take a deep breath! Macs have built-in tools and features to help you recover those lost files. Even easier, there are a few things you can do in your attempt to find missing files that won’t takewon’thing more than your time to search. 

Here’s a sHere’s-step guide to finding lost files on your Mac:

1. Retrace Your Steps

Start with the simplest solution. Is the file mistakenly minimized or hidden behind another window? Sometimes, files can end up behind other open applications. By cycling through your open applications, check if your file is minimized in the dock or hidden behind other windows. If you suspect you accidentally renamed it, consider recent changes and try variations of the original name.

Take a moment to browse through your recent applications and documents. Most operating systems have a ‘Recent’ section where you can quickly access open files, which might help you locate the missing file without searching extensively.

Next, use Spotlight, the powerful search feature represented by the magnifying glass icon in your menu bar. By clicking on it or pressing Command + Space, you can begin searching for your file. You can enter the file name directly, but if you’re unsure of the exact name, try searching by content or file type—Spotlight can also display results based on keywords within documents. 

In addition, consider narrowing down your search by adding file type keywords, such as “.docx,” “.pdf,” or ” .jpg” to help refine the results. You can also use filters in the Finder application to search for files created or modified within a specific time frame. If your search is still unsuccessful, checking the Trash to see if the file was accidentally deleted might be helpful. Remember to be thorough, as sometimes files can be overlooked.

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2. Keep looking

Don’t forget to check the Trash! Your file might have been accidentally deleted. If you find it there, drag it back to your desktop or another folder to restore it. Remember, files in the Trash can be permanently deleted after a certain period, so it’s best to check regularly if you suspect something is missing.

Many files, especially those downloaded from the internet, automatically land in the Downloads folder. To make it easier to locate these files, you can sort them by date or type within the Downloads folder. This way, you can quickly find what you’re looking for amidst all the other downloads.

Finder is your friend! Use the sidebar to easily navigate different locations like Documents, Pictures, and Applications. The sidebar lets you quickly access external drives or cloud storage if you have those setup. You can also use Finder’s advanced search options to narrow your search. With these tools, you can filter by specific file types (likePDFsor images), set a date range to look for recently modified files, or even search by keywords within the file name. This will significantly streamline your file management process!

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3. Unleash the Power of macOS

If you have Time Machine backups enabled (and you definitely should for data safety!), restoring previous versions of files or entire folders is straightforward. First, open Time Machine by clicking its icon in the menu bar at the top right of your screen. Once it’s open, you’ll see a timeline on the right side of the display, allowing you to browse through your backups. You can use the arrows or the timeline to navigate to the date the file or folder was last present.

When you find the file, you can select it and choose the option to restore. Time Machine will replace the current version of the file with the one from the backup, and you can also choose to restore the file to a different location if you want to keep both versions.

If your file was stored oniCloud Drive, you can access it from anyAppledevice logged into the sameiCloudaccount. Open the Files app on your iPhone or iPad or access iCloud Drive through Finder on your Mac. All your files, including any changes made from other devices, will be synced and available. You can also use the iCloud website to access your files from a non-Apple device, ensuring you never lose important documents. Regularly check your iCloud storage to maintain enough space for backups and files!

4. Go deeper

For tech-savvy users, the Terminal provides a robust set of commands for searching files effectively. A handy command is `mdfind`, which leverages the Spotlight index to search for files not only by their names but also by their content. This allows users to locate specific documents, images, or files quickly. For example, typing `mdfind report` will return all files containing the word “report” in their name or contents. Refining your search using additional parameters, such as limiting it to certain file types or directories is also possible.

However, while Terminal offers powerful capabilities, proceeding with caution is essential. Commands can significantly affect your system, so ensure you know the syntax and potential outcomes before executing any commands.

If traditional search methods or Terminal commands fail to yield results, you might consider using data recovery software as a next step. Several reputable third-party applications can deeply scan your hard drive for deleted files, analyzing existing data structures to find remnants of lost information. Some popular options include Recuva, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, and Disk Drill. These tools often come with user-friendly interfaces and can guide you through recovery, increasing the chances of retrieving valuable files that may have been accidentally deleted. Select a recovery tool that suits your operating system and meets your specific need.

Tips to prevent future file loss

Here’s a few helpful steps you can take so you have less of a problem finding files in the future. 

