iPhone SE 4 Leaks

 iPhone SE 4 Leaks : More details of Apple's next SE phone

More than two years after Apple launched the 3rd-gen iPhone SE at the “Peek Performance” event, we were starting to give up hope that a new model was ever going to arrive. A new leak has now compiled all available rumoured information on Apple's next budget smartphone, the iPhone SE 4. Tipped to launch sometime next year, the next-gen SE is expected to feature an A16 Bionic as well as Face ID. Apple's next budget smartphone, the iPhone SE 4, is rumoured to be on the cards for a 2025 launch. While that's still at least a year away, leaks have revealed alleged details of the phone, and a new one has now compiled all available information on the device. The iPhone SE 4 may get modern features like Face ID, potentially signalling the end of the home button.

The 2022 iPhone SE was an incredible value. Apple's mainline phones, like the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro, usually take the spotlight, but the iPhone SE made a comeback in 2020 and 2022. Looking ahead, the iPhone SE's future is less certain. Rumours and reports about if and when Apple will release an iPhone SE 4 have conflicted reports. Apple hasn't mentioned whether it plans to release new iPhone SE models moving forward since it rarely speaks about future products. Now that Apple has moved away from the iPhone Mini, the iPhone SE has an important role to play as the smaller and more affordable iPhone in Apple's line up.  It's impossible to know exactly what to expect from Apple until the company makes an announcement. 

According to reports available , the iPhone SE 4 will arrive in the first quarter of 2025, matching the timing of the iPhone SE 2 (April 2020) and iPhone SE 3 (March 2022). However, while we’ll have to wait a full year longer than we did between the second- and third-generation models. Apple didn't respond to a request for comment regarding a future iPhone SE. So the iPhone SE 4 release date is still a mystery. In 2019, the analyst said Apple was working on an iPhone SE with a full-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, which led to some speculations. A report indicated Apple is indeed developing a new iPhone SE that reportedly includes some dramatic upgrades. But it may not launch until 2025, according to a newer reports. The iPhone SE's release cadence hasn't 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 newest, 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 certain since there was a four-year gap between the first two models. 

If the company is working on another iPhone SE, there's a chance it could have a 6.1-inch screen similar to Apple's modern flagship phones. The current iPhone SE, by comparison, has a 4.7-inch screen with thick borders at the top and chin, much like the iPhone 8. What's less clear, is which iPhone Apple will model the SE after, if the company is working on a new version. Reports suggest that the next iPhone SE could include a larger screen and a design that resembles the iPhone XR. An article reported in September 2023 that the iPhone SE 4 will have a modified version of the iPhone 14's chassis. A reportedly leaked case design further suggests the iPhone SE may have a refreshed look to match Apple's latest devices. iPhone SE 4 could have an OLED screen instead of an LCD, which would mark a notable step up for Apple's cheaper phone. OLED screens typically show deeper blacks and better contrast compared to LCD, and Apple previously kept this display technology exclusive to its Pro series. iPhone SE 4 is expected to sport a 6.1-inch 60 Hz OLED, with Face ID support and a front design identical to the iPhone 13. The rear of the device is said to look just like the iPhone XR, with a single camera. Said camera is tipped to be the 1/2.55-inch IMX503 with Deep Fusion, Smart HDR, Portrait Mode, and 1080 Cinematic Mode all supported. Like the iPhone XR, however, Night Mode looks to be absent. A significant upgrade over the current 4.7-inch LCD. Rather than Touch ID, which has been a staple of every iPhone SE, the new model will reportedly support Face ID and have a notch like the iPhone 14.

The next iPhone SE could inherit the iPhone 14's battery as well. If iPhone SE 4 following the iPhone 14's footsteps prove to be accurate, a larger battery would be necessary to power its larger screen. Apple doesn't disclose the battery capacities for its phones, but it says the iPhone 14 should get five extra hours of video playback compared to the third-generation iPhone SE. Between the new chip and bigger battery that we're expecting to find in the next iPhone SE, it sounds like Apple's next affordable iPhone could see some pretty significant gains in battery life. Other listed specs include a battery in the 3000-mAh range, 20 W wired charging and 12 W wireless charging. Fans of Apple's Touch ID fingerprint sensor may be out of luck. Reports suggest that the next iPhone SE will have Face ID, like other modern iPhones, instead of Apple's fingerprint sensor. This sounds similar to Apple's approach with its 10th-generation iPad, fifth-generation iPad Air and sixth-generation iPad Mini, which have Touch ID in the top button. Under the hood is expected to be the A16 Bionic, supported by 6 GB of RAM and up to 512 GB of NVME storage.

Around the back, the iPhone SE is rumoured to have just one camera, but it’ll be a great one, the same 48MP main camera on the iPhone 15. Assuming it has the same hardware specs (f/1.6, sensor‑shift optical image stabilization, 100% Focus Pixels), the iPhone SE 4 will have a massively better camera with support for Night Mode at long last. Apple's next wallet-friendly iPhone may have a few things in common with the iPhone 15. Since Apple switched to USB-C for the iPhone 15 line up to comply with new European rules, it seems likely that the iPhone SE 4 could ditch the Lightning connector, as well. iPhone SE 4 could gain the Action button, which is a new key for programming shortcuts that's currently exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. It would be an interesting choice considering the Action button is currently one of the major differences that distinguishes Apple's new pair of premium iPhones from its entry-level models. The regular iPhone 15 has wide and ultra-wide cameras, while the Pro versions have wide, ultra-wide and telephoto cameras. 

Here’s where it gets interesting. The leaker claims the iPhone SE will have the A16 processor from the iPhone 15 as well as LPDDR5 RAM (an upgrade over the LPDDR4X in the current model). The iPhone SE typically has the same processor as Apple's most recent flagship iPhone. For example, the 2022 iPhone SE has the same chip as the iPhone 13, which launched in September 2021. Since Apple's newest mobile chip is usually the iPhone SE's standout feature, it's hard to imagine Apple straying from that pattern. Next iPhone SE could have an Apple-made 5G chip. Still, it's hard to know if that prediction still applies. Apple acquired Intel's modem business in 2019, leading to speculation that it will eventually build its own 5G modems rather than rely on Qualcomm as a supplier. Making its own chips allows Apple to maintain greater control over launch timelines and product features, an approach that has been a key part of its strategy across its major product lines. The fourth-generation iPhone SE could end up becoming one of the most exciting iPhone updates in years, simply because we don't know exactly what to expect. If the leaks, rumours and reports turn out to be accurate, Apple's budget iPhone may be set to take a big leap forward in terms of design, functionality and screen size whenever launched. 

Apple's final iPhone with a home button may finally be getting an upgrade. Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The expected upgrade for the iPhone SE 4 follows Apple's well-worn pattern of upgrading its entry-level iPhone every couple years with parts that once set its flagship iPhones apart but now are cheap enough to make that they can power a device of roughly half the cost.  When Apple last upgraded the iPhone SE in 2022, it married the iPhone 13's processing power with the iPhone 8's design, offering a mix-and-match of features like 5G support, longer battery life and the classic Touch ID home button. It's unclear when Apple might choose to upgrade its iPhone SE. The company tends to announce upgrades for its mainline iPhones in the fall, but Apple has tended to announce iPhone SE models in the spring, which is maybe why the rumours are spreading fast. Granted, things could change, but if leaks are accurate, the iPhone SE 4 would be the best budget iPhone Apple has ever sold.