Apple iPhone SE 4: What we all know

Whereas there’s usually numerous pleasure about Apple’s flagship iPhones — this yr, the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro — these are unaffordable for lots of customers. Even the individuals who do have the cash do not at all times want the very best specs. Alongside these traces, Apple is lastly getting ready a fourth-generation iPhone SE. This is what we all know concerning the gadget to date, together with its launch date, projected value, and key design options.

iPhone SE 4 launch date and value

Quickly, however not that quickly

• Seemingly spring 2025 launch
• Worth between $429 and $499

Launch date rumors from The Information counsel that the SE 4 will ship in spring 2025. That might be in step with the timeframes for each earlier SE, distancing them from the launches of flagship iPhones. Particularly we’re anticipating Apple to announce the gadget in March or April, probably through a press launch reasonably than a reside 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% increased. Apple is supposedly invested in conserving the cellphone beneath $500, which is smart on condition that the iPhone 14 is now $599. Numerous analysts have projected a value between $459 and $499.

Design

A contemporary look, lastly

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

That is the most important information with the iPhone SE 4. Even the SE 3 is modeled after 2017’s iPhone 8, making it feel and appear antiquated, largely attributable to 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 a substitute of Face ID.

In line with The Data and different sources, the SE 4 is being modeled after the iPhone 14, which means it’ll lastly undertake Face ID and an all-touchscreen entrance interface. It will not have a Dynamic Island, in accordance with 9to5Mac, however consumers ought to at the very least get a 6.1-inch, 1170×2532 OLED panel, providing not simply further display screen area however far improved colours, distinction, and brightness. The swap 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, means that the backplate might resemble the iPhone 16. That means an analogous digital camera bump.

Shifting to a 6.1-inch display screen will most likely show controversial. Whereas 6-inch telephones at the moment are de facto within the business, some individuals want smaller designs, since they’re simpler to make use of with one hand. The SE 4 will probably mark the loss of life of Apple shows beneath 6 inches, at the very least exterior of refurbished telephones.

One other rumored design characteristic is an Motion button. The idea first debuted on the Apple Watch Ultra, then made its solution to the iPhone 15 Pro and the IPhone 16 lineup. Including an Motion button to the SE would preserve interface choices constant, and will not even be an enormous deal, because it defaults to changing the mute swap.

One thing completely assured is a swap from Lightning to USB-C, as with the iPhone 15 and 16. Apple has no alternative — it has to make the leap if it needs to adjust to European Union rules. We’re unsure what USB speeds Apple intends to make use of, however to maintain prices down it would use the slower USB 2.0-level connector discovered within the base Cellphone 16.

Specs

A blazing quick processor

• A18 processor
• 8GB of RAM
• 48-megapixel primary digital camera
• Apple-designed 5G modem
• Extra storage
• Apple Intelligence

The core attraction of the SE line has at all times been the possibility to get considered one of Apple’s newest processors with out paying for different frills. With the SE 4, Apple is reportedly making the leap to an A18 processor with 8GB of RAM, largely to help Apple Intelligence. That might mirror the specs of the iPhone 16.

MacRumors and 9to5Mac say the SE 4 will get a 48-megapixel rear digital camera, an enormous leap over the 12-megapixel one within the SE 3. This can enable 2x “optical-quality” zoom, as on the iPhone 16, however do not count on any ultra-wide or real telephoto choices.

Apple may additionally be utilizing the SE 4 as a testbed for an internally-designed 5G modem, codenamed “Centauri.” Over time the corporate has been bringing an increasing number of chip design in-house, aiming to each minimize prices and ship hyper-optimized know-how. 9to5Mac claims that Centauri will mix mobile, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS right into a single element, dramatically decreasing energy consumption.

As for storage, Apple will presumably enhance the default to 128GB. The 64GB within the entry-level SE 3 is unsustainable, given the rising dimension of iOS and its apps — neglect about including 48-megapixel pictures into the combo. The actual query is whether or not there shall be storage choices over 256GB, though we would not put any cash on a 1TB configuration.

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

Extra to come back

Apple is anticipated to equip it with a 12-megapixel entrance digital camera just like the iPhone 15. There’s not a lot else to say on that entrance, however that does imply SE homeowners will get options like autofocus, sluggish movement, and a wider aperture for higher low-light selfies.

There’s much more beneath wraps, akin to coloration choices, and additional particulars about Apple’s new wi-fi applied sciences. We’ll replace this hub as extra data rolls in.