December 7, 2023

Quickly after Apple unveiled the iPhone 15 sequence, a report stated the corporate was growing a brand new iPhone SE variant. Opposite to earlier stories, the iPhone SE 4 undertaking was again on the desk, with Apple seeking to repurpose the iPhone 14 design for the next-gen reasonably priced iPhone SE mannequin.

Along with retiring the Contact ID design, the iPhone SE 4 would additionally ship a slew of upgrades over the predecessor. The checklist consists of Face ID, which comes with the all-screen iPhone 14 design, a 48-megapixel digital camera, the Motion button, and USB-C connectivity.

Paired with an iPhone chip that may be not less than pretty much as good because the iPhone 14 Professional’s A16, this iPhone SE 4 could be simply too good to go up, I stated on the time.

Apple has a big assortment of iPhones in its 2023 lineup, hitting varied worth factors. The iPhone SE sequence is the most affordable doable possibility. The iPhone SE 4 must proceed to be essentially the most reasonably priced iPhone Apple sells. The unhealthy information in all of that is that Apple may not be able to launch the iPhone SE 4 anytime quickly. A brand new report teases a 2025 launch contemplating the present growth progress.

The late September report got here from MacRumors, with the weblog now doubling down on the data obtained from sources accustomed to the iPhone SE 4 progress. In a brand new story, MacRumors repeats a number of the earlier claims in regards to the iPhone SE, whereas including extra context.

The iPhone SE 4 (often known as D59 or Mission Ghost internally) shall be primarily based on the iPhone 14 chassis. The handset will function a single rear-facing digital camera, necessitating a brand new glass backplate design. The digital camera shall be a 48-megapixel shooter, which is the brand new norm on iPhones.

iPhone 15’s USB-C Port Picture supply: Christian de Looper for BGR

The weblog provided precise dimensions for the upcoming iPhone SE 4, which match the bottom iPhone 14 mannequin. However the iPhone SE 4’s 165g weight must be 6g lighter than the iPhone 14. That’s due to the single-lens digital camera system.

The iPhone SE 4 will function an aluminum (6013 T6) body just like the iPhone 14. Nevertheless it’ll have an Motion button and USB-C port as a substitute of the iPhone 14’s conventional mute change and Lightning port.

MacRumors additionally mentions one of many telephone’s potential colours, black. Apparently, iPhone SE 4 prototypes are available in a Midnight possibility just like what’s out there from the iPhone 14. Whereas the Motion button is coming to all iPhones, simply because the USB-C port, the rumored Seize button shall be unique to the iPhone 16.

The report nonetheless doesn’t give us the iPhone SE 4’s specs. I’m largely within the A-series chip Apple will use for the handset. It could possibly’t be the A15 Bionic, as that’s what powers the iPhone SE 3. As I stated earlier than, the A16 Bionic makes extra sense. But when MacRumors’ launch date estimate is correct, we would see a distinct chip inside the subsequent iPhone SE 4 model.

iPhone 15 Pro profile shows the Action button.
iPhone 15 Professional profile reveals the Motion button. Picture supply: Jonathan Geller, BGR

The weblog says the present growth schedule factors to a 2025 launch date. That might be an early 2025 launch, contemplating Apple’s agenda for iPhone SE variations. By then, Apple’s iPhone 16 telephones shall be stocked in shops, rocking purported A18 and A18 Professional chips.

I wouldn’t be stunned to see the iPhone SE 4 get the A18 therapy as effectively. The primary cause for that is the approaching arrival of Apple GPT through iOS 18. That is all hypothesis from yours really at this level.

Regardless of the case, if the iPhone SE 4 described in these stories turns into actual, it’ll most likely change into the mid-range telephone to purchase. And the very best iPhone to get somebody began on Apple’s ecosystem. Say a young person or a mum or dad seeking to improve their iPhone.