Organize your files: Create a logical folder structure and stick to it. This makes it easier to find files and reduces the risk of losing them.

Use cloud storage: Services like iCloud Drive,GoogleDrive, and Dropbox provide a backup of your files and allow you to access them from anywhere.

Regularbackupsare essential: Set up Time Machine or another backup solution to regularly back up your entire system. This is your ultimate safety net against data loss.

Following these tips can significantly increase your chances of finding those lost files and prevent future headaches. Happy hunting!

48MP for all

• The long-rumored iPhone SE 4 could launch soon, according to new rumors
• LG Innotek has reportedly began production of camera modules for the new phone, which normally occurs three months before launch
• The new SE is also tipped to borrow the display from the iPhone 13

The long-rumorediPhone SE 4may be right around the corner and pack a previously unexpected camera upgrade, if a new crop of rumors are to be believed.

According to Korean news outletETNEWS(viaGoogleTranslate),LGInnotek will supply both the rear single-lens camera module and front-facing selfie camera for the upcoming phone, and make use of previously used components to keep costs down.

The new SE having just one rear camera would be nothing new, but the report also suggests that this rear snapper will be a 48MP lens, in line with the main camera on theiPhone 14 Promodels and the entireiPhone 15andiPhone 16lineups. Should the report prove correct about the use of previously used components, this would likely be the exact same camera as found on these earlier phones.

We had previously expected the rumored new iPhone SE to ship with a 12MP single-lens rear camera, in line with the current third-generation model. However, the ETNEWS report suggests the new iPhone SE will feature the same 12MP selfie camera as the current model.

AsBGRnotes, a prior report from Korean news outletAju Newssuggests that LG typically supplies camera modules for phones around three months before release.

This would suggest a release date of March 2025 for the iPhone SE 4, which fits with the previous releases in the series, all of which were unveiled in March or April of their respective years.

The report also corroborates prior rumors concerning the display the iPhone SE 4 could ship with by suggesting the new phone will borrow the 6.1-inch LTPSOLEDpanel from the iPhone 13. This probably means a resolution of 1170 x 2532 and a refresh rate of 60Hz – pleasantly sharp, though most budget phones come with a 90Hz or even 120Hz refresh rate these days.

Applehas reportedly divided its orders for the new display between LG Innotek and Chinese manufacturer BOE, and the use of a previously-developed panel tracks with the component cost-cutting strategy suggested by ETNEWS.

Incidentally, the use of this display would almost definitely result in an iPhone 14-style form factor for the new phone, as has been previously suggested.

Apple has yet to reveal any official information about the iPhone SE 4, and likely won’t until the phone is ready for release.

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My analysis

Hype for the iPhone SE 4 is heating up, and for good reason – if these types of rumors continue, we could be looking at one of thebest cheap phones(and more importantly best-value phones) Apple has ever produced.

Apple’s mobile camera systems are famous for their quality and point-and-shoot reliability, so fitting the cheapest phone in the lineup with a modernized 48MP camera would be a pro-consumer move by any measure.

For most people, this would offer more than enough photography capability – I mean,how many people really use their phone’s ultra-wide camera anyway?

And even I, as a notedlover of ridiculously large phone camera systems, reckon I’d be happy with a single 48MP snapper in most situations.

As well as the iPhone 13’s display, we expect to see the iPhone SE 4 ship with essentially identical specs to the iPhone 16, in order to supportApple Intelligence.

Think about it – a compact AI phone with a great camera looped into the Apple ecosystem, likely for less than $500? This coming year could see the iPhone SE become a real competitor, rather than just a blast of nostalgia.

Apple and Qualcomm have been partners for a long time, but the former appears intent on gradually moving away from Qualcomm as a chip supplier for Apple’s iPhones and iPads over the next few years, as Bloomberg reveals in detail. Three Apple modem generations will be gradually implemented from the iPhone SE 2025 onwards and ultimately also in the Pro iPhones.

Soon a Qualcomm-free zone: Apple plans to slowly replace all Qualcomm modems in iPhones and iPads starting with the iPhone SE 4. (Image source: Wekihome)

Apple has had no luck with its modem plans so far, as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman describes in arecent report. The original plan was to replace Qualcomm modems with in-house developments as early as 2021, but despite a high financial investment of several billion dollars, including the purchase of Intel’s modem division, there has been one setback after another.

