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Apple is about to announce the new iPhone SE 4. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the device will be presented next week - but without a big event. Instead, the unveiling will take place in a press release on the Apple Newsroom website. The iPhone SE 4 will be a significant development of the current model, which is now technically outdated. Instead of the classic design with a home button and thick display bezels, it will be based heavily on newer iPhones. Rumors speak of a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a USB-C port, a 48-megapixel camera and the new A18 chip. Apple's own 5G modem will also be used for the first time.
The SE series is aimed primarily at users who are looking for a cheaper iPhone but don't want to miss out on performance and long-term software updates. The current model is from 2022 and is based on the iPhone 8 - with outdated technology such as the A15 chip, Touch ID and an LCD display. With the iPhone SE 4, Apple wants to close this gap. It should look more modern, be more powerful and take on some of the functions of the more expensive iPhone models. At the same time, it remains the cheapest option in the Apple ecosystem.
Design and display: OLED instead of LCD, modern design instead of home button
Visually, the iPhone SE 4 will have nothing in common with its predecessor. Instead of the old iPhone 8 design, Apple is using a mix of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 16. The display will grow from 4.7 to 6.1 inches and will use an OLED panel for the first time. This means better colors, deeper black levels and an overall higher quality display than the previous LCD display. Face ID will also be integrated and the classic home button with Touch ID will be eliminated. By doing away with thick bezels, the iPhone SE 4 looks much more modern than its predecessor. This makes it the first SE model to rely on the look of a current iPhone.
Performance and hardware: A18 chip and 5G modem
The A18 chip is said to be working inside the iPhone SE 4 - the same processor that is expected to be used in the iPhone 16. In combination with 8 GB of RAM, the device should offer enough power for all applications and updates in the long term. The 5G modem is particularly interesting. Apple is developing it itself for the first time, instead of using a model from Qualcomm. This is the first time that the company is testing its own modem technology in a series device. It remains to be seen whether it can keep up with previous 5G modems.
Camera: 48 megapixels instead of 12 megapixels
Another major upgrade concerns the camera. Apple is said to be equipping the iPhone SE 4 with a single 48-megapixel main camera. This would significantly improve image quality - especially in poor lighting conditions. Even though the device only has one camera on the back, Apple is likely to enable functions such as night mode and improved portrait photos through software optimizations. Video recordings should also benefit.
Equipment and connections: USB-C and new features
A big topic with new Apple devices is the switch from Lightning to USB-C. The iPhone SE 4 will also take this step. In addition to faster charging times and better data transfer rates, this also means that Apple will completely remove the old connection from its product portfolio in the long term.
Price and availability: More expensive than its predecessor?
The iPhone SE 3 was positioned at 529 euros, but given the new technology, the price of the SE 4 could increase slightly. OLED displays, Face ID and a new processor are more expensive to produce, so a price increase is likely. Mark Gurman assumes that Apple will announce the iPhone SE 4 in a press release in the coming days. There is no exact date yet, but the sales launch should not be long in coming.
The iPhone SE 4 sets new standards for budget iPhones
The iPhone SE 4 is the biggest upgrade the SE series has ever received. Apple is relying on a modern design, a powerful chip, a significantly improved display and a high-quality camera. Those who prefer a compact iPhone with a home button will have to get used to the new operation with Face ID. Otherwise, there are hardly any reasons not to switch to the new model. Users of an older iPhone SE or iPhone 8 in particular will benefit from the new technology. Whether the price premium is worth it depends on the final range of functions. What is clear, however, is that the iPhone SE 4 is much more future-proof than its predecessor. (Image: Apple)
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