Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner teased an Apple announcement that is approaching Wednesday, February 19, and it is wanting like that thriller announcement would be the next-generation iPhone SE.
We have been listening to in regards to the iPhone SE 4 for fairly a while now, and we basically know all the pieces to count on. If you would like a sneak peek at what’s coming, learn on.
Naming
Apple first launched the iPhone SE in 2016, and the “SE” stands for Particular Version. Apple has used the SE naming for the final three fashions, nevertheless it’s attainable that is going to alter this yr.
There have been rumors that the brand new low-cost iPhone could possibly be referred to as the “iPhone 6E” as an alternative of the iPhone SE 4, however the info got here from a supply with no well-established monitor report.
The low-cost iPhone can have the identical chip because the iPhone 16, together with just a few different iPhone 16 options, so it will not be a shock for Apple to present it a brand new identify to raised tie it into present flagship fashions. When saying the upcoming product launch, Cook dinner additionally mentioned “prepare to fulfill the latest member of the household,” which could possibly be a reference to the iPhone 16 household. On the identical time, “household” might additionally simply be the iPhone household.
Design
We’re anticipating the iPhone SE to have an iPhone 14-style design, with a 6.1-inch show. Its launch will mark the tip of smaller iPhones, and 6.1 inches would be the smallest display screen dimension that Apple gives.
Whereas the present iPhone SE is 4.7 inches, the scale distinction between the 4.7-inch mannequin and the brand new 6.1-inch mannequin is not as excessive as you may suppose. The up to date dimension shall be noticeable, however eliminating these thick bezels means there is a restricted enhance in bodily dimension regardless of the bigger show.
An iPhone SE 4 dummy mannequin
The iPhone SE is 5.45 inches tall and a pair of.65 inches extensive with a thickness of seven.3mm, and the brand new mannequin shall be 5.78 inches tall, 2.82 inches extensive, and a thickness of seven.8mm. Weight will enhance simply an oz.
Apple used to promote a 5.4-inch iPhone “mini,” nevertheless it was discontinued after the iPhone 13 mini as a result of it did not promote properly. Sooner or later, Apple might appease those that need a small iPhone with a clamshell machine that folds in half, however rumors recommend that such a tool is a yr or extra off.
If you wish to know what the iPhone SE will appear to be, check out the iPhone 14. It will have the identical common design with an all-display design, aluminum and glass construct, mute swap, quantity buttons, notch, energy button, and 5G antenna/SIM tray. The iPhone SE 4 is anticipated to have a single-lens rear digicam, although, reasonably than the dual-lens setup of the iPhone 14.
You seemingly noticed early rumors about an Motion Button or Digicam Management button for the iPhone SE 4 throughout the rumor cycle, nevertheless it seems like these will not be options which can be coming to Apple’s low-cost machine in spite of everything. iPhone SE dummy fashions haven’t included an Motion button or a Digicam Management button, nor have circumstances designed for the machine.
Each early iPhone circumstances and dummy fashions are sometimes crafted primarily based on provide chain leaks, they usually’re often correct as a result of there is a good cash in having a case able to go proper when a brand new machine launches.
Show
The iPhone 14 launched Ceramic Defend, which is stronger than typical smartphone glass and higher in a position to maintain as much as drops and scratches, and it is seemingly the low-cost iPhone will undertake the Ceramic Defend materials.
Apple is updating the iPhone SE with an OLED show, which suggests the tip of LCD show expertise within the iPhone lineup when the present mannequin is discontinued. LCDs are nonetheless used for some Macs and iPads, however the iPhone lineup shall be all OLED when the SE 4 launches.
The iPhone 14 had a notch to deal with the TrueDepth front-facing digicam and facial recognition {hardware}, and the iPhone SE can have the identical notch design. There have been rumors suggesting Apple might use the Dynamic Island for the iPhone SE, however that is one other function that appears prefer it’ll be reserved for the costlier iPhone choices.
No Extra Contact ID
With an all-display design just like the iPhone 14, Apple is eliminating Contact ID. When the current-generation iPhone SE is discontinued in favor of the brand new mannequin, there shall be no iPhone with Contact ID within the lineup.
The present iPhone SE
Contact ID continues to be used for Macs and a few iPads, however Apple will transition totally to Face ID for its iPhone fashions with the iPhone SE 4.
There are individuals who want Contact ID to Face ID, however Apple is all-in on facial recognition, and it is safer than Contact ID. There is a lower than 1 in 1,000,000 probability {that a} random individual might unlock your iPhone with Face ID, however a 1 in 50,000 probability for Contact ID.
Eliminating the Contact ID dwelling button offers far more viewable display screen area, which is a serious bonus. Android producers have married massive show sizes with fingerprint recognition by placing sensors on the again of their smartphones, however Apple has by no means adopted that form of design.