The tests with the Apple modem prototypes were anything but positive, with efficiency and overheating problems in particular forcing Apple to extend the contracts with Qualcomm again and again. But the outlook for 2025 is positive, after recent changes to development processes and experts acquired from Qualcomm have slowly turned the tide for the better, explains Gurman.

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First move in 2025: Mid-range 5G modem

In 2025, the first guaranteed Qualcomm-free iPhones will be launched on the market, based on a modem developed by Apple itself and manufactured by TSCM in Taiwan, codenamed “Sinope”. Next year, only theiPhone SE 4(expected in the spring) and the thinneriPhone 17 Air(following in the fall) will benefit from Apple’s in-house development, and the new entry-level iPads are also expected to be launched on the market without a Qualcomm modem in 2025.

The reason why the iPhone 17 Pro models are not yet included is that Apple’s first modem will be a mid-range 5G modem without mmWave functionality and channel bundling limited to 4 carriers, which barely delivers more than 4 gigabits per second in tests. Nevertheless, the new “Sinope” based iPhones are said to offer advantages such as greater efficiency thanks to improved integration with Apple’s A-series chips, which will also be important for satellite connectivity. The Apple modem should also make the iPhones less prone to radiation. 

Second move in 2026: Catching up with Qualcomm

According to current plans, the next step will follow in 2026 in the form of “Ganymede”, which is expected to be on par with the latest Qualcomm modems and will include mmWave support, 6 Gbps download speeds and six-carrier aggregation. It will be installed for the first time in the iPhone 18 generation and the high-end iPads of 2027. 

Third move in 2027: Surpassing Qualcomm

Last but not least, Apple intends to surpass Qualcomm’s solutions in 2027 with a third modem called “Prometheus” and also offer AI features and next-gen satellite features. The current plan is for Qualcomm modems to disappear from all Apple products by the iPhone 19 generation at the latest. There are also currently efforts to integrate the modems directly into the A-series chips.

Source(s)

Bloomberg

Image:Wekihome YouTube

Another in-house phone part

For the last few years, Apple has been on a quest to end its reliance on iPhone components from other companies. The latest bit to get the ax looks to be the cellular modem chip, and a switch to an Apple-made part looks imminent.

Currently,Qualcommmakes the modems in your iPhone, but a new report fromBloomberg’s Mark Gurmanclaims that Apple’s in-house modem will debut in 2025.

The first iPhone to feature this new modem will reportedly be theiPhone SE 4, which is expected tolaunch in the springof next year. However, Gurman claims that the first version of Apple’s modem will be much weaker than the currently available Qualcomm chip.

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Simply, the modem on your smartphone enables the handset to connect to cell towers so it can make calls and connect to the internet over cellular.

Apple wants to surpass Qualcomm by 2027 with increasingly “more advanced” chips, according to the Bloomberg story.

Gurman gets more in-depth in the history of Apple’s modem development but briefly, Apple has been working on this project since at least 2021, having spent billions including acquiringIntel’s modem group and hundreds of engineers.

Interestingly, the first version of the modem, codenamed Sinope, won’t be in the flagshipiPhone 17models next year. Instead, it will launch with the iPhone SE 4. The new modem also may feature in the much-rumorediPhone 17 Airand lower-end iPads. It appears the SE 4 will be a real test for Apple’s in-house modem.

Sinope won’t support mmWave, a 5G technology that can handle large download speeds. Instead, it’s supposed to feature a Sub-6Ghz standard that’s featured on the currentiPhone SE, which debuted in 2022.

Allegedly, because this new modem will be more integrated with Apple’s iPhone systems, it will be more efficient, use less power and better support network connections, despite its downgraded connectivity.

Like much of Apple’s chip components, Sinope is going to be produced by TSM, who also make the Apple-designed A-series of processors.

According to the report, Apple-built modems will feature in more products in 2026, including the iPhone 18. iPad Pros are slated to feature a third-generation modem by 2027. By then, Apple’s modem should support mmWave and bigger download speeds.

Gurman briefly noted that Apple is considering merging the modem and main processor as one component.

With advancing processors and capabilities the iPhone is a powerful device, it will be interesting to see what effect the modem switch will have on Apple’s devices.