Apple iPhone SE 4: What we all know

Whereas there’s usually a whole lot of pleasure about Apple’s flagship iPhones — this 12 months, the iPhone 16 and 16 Professional — these are unaffordable for lots of people. There are lots of customers who do not want the absolute best specs, both. Alongside these strains, Apple is lastly making ready a fourth-generation iPhone SE. This is what we all know concerning the machine to this point, together with its launch date, projected value, and key design options.

iPhone SE 4 launch date and value

Quickly, however not that quickly

• Doubtless spring 2025 launch
• Worth matching or barely larger than $429

The most recent launch date rumors, courtesy of The Information, point out that the SE 4 will ship in spring 2025. That may be in line with the spring home windows chosen for each earlier SE, distancing them from the launches of flagship iPhones. Particularly we’re anticipating Apple to announce the machine in March or April, probably through a press launch quite than a stay occasion until the corporate has different merchandise it needs to debut on the similar time.

As for pricing, that is still unsure. A Revegnus leak on X — now deleted — claimed that the SE 4 will match the present mannequin’s $429 US, or at most slot in about 10% larger. Apple is supposedly invested in protecting the telephone beneath $500, which is sensible on condition that the iPhone 14 will doubtless slip to $599 or much less this fall.

Design

A recent look, lastly

• Face ID
• No dwelling button
• 6.1-inch OLED display screen
• Motion button
• USB-C

That is the largest information with the iPhone SE 4. Even the SE 3 was modeled after 2017’s iPhone 8, making it feel and look antiquated, largely because of a 4.7-inch LCD with thick bezels and a house button. It is also the one iPhone that also makes use of Contact ID as an alternative of Face ID.

Based on The Data, the SE 4 is being modeled after the iPhone 14, which means it should lastly undertake Face ID and an all-touchscreen entrance interface. It might nonetheless have a notch as an alternative of a Dynamic Island, however patrons ought to no less than get a 6.1-inch OLED show, providing not simply additional display screen area however far improved colours, distinction, and brightness. The change to OLED is backed up by Nikkei Asia, which says that Apple is ordering panels from BOE and LG Show.

A Weibo leaker, Fixed Focus Digital, suggests the backplate might resemble the iPhone 16. That suggests an identical digital camera bump.

Transferring to a 6.1-inch display screen might show controversial. Whereas 6-inch telephones are actually commonplace, some individuals really want smaller designs, since they’re simpler to make use of with one hand. The SE 4 will doubtless mark the dying of Apple shows beneath 6 inches, no less than exterior of refurbished gross sales.

One other rumored design function is an Motion button. The idea first debuted on the Apple Watch Ultra, then made its approach to the iPhone 15 Pro and Professional Max. It is also anticipated to come back to the IPhone 16 lineup, so it is maybe unsurprising that Apple needs to maintain management choices constant on the SE.

One thing completely assured is a change from Lightning to USB-C, as with the iPhone 15. Apple has no selection — it has to make the leap if it needs to adjust to European Union laws. We’re undecided what USB velocity Apple intends to make use of, however to maintain prices down it would use the slower USB 2.0-level connector present in the usual iPhone 15.

Specs

A blazing quick processor

• A17 or A18 processor
• 48-megapixel essential digital camera
• Doable Apple-designed 5G modem
• Extra storage
• Apple Intelligence

The core attraction of the SE line has at all times been the prospect to get one in every of Apple’s newest processors with out paying for frills. With the SE 4, nonetheless, there are two prospects. It might get an A17 chip, presently discovered within the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max. But when all fashions of the iPhone 16 are getting the A18, as one rumor suggests, the SE 4 may need to comply with swimsuit. Apple is making a serious push into generative AI with iOS 18, and it might be that the A17 will not ship each AI function to Apple’s requirements. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman claims it is a protected wager that the SE 4 will likely be outfitted with Apple Intelligence, which incorporates choices like writing instruments and e-mail summaries.

MacRumors sources have stated that the SE 4 might get a 48-megapixel essential digital camera, an enormous leap over the 12-megapixel one within the SE 3. Apple may be utilizing the SE 4 as a testbed for an internally-designed 5G modem, codenamed “Sinope.” Over time the corporate has been bringing an increasing number of chip design in-house, aiming to each minimize prices and ship hyper-optimized expertise.

Apple will presumably improve default storage to 128GB. The 64GB within the entry-level SE 3 is more and more unsustainable, given the rising dimension of iOS and its apps — by no means thoughts including 48-megapixel pictures into the combo. The true query is whether or not there will likely be storage choices over 256GB, though we would not put any cash on a 1TB mannequin.

What else do we all know concerning the iPhone SE 4?

Extra to come back

Little to nothing, sadly. Whether it is getting a backplate modeled after the iPhone 16, that might sign related digital camera tech, however we’re nonetheless anticipating the SE 4 to stay to a single wide-angle rear digital camera. Do not get your hopes up for an ultra-wide or telephoto lens.

There’s much more to be taught, corresponding to accessible RAM, shade choices, and wi-fi applied sciences. We’ll replace this hub as new info rolls in.