The latest: Apple's entry-level iPhone SE is due for a refresh and according to the latest scuttlebutt, the iPhone SE 4 could arrive sooner than originally anticipated. According to a fresh report from The Information, Apple is preparing for the device to enter mass production in October. If true, that would put it beyond the anticipated September announcement and launch of the iPhone 16 and could push launch back to early 2025.
For reference, the first-gen iPhone SE was announced on March 21, 2016, the second-gen model broke cover on April 15, 2020, and the third-generation iPhone SE was introduced on March 8, 2022. Given the rumored October window for mass production, we could be looking at a similar launch window for the SE 4.
When we last checked in on the iPhone SE 4, the general consensus was that it'd ship running Apple's A16 Bionic from the iPhone 14 Pro family. Updated information suggests the phone may actually pack an A18 chip under the hood, which is expected to debut in the iPhone 16 in a couple of months. Should the latest intelligence prove accurate, that'd be a significant upgrade that would make the iPhone SE 4 even more attractive.
Other rumored iPhone SE 4 features, like the 6.06-inch LTPS OLED display with a 60 Hz refresh rate, Face ID support, and USB-C connectivity, are still said to be on the table. Further goodies are said to include an aluminum chassis, 6 GB to 8 GB of LPDDR5 memory, and a 48-megapixel rear-facing camera. Local storage capacity could top out at up to 512 GB.
As for pricing, most expect the iPhone SE 4 to start at $499 or $549. That's significantly more affordable than flagships from leading manufacturers, but is higher than the $429 starting price of the third-gen model.
For someone seeking a powerful, modern-day smartphone without every possible bell and whistle, the iPhone SE 4 could be a very compelling option - especially now that it's graduated to a larger display.
Image credit: AB