iPhone SE 4 leak details revamped design based on the iPhone 14

[Shawn Knight]

Forward-looking: Apple's iPhone 15 hasn't even been available for a full week at this point, but the rumor mill has already moved on to what's next. Sources familiar with Apple's plans recently told MacRumors that the fourth-gen iPhone SE will arrive sporting significant changes in terms of internal hardware and design. The handset, reportedly referred to internally using the codename Ghost, will feature a design inspired by the base model of the iPhone 14 from 2022.

It'll apparently be so similar that Apple plans to utilize its iPhone 14 test parameters during the internal evaluation period.

The iPhone SE 4 won't be an exact clone, however, as it'll reportedly feature two noteworthy upgrades from newer devices: a USB-C port in place of the Lightning connector and an Action button where the ring / silent switch typically resides. The latter is a user-configurable button that can perform any number of functions, and USB is there because the EU more or less forced the matter.

Around back, the iPhone SE 4 will play host to a single rear-facing camera. Sources say Apple is still dialing in the design of the camera bump and has experimented with no less than five variants. As for the camera itself, Apple is likely leaning toward a 48-megapixel shooter, we're told.

Another significant upgrade is the screen, where Apple will opt for an OLED panel with Face ID to replace the LCD and Touch ID home button combo.

We've heard a lot about Apple's in-house 5G modem woes lately. Sources say Apple is testing a version of its own modem codenamed Sinope on the iPhone SE 4, although it was never said outright that the phone will ship using Apple's own modem solution. At least one rumor even claims Apple is developing the iPhone SE 4 for the sole purpose of modem testing and has no plans to sell the device, but that seems far-fetched at best.

Considering Apple recently extended its modem deal with Qualcomm through 2026, we could very well see a third-party solution used when it comes time to ship. Speaking of, there's no word yet on when Apple might introduce the handset, but it could be a ways out as sources say it is still in an early stage of development.

Image credit: Victor Carvalho, AB

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https://www.techspot.com/news/100319-iphone-se-4-leak-details-revamped-design-based.html

 

[VitalyT]

Apple's "budget" should be quotes, at 791 USD equivalent in Europe. You can pick up a budget car for that money.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Apple's "budget" should be quotes, at 791 USD equivalent in Europe. You can pick up a budget car for that money.

"budget" car. 791 USD isnt budget, that's a scrap heap useful only for demo derbies.

 

[VitalyT]

"budget" car. 791 USD isnt budget, that's a scrap heap useful only for demo derbies.

Where I live, every day on the road is a derby.

 

[MakeMSGreatAgain]

Nearly $800 would be unacceptable for an entry phone. Hopefully it can be priced similar or less than the SE. As for design, I would like to see a mini size. There are still plenty of us who like the smaller phones. Those of us who don't consume media or play games on our phones, and use them for, you know... communication and information gathering. I pretty much only use my phone for texting, calling, some internet, some email, some music, and taking pictures and video. That is it. $500 would be a good price point for a basic Apple phone.

 

[Lew Zealand]

Apple's "budget" should be quotes, at 791 USD equivalent in Europe. You can pick up a budget car for that money.

Where do you get 791 USD from? The MSRP of the current iPhone SE is €529, or about $560 before VAT. Still about $100 too high but not almost $800.

 

[GeforcerFX]

This shouldn't be the next SE this should be a new model that fits between the flagged number phones (aka the 15 and 16) and works a good mid market competition device priced at $500-600. The SE is popular because of it's low price and small size, getting rid of both of those things makes this model DOA, updating the SE to not have the home button but keeping the form factor will placate some of the apple customers that are slightly ticked about the mini series ending on the 13, and would give apple a device that no one in the android space seems to want to make. If Samsung would just take most of the guts of a A14 and put it into a smaller package they would have a pretty popular phone.

 

[Theinsanegamer]

This shouldn't be the next SE this should be a new model that fits between the flagged number phones (aka the 15 and 16) and works a good mid market competition device priced at $500-600. The SE is popular because of it's low price and small size, getting rid of both of those things makes this model DOA, updating the SE to not have the home button but keeping the form factor will placate some of the apple customers that are slightly ticked about the mini series ending on the 13, and would give apple a device that no one in the android space seems to want to make. If Samsung would just take most of the guts of a A14 and put it into a smaller package they would have a pretty popular phone.

*popular* doesnt mean what you think it means. The SE, according to apple sales, was selling about the same as the 12 and 13 mini combined. That is to say, about 6% of all iphone sales. It's not a high priority model. Making it big wont make it DOA, we have repeatedly seen that the "mini" crowd is a niche and the larger phones vastly outsell the small ones.

 

[MakeMSGreatAgain]

*popular* doesnt mean what you think it means. The SE, according to apple sales, was selling about the same as the 12 and 13 mini combined. That is to say, about 6% of all iphone sales. It's not a high priority model. Making it big wont make it DOA, we have repeatedly seen that the "mini" crowd is a niche and the larger phones vastly outsell the small ones.

Of course we know the mini crowd is niche, and the larger phones outside them by a considerable margin - but that doesn't make them a waste of time to manufacture. 3% or even 6% is a sale, which may otherwise go to another manufacturer if these smaller and cheaper devices didn't exist. That is a potential 6% loss in sales for Apple. It would be unwise to take that away. With that said I do see your point. ...even though these huge companies are generally very greed driven, a 3-6% sales loss may be acceptable if it means they don't have to spend money on design and manufacturing of those niche devices.