Apple may be developing an updated version of the low-cost iPhone SE, with the device slated to include some major changes to bring it in line with the flagship iPhone lineup, but information about the iPhone SE 4 is mixed and it is unclear if it will come out at all.
This guide highlights the rumors that we've heard about the iPhone SE 4 so far, and this is what can be expected if an iPhone SE 4 is in the works.
Design
The current third-generation iPhone SE is Apple's smallest device, modeled after the iPhone 8. It measures in at 4.7 inches, and it is the only iPhone that includes thick bezels and a Touch ID Home button.
That's rumored to be changing with the next iPhone SE update, with rumors indicating that Apple has a new design planned. The fourth-generation iPhone SE will feature an all-display design like Apple's flagship iPhone lineup, with Apple eliminating the Home button in favor of Face ID.
The next iPhone SE is expected to look similar to the iPhone 14, featuring a notch with Face ID biometric authentication instead of a Touch ID Home button. With the iPhone 15 lineup, Apple transitioned to USB-C instead of Lightning, and the iPhone SE 4 is also expected to include a USB-C port. While the iPhone 14 has a dual-lens camera, the iPhone SE 4 will include a single-lens camera to keep costs down, but it could have the 48-megapixel Main lens used in the iPhone 15.
Apple may also add a multi-function Action button to the iPhone SE, replacing the mute switch. An Action button first came to the iPhone 15 Pro models, but by the time the iPhone SE 4 is ready to launch, it is a feature that will be available on all of Apple's flagship devices.
Display Size
If the iPhone SE is modeled after the iPhone 14 as rumored, then it will include a 6.1-inch display.
Display Material
The iPhone SE is the last remaining iPhone that has an LCD display, and other iPhones in Apple's lineup are equipped with OLED. Apple has used all OLED technology for flagship iPhones since the iPhone 12, in fact, and it looks like the next-generation iPhone SE will also use OLED technology.
Notch
With an all-display design, Apple is expected to adopt a notch for the iPhone SE, which is the design that Apple has used for flagship iPhones since the 2017 iPhone XR.
A notched display will give Apple a place to put the front-facing camera, but it is not yet clear if the iPhone SE will support Face ID and the TrueDepth camera system given the cost of the hardware. Apple has transitioned to the Dynamic Island for the flagship iPhone lineup, so the older notch design will set the iPhone SE apart.
Camera
The iPhone SE 4 will feature a single-lens camera, but it will be upgraded to a 48-megapixel camera. The current iPhone SE has a 12-megapixel camera.
Touch ID or Face ID?
Apple has been transitioning away from Touch ID and the iPhone SE is the last remaining iPhone with Touch ID. Because Face ID has been around since 2017, Apple could opt to use it for the next-generation iPhone SE.
According to leaker Unknownz21,the iPhone SE will use Face ID instead of Touch ID, with Apple opting to eliminate Touch ID from the iPhone lineup entirely.
A-Series Chip
The current iPhone SE is equipped with the same A15 chip that was in the iPhone 13 models, so the iPhone SE could get a prior-generation chip when it launches.
5G and Modem
The current iPhone SE is equipped with 5G technology, and the next-generation version will likely get an upgraded 5G chip with support for more bands. It could also be the first iPhone with Apple's in-house modem chip, though it is not yet clear if this will be the case.
Battery
The iPhone SE 4 will use the same 3279 mAh battery as the iPhone 14, so it should have similar battery life to that device.
Release Date
Rumors right now suggest that we could see the iPhone SE 4 in 2025, with no refresh to the iPhone SE lineup expected in 2024.
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