Expected for spring 2025, the iPhone SE 4 – formerly a small iPhone now big – could be Apple’s real surprise! On the menu: Apple intelligence, OLED screen, Face ID, and above all a 5G home modem…
a home 5G modem!
For several years, Apple is working on its own 5G modem. According to the latest rumors, the iPhone SE 4 could well be the first to benefit from it, which would allow the company to simply do so. test in real conditions with smaller production volumes.
According to Mark Gurman, this 5G chip – called Centauri – would be more than a simple modem, and could also manage Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. At the moment, it would not bring immediate/major improvements over Qualcomm modem technology.
Apple intelligence (AI), an A18 chip and 8 GB of RAM
Furthermore, the iPhone SE 4 would be compatible with the artificial intelligence functions currently in beta in iOS 18.1 : you can bet it will have Apple Intelligence, writes Mark Gurman in one of his newsletters.
However, to be able to run the AI locally, it will necessarily have to carry 8 GB of RAM (compared to 4 GB for the 2022 model) but also an A 18 chip (like all iPhone 16s). Indeed, the features require a minimum of 8 GB of RAM, which is why the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus having only 6 GB are deprived of it.
A 6.06″ OLED display
The iPhone SE 4 could have its OLED screen. Indeed, all subcontractors are unanimous: Apple has stopped all orders for LCD panels. However, this model was the last iPhone to have an LCD screen, which would confirm the move to OLED for the next generation.
According to Nikkei AsiaCupertino is about to stop working with two Japanese suppliers -Japan Display and Sharp- which were in charge of the LCD screens of the iPhone SE 3. For their part, other sources claim that Cupertino has reportedly placed orders for OLED screens with LG Display and BOE.
According to the latest rumors, the screen would also increase from 4.7 inches to 6.06 inches. Apple would thus say goodbye to its last little iPhone and to this very practical form factor. According to the latest CAD files, we already knew that it would be larger and heavier than its predecessor and this seems to be confirmed. Indeed, according to the leaker Nguyen Phi Hung, the smartphone would get bigger and bigger over the years, reaching the following dimensions 148.5 mm x 71.2 mm x 7.8 mm.
As a reminder, the iPhone 14 has the following measurements: Length: 146.7 mm – Width: 71.5 mm – Thickness: 7.80 mm – Weight: 172 g. As for the iPhone SE 3, it is intended to be smaller and more slender: Length: 138.4 mm – Width: 67.3 mm – Thickness: 7.3 mm and Weight: 144 g. With the disappearance of form factor mini, there will no longer be a small model, which may upset the many fans who loved this form factor.
Un look d’iPhone 14
According to the leaker Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo, the back of the SE4 would be identical to that of the iPhone 16 (with an aluminum chassis). In other words, placed side by side on the front, the two smartphones would have identical backs – only the color could play a role.
Ultimately, it’s not a big surprise: According to CAD renderings, the upcoming iPhone SE 4 would be the largest SE ever with a form factor based on that of the iPhone 14. However, Apple has not significantly evolved the chassis of its devices since the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 16 should not present any obvious differences.
Source Instagram @ planshet_73
Overall, the iPhone SE 4 should abandon the aging design of the iPhone 8 (iPhone SE Gen 2 and 3) to sport that of the iPhone 14. Bye bye rounded edges, hello straight chassis and flat edges.
According to another rumor, it would nevertheless be lighter than the iPhone 14 approximately 7 grams, for a total weight of 165 grams. This drop on the scale would be due to the design with a single camera.
On the other hand, on the supposed CAD files, we do not see any traces of a possible Action Buttonwhich seems quite logical given that the latter has just arrived on iPhones.
Face ID and a better battery
This summer, rumors were rife about Weibo. The next iPhone should therefore be equipped with Face ID and USB-Cin a major upgrade that swaps the Touch ID home button and Lightning port. He should have a single 48-megapixel rear camera.
But the iPhone SE 4 would do much more than borrow the look of the 2022 generation, he would also borrow some components from it, like its battery. This is indeed what various documents and prototypes (which may have gotten lost) suggest. The latter mention a battery designated under the code A2863 – the same as that used in the iPhone 14. This would then be a nice improvement in terms of the capacity – and necessarily the autonomy – of the small smartphone.
A slight increase in price!
If rumors are rife regarding the design, specifics or release date of the iPhone SE 4, one last point is widely talked about. According to leaker @Revegnus1, the next iPhone SE could be around 10% more expensive (in the United States, what about the rest of the world?) because of Face ID.
Currently, the iPhone SE 3 – released in 2022 – starts at 429 dollars pour 64 Go (note, US prices are always excluding tax). In France with the different taxes and conversion rates, you have to take into account 529 euros for this same version. Also the barrier of 500 dollars excluding tax / 600 euros including tax would not be crossed, but it would already be significant for the cheapest new iPhone in the catalog.
For comparison, Apple officially displays the iPhone 13 (128 GB) at 749 euros, the iPhone 14 at 869 euros (128 GB) and the iPhone 15 (128 GB) at 969 euros.