No Extra Lightning
The iPhone SE can have a USB-C port for charging, with Apple persevering with its mission to part out the Lightning port.
The iPhone SE is without doubt one of the final Apple units that continues to make use of Lightning, and when Apple discontinues the iPhone 14, which might occur with the iPhone SE launch, Lightning shall be eradicated from the iPhone lineup. It is fairly attainable the iPhone 14 shall be discontinued when the iPhone SE launches as a result of it makes little sense to maintain a decrease spec iPhone 14 round for $599 when there is a extra highly effective iPhone SE accessible that prices much less.
MagSafe
The iPhone 14 added assist for MagSafe, and for the reason that iPhone SE 4 is utilizing an iPhone 14 design, it is going to work with MagSafe equipment and can assist MagSafe wi-fi charging. MagSafe just isn’t an choice for the present iPhone SE, however MagSafe charging and MagSafe equipment have grow to be an more and more essential a part of the Apple ecosystem over the previous few years.
A18 Chip and 8GB RAM
Apple plans to equip the iPhone SE 4 with the identical A18 chip that is within the iPhone 16, which suggests it should have flagship efficiency at a way more inexpensive value. The A18 chip will permit it to final for years to return, and it should be essentially the most inexpensive method to get Apple Intelligence in a smartphone.
With the A18 chip, the iPhone SE 4 will assist Apple Intelligence options, and it should be an enormous enchancment over the A15 chip within the present iPhone SE. Apple Intelligence requires 8GB RAM, so the brand new iPhone SE 4 may also have double the RAM of the present mannequin.
Storage Area
There is no concrete cupboard space rumor, however the remainder of Apple’s iPhones begin with 128GB of storage, so it is fairly attainable we’ll see the tip of the 64GB storage choice this yr. 64GB is just not sufficient cupboard space, even for a low-cost iPhone.
Digicam
The iPhone SE might get the identical 48-megapixel Extensive lens that is within the iPhone 16, which is able to carry a serious leap in photograph high quality in comparison with the 12-megapixel digicam within the iPhone SE 3.
An iPhone SE dummy mannequin
The iPhone SE 4 will not have a Telephoto lens or an Extremely Extensive lens, but when it does certainly use the identical Extensive lens, it is going to assist next-generation portraits with focus and depth management, the latest photographic kinds, and an choice to crop in to 2x optical zoom.
Connectivity
Apple goes to debut its new in-house modem within the iPhone SE 4, and it will give us our first take a look at how Apple’s modem expertise compares to Qualcomm’s modem expertise.
Apple’s modem chip will not assist the quickest mmWave 5G speeds, however it is going to connect with the extra widespread 6GHz 5G networks. Apple needs to chop down on its reliance on Qualcomm, and this new modem chip is step one.
We do not know the way a lot Apple will promote the brand new modem, however count on to see a spread of velocity and efficiency comparisons the place the brand new modem is pitted towards Qualcomm’s present iPhone 16 modem.
Emergency SOS by way of Satellite tv for pc and Crash Detection
That is hypothesis, however with the iPhone 14, Apple added a Crash Detection function that alerts emergency companies when you’re in a automotive accident. It is an essential security function that is prone to be included within the iPhone SE 4.
The iPhone 14 and later additionally assist Emergency SOS by way of Satellite tv for pc, and there is a good probability that’ll be added to the iPhone SE 4 too. Apple loves to advertise its security options, and they could be a main promoting level, so we would not be stunned to see each of those choices.
Battery Life
Rumors recommend the iPhone SE 4 can have the identical battery because the iPhone 14, which suggests it’s going to supply as much as 20 hours of video playback, as much as 16 hours of streaming video, and as much as 80 hours of audio playback.
There’s fairly a bit extra space in a 6.1-inch machine for a battery than there may be in a 4.7-inch machine, so it ought to come as no shock that there shall be a serious enchancment in total battery life.
The present iPhone SE gives 15 hours of video playback and as much as 10 hours of streaming video playback.
Pricing
With higher-end elements, the iPhone SE 4 could possibly be costlier than the present mannequin, however Apple continues to be aiming for a value level below $500. The iPhone SE 3 is priced beginning at $429.
No Occasion
The iPhone SE 4 is a vital new iPhone in Apple’s lineup, nevertheless it reuses elements from the iPhone 14 and iPhone 16, so it isn’t essentially the most thrilling machine. Apple is not going to carry an occasion to unveil the iPhone SE 4, as an alternative introducing it by way of a press launch and protection on the Apple web site.
Apple did promote the launch early on social media, however with out hints about simply what product is approaching February 19.
Launch Date
After being launched on February 19, Apple will seemingly settle for pre-orders for the iPhone SE 4 earlier than launching it a bit later within the month.
