Apple's next cheap iPhone may inherit modern features like Face ID and a new design, if we pay attention to the reports and rumors. The iPhone 15 and 15 Pro may be the center of attention when it comes to Apple's phone lineup. But the iPhone SE always attracts attention.
Rumors and reports about whether Apple will release an iPhone SE 4 have conflicted, with some predictions from well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggesting the device may have been cancelled. Let's see it!
Will we have a new cheap iPhone?
Apple has not mentioned whether it plans to launch new iPhone SE models in the future, as it rarely talks about future products. Now that Apple has moved away from the iPhone Mini, the iPhone SE has an important role to play as the smallest and most affordable iPhone in the line.
There's plenty of room for Apple to further improve its smaller iPhone. Android competitors like Samsung and Google have also improved their budget phones at a similar price in recent years. The Google Pixel 7A and Samsung Galaxy A54 5G offer features once reserved for premium devices, such as high refresh rates and multiple cameras.
It's impossible to know exactly what to expect from Apple until the company makes an announcement. Based on predictions from the often accurate Ming-Chi Kuo, along with other leaks and Apple's product launch history, here's what we'd expect from Apple's next budget iPhone.
iPhone SE 4 release date is a mystery
Perhaps the biggest question about the iPhone SE 4 is whether it will ever exist; Ming-Chi Kuo's predictions have come and gone in recent years. In 2019, the analyst said that Apple was working on a iPhone SE with an all-screen design similar to the iPhone XR. Apple has released two versions of the iPhone SE since then that retain the old iPhone 8-inspired design, leading to speculation that the model Ming-Chi Kuo was referring to has been canceled or postponed.
Predictions for 2023 regarding the iPhone SE 4 have also been mixed. It reported in January that an iPhone SE originally planned for 2024 was canceled, but followed up in February to say the project had been revived. He changed his prediction again in April to say that the model he referred to earlier could just be an engineering prototype for an in-house 5G baseband chip from Apple. His previous comments too They suggested that the iPhone SE 4 would include this 5G chip.
The release cadence of the iPhone SE has not been as routine as that of Apple's flagship iPhones. Apple launched the first iPhone SE in March 2016, while the second-generation version came out in April 2020. The new third-generation iPhone SE arrived in March 2022. A 2024 launch would fit the schedule Apple has followed in recent years, although it's hard to be sure, as there was a four-year gap between the first two models.
Rumors suggest a design similar to the iPhone 14 or XR
If the company is working on another iPhone SE, there is a possibility that it has a 6,1 screen inches similar to modern Apple flagship phones. The current iPhone SE, by comparison, has a 4,7-inch screen with thick bezels on the top and chin, just like the iPhone 8.
What's less clear is which iPhone Apple will model the SE after, if the company is indeed working on a new version. Aside from Ming-Chi Kuo's 2019 report, leaker Jon Prosser and analyst Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, have also suggested that the next iPhone SE It could feature a larger screen and a design that resembles the iPhone XR.
A MacRumors article reported in September 2023 that the iPhone SE 4 will have a modified version of the iPhone 14 chassis, and reiterated that point again in November. It seems reasonable to expect the next iPhone SE to be modeled after the iPhone 14 in terms of looks.
Ming-Chi Kuo's post from February 2023 also suggested that the iPhone SE 4 could have an OLED display instead of an LCD display, which would mark a notable step for Apple's cheapest phone.
OLED displays typically display deeper blacks and better contrast compared to LCD, and Apple previously kept this display technology exclusive to its Pro series. Ming-Chi Kuo's follow-up in April mentioned that the device he thought could having been a future SE could be just an engineering prototype.
iPhone SE likely to have bigger battery
The next iPhone SE could also inherit the battery from the iPhone 14. If previous reports about the iPhone SE 4 are true, it will follow in the footsteps of the iPhone 14, a larger battery would be needed to power its larger screen. Apple does not reveal the battery capacities of its phones, but says the iPhone 14 should have an extra five hours of video playback compared to the third-generation iPhone SE.
Between the new chip and the larger battery we expect to find in the next iPhone SE, it looks like Apple's next affordable iPhone could see some pretty significant gains in battery life.
Touch ID or Face ID? we will see
Fans of Apple's Touch ID fingerprint sensor may be out of luck. It looks like the next iPhone SE will have Face ID, like other modern iPhones, instead of the fingerprint sensor. Apple .
That conflicts with Ming-Chi Kuo's 2019 report, which indicated that The next iPhone SE would have a smaller notch without Face ID and Touch ID integrated into the power button. That sounds similar to Apple's approach with its 10th-generation iPad, fifth-generation iPad Air, and sixth-generation iPad Mini, which all have Touch ID on the top button.
It may have the iPhone 15 camera, USB-C, and action button
Apple's next wallet-friendly iPhone may have some things in common with the iPhone 15. Since Apple switched to USB-C for the iPhone 15 lineup to comply with new European rules, it seems likely that the iPhone SE 4 will too. may abandon the Lightning connector.
iPhone SE 4 could get the Action button, which is a new key for shortcut programming that is currently exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. It would be an interesting option considering that the Action button is currently one of the main differences that distinguishes Apple's new pair of premium iPhones from its entry-level models.
It could have a single 48-megapixel camera. That would indicate another similarity it could share with the iPhone 15, which also has a 48-megapixel main camera. If the report is accurate, the iPhone SE will only have a rear camera, unlike Apple's more expensive phones.
The regular iPhone 15 has wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle cameras, while the Pro versions have wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle, and telephoto cameras.
Likely to have a new processor, Apple's 5G modem rumored
The iPhone SE typically has the same processor as Apple's most recent flagship iPhone. For example, the iPhone SE 2022 has the same chip as the iPhone 13, which launched in September 2021. Given that Apple's newest mobile chip is usually the iPhone SE's most notable feature, it's hard to imagine Apple deviating of that pattern.
Ming-Chi Kuo also suggested that the next iPhone SE could have a 5G chip made by Apple. Still, it's hard to know if that prediction still applies, as he later revised his estimate to say this device was likely an engineering prototype to test that 5G chip.
Apple acquired Intel's modem business in 2019, leading to speculation that it will eventually build its own 5G modems rather than relying on Qualcomm as a supplier. Making its own chips allows Apple to maintain greater control over release timelines and product features, an approach that has been a key part of its strategy across all of its major product lines.
Although Apple has not revealed its future plans, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon told CNBC in March that he expects Apple to begin using homegrown modems in 2024.
The fourth-generation iPhone SE could become one of the most exciting iPhone updates in years, simply because we don't know exactly what to expect. If leaks, rumors and reports turn out to be accurate, Apple's budget iPhone may be ready to take a big leap forward in terms of design, functionality and screen size, either this year or in 2025.
