Launch date, value, specs, rumors, and what we wish to see

Apple’s iPhone SE vary has lengthy been essentially the most inexpensive new iPhone collection you should buy. Coming in at beneath $500, these handsets nonetheless convey a robust processor, water resistance, and wi-fi charging. The final iPhone SE mannequin dropped in 2022, however we’re anticipating Apple to announce a brand new mannequin in some unspecified time in the future. So what do you have to count on from the iPhone SE 4? Right here’s every part we all know to date.

Will there be an iPhone SE 4?

Apple hasn’t issued any form of affirmation that it’s engaged on an iPhone SE (4th technology). Leaks have additionally been few and much between, so we’re not 100% positive that we’ll see an iPhone SE 4 simply but.

In saying so, the final two iPhone SE fashions had been in style due to their sub-flagship value tags. So it looks as if a foregone conclusion that Apple is engaged on a brand new mannequin. When would it not be launched? That’s a harder query.

• Apple iPhone SE: March 21, 2016
• Apple iPhone SE 2020: April 15, 2020
• Apple iPhone SE 2022: March 8, 2022

Apple launched the second iPhone SE in 2020 and the third mannequin in 2022, so that you’d assume that the iPhone SE (4th technology) would arrive in 2024.

Sadly, trusted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo instructed in April that the iPhone SE 4 isn’t a part of Apple’s plans for 2024 or 2025. In saying so, Korean outlet The Elec has claimed that mass manufacturing of the iPhone SE 4 has been pushed again by a 12 months to 2025.

Both means, it appears like Apple received’t launch the iPhone SE (4th technology) in 2024. So we is likely to be in for a protracted, lengthy wait. If the brand new cellphone follows within the footsteps of its stablemates, then it will seem {that a} March or April launch is on the playing cards.

What specs and options will the iPhone SE 4 have?

The iPhone SE 2022 has sometimes supplied a flagship processor in a pocket-friendly kind issue. Apple additionally introduced a few premium extras to the collection in recent times, specifically wi-fi charging and water resistance.

There isn’t a lot in the best way of leaks for the iPhone SE 4, however right here’s what we’ve gathered and what we expect it’ll have.

The iPhone SE 2020 and 2022 each supplied dated designs that had been broadly in keeping with 2017’s iPhone 8 collection. Will the corporate hold this design for the third time?

Nicely, Apple-watching analyst Ming Chi-Kuo beforehand claimed in February 2023 that the iPhone SE (4th technology) would have a 6.1-inch display and could be a “minor modification” of the iPhone 14. This instructed a bigger, extra fashionable design was in retailer. The show dimension declare was echoed by The Elec in March 2023.

In fact, the analyst’s feedback got here earlier than he instructed that the brand new iPhone SE wasn’t within the works for 2024 or 2025. But it surely looks as if a chance that any display dimension increase could be accompanied by a tweaked design of some type — hopefully lowering the dimensions of these bezels specifically.

Specs

We’ve already heard claims that the iPhone SE 4 will probably be outfitted with a 6.1-inch display, but it surely’s additionally believed that this might be an OLED panel. This may be the primary time we see an OLED display on an iPhone SE mannequin, after years of Apple utilizing an LCD panel as an alternative.

Ming Chi-Kuo additionally claimed in February that the brand new machine would pack an Apple-designed modem as an alternative of a Qualcomm element. He asserted that this modem would solely assist sub-6GHz 5G for now as an alternative of the sooner however extra temperamental mmWave normal.

Apple has been engaged on an in-house mobile modem for ages now, however this has confirmed to be a tricky, protracted problem. So we’re undecided if we’ll really see it on the iPhone SE 4 by 2025 (if the cellphone even comes out by then).

The selection of chipset isn’t recognized simply but, however all three iPhone SE fashions used the identical processor as the newest mainline iPhones on the time. Meaning the unique mannequin used the A9 chip contained in the iPhone 6S collection, whereas the second-generation iPhone SE used the A13 chip contained in the iPhone 11 vary. Lastly, the iPhone SE 2022 used the A15 processor which debuted within the iPhone 13 collection.

