Apple just announced its iPhone 16 lineup, but don’t forget about its cheaper, smaller model, the $429 iPhone SE.
The pint-sized iPhone is expected to return in 2020 and 2022, with another new version arriving in early 2025, according to bloomberg.
Unlike Apple’s flagship iPhone family, the iPhone SE’s launch timing is a bit irregular. The first generation SE was released in 2016, followed by the second version in 2020 and the third generation in 2022. Apple doesn’t talk much about future products, and hasn’t said whether it plans to release a new iPhone SE model in the future. But now that Apple has moved away from the iPhone Mini, the iPhone SE plays an important role in Apple’s lineup as a more portable and more affordable iPhone.
read more: After using the iPhone 16 for two weeks, these are my favorite features
There’s plenty of room for Apple to further improve the inexpensive iPhone. My colleague Patrick Holland praised the 2022 iPhone SE’s affordable price and familiar home button, but criticized the lack of night mode photography and outdated design. Android competitors like Samsung and Google have also improved their similarly priced budget phones in recent years. Both the Google Pixel 8A and Samsung Galaxy A55 5G offer features that were 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 it makes an announcement. Based on Bloomberg forecasts and reports, mcroomers We then introduce what you can expect from Apple’s next low-cost iPhone, along with popular TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, other leaks, and the history of Apple’s product launches.
When this article was first published, Apple did not respond to a request for comment on the future iPhone SE.
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iPhone SE 4 could be released in early 2025
Over the past few years, there has been much discussion about the release date of the iPhone SE 4. but, August report Bloomberg’s Mark Garman’s often accurate information suggests that the new iPhone SE could debut in early 2025. That suggests it could arrive in the first quarter, coinciding with Apple’s previous iPhone SE launch date. For example, both the 1st and 3rd generation models were launched in March.
The report comes after reports and speculation about the existence of the iPhone SE have been murky over the past few years. In 2019, analyst Kuo said that Apple was developing an iPhone SE with a full-screen design similar to the iPhone XR. MacRumors reported at that time. Since then, Apple has released two versions of the iPhone SE that retain the older design inspired by the iPhone 8, leading to speculation as to whether the model Kuo mentioned was canceled or postponed. It’s spreading.
Kuo’s predictions for iPhone SE 4 in 2023 are also mixed. He reported in January last year that the iPhone SE was originally scheduled for release in 2024. canceled But then he said the project was revived. he changed his expectations See you in April In 2023, he says that the model he previously mentioned could just be an engineering prototype for Apple’s internal 5G baseband chip. His previous comments also suggested that the iPhone SE 4 would be equipped with this 5G chip.
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However, new reports, including: mcroomersindicating that Apple is indeed developing a new iPhone SE that will reportedly include some dramatic upgrades.
Likely to include new processors and Apple Intelligence
The iPhone SE typically has the same processor as Apple’s latest flagship iPhones. For example, the 2022 iPhone SE has the same chip as the iPhone 13, which launched in September 2021. Apple’s latest mobile chips are typically the iPhone SE’s distinguishing feature, so it’s hard to imagine Apple deviating from that pattern.
But it’s more important than ever as the company’s new suite of AI features, Apple Intelligence, relies on the company’s latest chips. Currently, the only iPhones that can perform these functions are the iPhone 16 family and last year’s Pro models. But based on Apple’s history, Bloomberg reportingstates that the iPhone SE 4 will support Apple Intelligence, but it looks like that could change in the coming months.
Apple Intelligence has new AI-powered features, including text rewriting, summarization, and proofreading, a new version of Siri that helps you understand words better even when you’re fumbling, and the ability to erase objects in photos and summaries of notifications and messages. Included. Features. The first wave of Apple Intelligence features is expected to arrive in beta next month, while further features, such as the ability to generate custom emojis, will arrive later.
