Despite initial reports, Apple has not canceled the idea of the fourth-gen iPhone SE altogether. The phone is definitely delayed but will feature the biggest change in the lineup so far. So, in this article, we will discuss the latest development in the iPhone SE 4 saga.
iPhone SE 4 Rumors Roundup:
A big design shift
Apple is no stranger to reusing designs from its older phones on the SE lineup. As per the previous rumors, iPhone SE 4’s display could stretch 6.1 inches with no Touch ID on the bottom. And the classic bathtub notch on top. But now, the rumors are different. Apple will retain the design of the iPhone 14, including the distinctive notch. This a big shift from the iPhone 8 chassis that Apple had been using for the last two generations. Consequently, there might be a shift from Touch ID to Face ID for authentication.
The iPhone will also come with a USB Type-C port, although it’s expected to offer slower data transfer speeds as compared to the iPhone 15 series models.
Apple’s own 5G modem
According to Kuo, Apple will use its own 5G modem in iPhone SE 4. But its 5G capability will be slightly limited as Apple’s modem only supports sub-6GHz frequencies. And not the faster mmWave 5G. This move hurt Qualcomm’s business with Apple quite significantly.
In an interview with Wall Street Journal at MWC 2023, Qualcomm’s CEO Cristiano Amon said, “We expect that Apple will do their own modem in 2024, but if they need ours, they know where to find us.”
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[Update] Apple has restarted the iPhone SE 4 and will adopt an in-house 5G baseband chip. The significant decline in Qualcomm's Apple orders in the foreseeable future is a foregone conclusion. https://t.co/0MeZDFnbzg— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) February 27, 2023
In addition, Apple’s 5G model could be the reason for this delay in this new SE iPhone. According to the new leak, we might have to wait for another 2 years for the iPhone SE 4.
Rest of the features
The upcoming iPhone SE 4 will likely have just one camera like its previous models. It will also get an action button. This feature is from the Apple Watch Ultra and might show up in the iPhone 15 Pro too.
The device will also probably have the TSMC N3B-based A17 Bionic, or it’s possible to house an N3E-based successor.
More about the SE 4 – planned features and design changes:
– Design based on iPhone 14
– Face ID
– USB-C
– Action button 👀
– Only one rear camera— Unknownz21 🌈 (@URedditor) August 13, 2023
Also read:
- There might be an “Ultra” iPhone in 2024
- Apple may finally ditch the bathtub-like notch on the upcoming iPhone 15
- Fresh new iPhone 15 Pro renders suggest curvier edges, USB-C port
- Apple’s 14″ MacBook Pro (2023) with M2 Pro/Max chip arrives in Nepal
iPhone SE 4 Delayed Launch
The iPhone SE lineup is home to Apple’s most affordable smartphone. And there have been two new iterations since the company dropped the first one in 2016. It was succeeded by iPhone SE (2nd Gen) in 2020, while the third iPhone SE arrived almost two years later in 2022.
Going by this recent timeline, Apple was expected the launch the 4th gen iPhone SE in 2024. However, the company seemed to have dropped the idea altogether. And the main reason for its cancelation was believed to be the lower-than-expected sales of affordable iPhones, including the iPhone SE 3, iPhone 13 mini, and iPhone 14 Plus.
In addition, the added cost of manufacturing the iPhone SE 4 was also said to have played an influential role in Apple’s decision. The reason all of the previous iPhone SEs were relatively affordable was that they all used the same old chassis. However, the company was planning to take a new route with an all-screen panel on the fourth iPhone SE. Because of this, the price of production is now higher, which Apple believes is better invested to combat the upcoming recession in 2023.
Qualcomm could’ve been the biggest winner in this cancellation
Up until now, Apple has been using Qualcomm’s modem in all of its iPhones. However, the company is trying to change that by designing its own RF (Radio Frequency) modem. The initial plan was to test Apple’s first-gen in-house 5G modem in the cheaper iPhone SE before deciding whether the chip was good enough for the premium iPhones.
However, it was believed that with the supposed cancellation of the iPhone SE, Qualcomm will continue to supply RF modules for iPhone well into 2024. With this, it was almost confirmed Qualcomm will secure its position as the market leader for high-end RF modems in 2023 as well as 2024.
- Meanwhile, check out our review of the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