Meaning the iPhone SE 4 will use no matter chipset the newest, commercially out there mainline iPhones are utilizing, proper? Not so quick. Apple made the choice to successfully cut up the mainline iPhone collection in half final 12 months, because the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus caught with 2021’s A15 Bionic chip whereas the iPhone 14 Professional fashions bought the brand-new A16 processor. So we expect there’s a chance that the iPhone SE mannequin might be lumped with an older (however nonetheless beefy) chipset as nicely.

There may be one characteristic that’s virtually a certainty at this level, and that’s USB-C connectivity. The EU’s new guidelines regarding a typical charging port imply that the iPhone 15 collection is about to be the primary iPhone line with USB-C. This may undoubtedly have an effect on the iPhone SE 4 as nicely.

Different specs aren’t forthcoming from trusted sources simply but. However we’d think about {that a} show dimension bump is also accompanied by a battery capability enhance. We’re undecided whether or not Apple will convey a second rear digital camera to the iPhone SE vary for the primary time, although. In any case, the Cupertino firm was stingy sufficient to skip an evening mode on the iPhone SE 2022.

• Apple iPhone SE 2016: $399
• Apple iPhone SE 2020: $399
• Apple iPhone SE 2022: $429

The primary two iPhones had been pegged at an important value of $399, however the iPhone SE 2022 had a $30 value hike to a still-attractive $429. We’d like to see Apple sustaining this price ticket, however we’re not optimistic.

Loads of Android cellphone makers upped their costs within the final 12 months or so as a result of inflation and different elements. Apple is certainly tipped to institute value will increase for the iPhone 15 collection, so it appears doubtless that the iPhone SE (4th technology) would obtain a hike too.

Throw in obvious upgrades like a expensive OLED display and we’d be extra stunned if the brand new iPhone SE mannequin stays at its present $429 price ticket. Will it rise above the $500 mark, although? We’re eager to seek out out.

The truth that there’s no stable phrase on an iPhone SE 4 launch 12 months (not to mention a imprecise launch window) means you can be ready years for the brand new mannequin to interrupt cowl. So we wouldn’t advise you to attend for this cellphone.

There are a number of budget-conscious choices in the event you’re an Apple fan, such because the iPhone 12 ($369 at Amazon) or the iPhone SE 2022 ($429 at Amazon). These telephones nonetheless present a high-performance expertise with a few premium bells and whistles. And naturally, you’re shopping for into the Apple ecosystem of companies.

In any other case, there are many nice choices within the Android house, such because the Google Pixel 7a ($444 at Amazon) and the Samsung Galaxy A54 5G ($349.99 at Amazon). Each telephones convey respectable replace pledges and water resistance. However the Pixel 7a additionally brings flagship-level cameras, the very succesful Tensor G2 chip, and wi-fi charging.

iPhone SE 4: What we wish to see

We’ve now bought a tough concept of what to anticipate from the iPhone SE 4, however what can we really wish to see on the brand new handset? We put collectively a brief wishlist. Do observe that this isn’t primarily based on any leaks or rumors, although.

The iPhone SE 2022 is basically the iPhone SE 2020, which was in flip primarily based on the iPhone 8 line. This has been an especially dated design for a number of years now, owing to these gigantic bezels specifically.

We, due to this fact, need Apple to convey a extra fashionable however nonetheless pocket-friendly design for the iPhone SE (4th technology). Earlier leaks do level to the upcoming mannequin taking cues from the iPhone 14, which might be a welcome transfer.

One terrible limitation with the iPhone SE line is that they don’t supply an evening mode for the digital camera app. That’s a ridiculous limitation in gentle of its horsepower and the truth that even low-end Android telephones have supplied an evening mode for over 5 years now. So it behooves Apple to lastly get with this system and produce this fundamental images characteristic to the subsequent SE mannequin.

We’d additionally wish to see a secondary rear digital camera (presumably an ultrawide shooter) on the iPhone SE 4. However we wouldn’t depend on this addition.

Considered one of our foremost complaints in regards to the iPhone SE 2022 was the meager quantity of base storage. The most cost effective mannequin got here with a mere 64GB of inside storage, which actually doesn’t minimize it in 2023.

To that finish, we actually hope the iPhone SE 4 brings no less than 128GB of base storage. Even 128GB fills up rapidly due to movies, our digital camera roll, and extra. However this could nonetheless be a much more wise start line than 64GB.