Apple is working on an updated version of the low-cost iPhone SE, and the new device is expected to include some major changes to bring it in line with the flagship iPhone lineup.
A new “iPhone SE” isn’t expected until 2024, but we’ve heard rumors, so we’ve put together all the information in one handy guide.
Design
The current third-generation iPhone SE is Apple’s smallest device, modeled after the iPhone 8. At 4.7 inches, it’s the only iPhone to include thick bezels and a Touch ID Home button.
That will change with the next “iPhone SE” update, with rumors that Apple is planning a new design. The fourth-generation iPhone SE will feature a full-screen design similar to Apple’s flagship line, with Apple doing away with the Home button in favor of another authentication method.
Leaker Jon Prosser has suggested that the iPhone SE 4 may look similar to 2018’s iPhone XR, a device with rounded edges rather than the boxy look of modern iPhones. Previous versions of the “iPhone SE” were all modeled on earlier iPhones, so this suggestion makes sense.
The original iPhone SE was based on the iPhone 5s, while the second and third-generation versions were similar to the iPhone 8. That said, Apple could model the iPhone SE after the iPhone 12 and later, adding to the more modern look the company has been using in recent years.
Display Size
The iPhone XR has a 6.1-inch display, and multiple rumors suggest 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 Apple is considering 5.7-inch and 6.1-inch display options for the next iPhone SE. Apple hasn’t finalized its plans for the iPhone SE 4, so both options are still possible, Young said.
Display Material
The iPhone SE was the last iPhone to feature an LCD display, and other iPhones in Apple’s lineup feature OLED. In fact, Apple has used all OLED technology for flagship iPhones since the iPhone 12.
It’s unclear whether Apple will use LCD or OLED technology on the iPhone SE 4, and Young said both are possible. Apple is considering 6.1-inch OLED displays from two suppliers, as well as 5.7- to 6.1-inch LCDs. The iPhone SE is more affordable than other iPhones, and the cost of OLED may make Apple opt for LCD, but OLED prices may have dropped enough for Apple to transition to OLED in the next iPhone SE.
Notch
With an all-display design, Apple is expected to adopt a notch for the iPhone SE, a design that Apple has used on flagship iPhones since 2017’s iPhone XR.
The notch display would give Apple a place to put the front-facing camera, but given the hardware cost, it’s unclear if the iPhone SE will support Face ID and the TrueDepth camera system.
By the time the iPhone SE launches, the flagship iPhone lineup will have fully transitioned to Dynamic Island, so the older notch design will set the iPhone SE apart.
Touch ID or Face ID?
Apple has been transitioning away from Face ID, and the iPhone SE is the last iPhone with Touch ID. Since Face ID has been around since 2017, Apple could choose to use it for the next iPhone SE.
Information from MyDrivers and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that the iPhone SE 4 may have a Touch ID power button, similar to the iPad Air, iPad, and iPad mini. This technology isn’t currently used in the iPhone, but the Touch ID power button could cut costs and differentiate the iPhone SE from the flagship iPhone.
A-Series Chip
The current “iPhone SE” is equipped with the same A15 chip as the iPhone 13 model, so the “iPhone SE” may get the previous-generation chip when it launches.
Since it’s due in 2024, it’ll arrive in the same year as the iPhone 16 lineup and a year after the iPhone 15. The standard iPhone 15 models are expected to use the A16 found in the iPhone 14 Pro models, so there’s a good chance that the iPhone SE 4 will feature an A16 chip.
5G
The current “iPhone SE” is equipped with 5G technology, and the next-generation version may get an upgraded 5G chip that supports more frequency bands.
Release Date
Rumor has it that the iPhone SE will launch in 2024, while the lineup planned for 2023 will not be updated.
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Hazel Yu 