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 lineup, with Apple eliminating the Home button in favor of another authentication method.
Leaker Jon Prosser has suggested the iPhone SE 4 could look similar to the 2018 iPhone XR, a device that featured rounded edges rather than the squared off look of modern iPhones, but Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says it will instead look like the iPhone 14.
Display Size
The iPhone XR had a 6.1-inch display, and multiple rumors have suggested that Apple is considering a 5.7 to 6.1-inch display for the device.
Prosser and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believe Apple will use a 6.1-inch display, while display analyst Ross Young believes that Apple is considering both 5.7-inch and 6.1-inch display options for the next iPhone SE. Young said that Apple has not yet finalized its plans for the iPhone SE 4, so both options are still possible, while Kuo believes Apple has settled on a 6.1-inch OLED 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.
By the time the iPhone SE comes out, the flagship iPhone lineup will have transitioned entirely to the Dynamic Island, so the older notch design will set the iPhone SE apart.
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.
Information from MyDrivers indicates that the iPhone SE 4 could have a Touch ID power button, similar to the iPad Air, iPad, and iPad mini. This technology has not been used for an iPhone as of yet, but a Touch ID power button could keep costs low and differentiate the iPhone SE from the flagship iPhones.
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.
Test Device Status
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is developing an iPhone SE, but it is an internal prototype that is being used to test its in-house modem chip. Kuo does not believe that Apple has plans to mass produce the device for release to the public, which means it is not known if the iPhone SE 4 we've heard rumors about will see an actual launch.
Release Date
Analyst Jeff Pu claims Apple will produce a fourth-generation iPhone SE with an Apple-designed modem chip in 2025, but it remains to be seen if that is correct.
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