Otherwise, the next iPhone SE may be equipped with Apple’s 5G chip. Kuo. Still, he later revised his estimate to say the device was likely an engineering prototype to test 5G chips, so it’s hard to know whether that prediction still holds true. mcroomers There are also reports that the iPhone SE 4 will be equipped with Apple’s 5G modem.
iPhone 14-like design with OLED screen
iPhone14
If the company develops another iPhone SE, it will likely feature a 6.1-inch screen similar to Apple’s latest flagship phones. By comparison, the current iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch screen that looks a lot like the iPhone 8, with thicker borders at the top and chin.
In particular, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to be very similar to the iPhone 14 that Apple will release in 2022. MacRumors article reported in September 2023 that the iPhone SE 4 would feature an improved version of the iPhone 14 chassis, and reiterated that point. See you in November. Bloomberg reporting It also suggests that the iPhone SE4 will resemble Apple’s flagship product from two years ago.
It’s not just the design that’s expected to be upgraded. Improvements can also be seen in the display. Multiple reports including reports from KuoMacRumors, Bloomberg, The Elec and Nikkei Asia have suggested that the next iPhone SE will have an OLED screen instead of an LCD. This is a big deal since OLEDs typically display richer contrast and deeper blacks, and this type of screen is consistent across the rest of Apple’s iPhone lineup.
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iPhone SE is likely to have a larger battery
The next iPhone SE may also inherit the iPhone 14 battery According to MacRumors. If this blog’s previous report about an iPhone SE 4 following in the footsteps of the iPhone 14 turns out to be accurate, a larger battery will be needed to power the larger screen. Apple hasn’t disclosed the battery capacity of its phones, but it says the iPhone 14 will offer five hours more video playback time than the third-generation iPhone SE. Between the new chip and larger battery expected to be in the next iPhone SE, it looks like Apple’s next affordable iPhone could see a pretty significant increase in battery life.
Goodbye Touch ID, hello Face ID
Fans of Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor may be out of luck. mcroomers It is reported that the next iPhone SE will have Face ID instead of Apple’s fingerprint sensor, like other latest iPhones. That contradicts Kuo’s opinion 2019 reportThis indicated that the next iPhone SE may not have Face ID and Touch ID embedded in the power button and the notch area may be smaller. However, Kuo’s report is about five years old, so the information may be outdated.
iPhone 15 camera, USB-C, and action button may be included
Apple’s next budget-friendly iPhone may have some things in common with the company’s new iPhones. Apple switched its iPhone 15 lineup to USB-C to comply with new European regulations, so it seems likely that the iPhone SE 4 will also do away with the Lightning connector. mcroomers It also claims that the iPhone SE 4 will have USB-C.
What’s even more surprising about the MacRumors article is that the iPhone SE 4 may get an action button. This is a new key for programming shortcuts that are currently exclusive to the iPhone 16 family, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. If true, it would be another sign that Apple wants to make the action button standard across its iPhone lineup, after introducing it to standard models this year.
MacRumors also reports that the next iPhone SE may have a 48-megapixel single camera. This could hint at another similarity to the iPhone 15 and 16, which also have a 48-megapixel main camera. If this report is correct, unlike Apple’s more expensive phones, the iPhone SE will only have one rear camera. The regular iPhone 15 has a wide-angle camera and an ultra-wide-angle camera, while the Pro version has a wide-angle camera, an ultra-wide-angle camera, and a telephoto camera.
But Apple is introducing a “Fusion” camera on this year’s regular iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, which it says allows for 2x optical-quality zoom, despite the lack of a dedicated telephoto lens. The report doesn’t say whether the iPhone SE 4 will feature this camera, but it wouldn’t be surprising if Apple implemented it to supplement the iPhone SE’s single-camera setup.
If this rumor is true, the fourth-generation iPhone SE could bring Apple’s small, low-cost iPhone up to date with the rest of Apple’s lineup. Depending on the price, it could be a solid choice for someone who doesn’t mind the iPhone 16’s extra features like camera control buttons and wants a more modern iPhone.
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