A new rumor report posted today claims that Jeff Pu, Director of Tech Research for Haitong International Securities Group in Taipei, wrote in a research note to clients that Apple plans to release an iPhone SE with a custom-designed 5G modem in 2025. He added that the modem would be manufactured by Apple's chipmaking partner TSMC.

Today's rumor report by MacRumors pointed out that Ming-Chi Kuo mass production of the fourth-generation iPhone SE would begin in the first half of 2024, and Qualcomm's CEO also anticipated a 2024 timeframe for Apple's modem, but Pu believes the device's launch has been delayed until 2025.

Apple acquired the majority of Intel's 5G modem business back in 2019 valued at $1 Billion and gained over 17,000 wireless technology patents. Yet Apple and Qualcomm fought it out in court with Apple eventually settled out of court. Apple agreed to a six-year license agreement that allows them to use Qualcomm chips in iPhones until 2025, the very year that Jeff Pu is predicting that we'll see Apple's 5G modem finally debut.  

Whether Jeff Pu is simply using logic as to when the Qualcomm agreement ends or has insider knowledge to back his prediction is unknown at this time.

A list of Pu's previous predictions could be viewed here.