iPhone SE 4's Design Revealed in CAD Renders

[foqus]

The smallest iPad screen I think is now 8.3". At 6.1" for the SE, how long until the smaller, budget iPhone screen is LARGER than the smallest iPad? I know a lot of people never put their phones to their ears anymore, but still...just so stupid. Keep a small screen size for those who want that.

 

[boak]

$499 is really close to the 2 generation old model's price, with a 2 generation newer SoC. The features will be heavily gimped, I bet.

 

[JPack]

That does make sense.
I still wonder, though, if Apple will want to keep two Lightning models in the lineup vs. going all-in on USB-C.

The law doesn’t stop Apple from selling existing Lightning-based iPhones and other devices after 2024. Apple is in no hurry to retire the iPhone 14 early. They want maximum return from their NRE sunk costs. So there is no reason to delete the iPhone 14 early.

 

[boak]

So it's a cheaper iPhone 14. Nothing really special about it for someone that was looking for a different phone and not saving money.

They might just get rid of the iPhone 14 in the lineup when the SE4 is released tbh. The price gap is small.

 

[poematik13]

Damn. if the price is right, this will be the ultimate budget phone.

 

[boak]

The smallest iPad screen I think is now 8.3". At 6.1" for the SE, how long until the smaller, budget iPhone screen is LARGER than the smallest iPad? I know a lot of people never put their phones to their ears anymore, but still...just so stupid. Keep a small screen size for those who want that.

Aspect ratio.

The smallest iPad has double the screen area of the 15 Pro Max.

 

[sw1tcher]

At least $499

I was thinking $479. Apple can keep cost down by using older A16 SoC, keep it at 64GB storage 🤣, and have them all assembled in India.

 

[Sippincider]

My older relatives flat out can't use a phone without TouchID/Home Button

They get "lost" constantly on iOS and that one big single button is their lifeline

I can't believe Apple is going to totally nuke it as an option on one single model

Same here as well. Have relatives where the home gesture would be a complete lost cause, they needed that big simple one-tap "lifeline" as you said.

 

[timber]

Apple needs a cheaper quality offer and not a small phone "nobody" wants.

It's great they recognise that.

 

[boak]

I was thinking $479. Apple can keep cost down by using older A16 SoC, keep it at 64GB storage 🤣, and have them all assembled in India.

$479 would be reasonable as it means the price is kept the same. But Apple being Apple... Gotta make some extra money with the additional R&D this time where some redesign is required, instead of basically slapping on a new SoC in previous models.

 

[JPack]

My older relatives flat out can't use a phone without TouchID/Home Button

They get "lost" constantly on iOS and that one big single button is their lifeline

I can't believe Apple is going to totally nuke it as an option on one single model

AssistiveTouch

 

[danakin]

The law doesn’t stop Apple from selling existing Lightning-based iPhones and other devices after 2024. Apple is in no hurry to retire the iPhone 14 early. They want maximum return from their NRE sunk costs. So there is no reason to delete the iPhone 14 early.

Solid logic. Thanks a lot!

 

[AlekseyS]

Hope new SE or any other iPhone would have TouchID... I really don't like FaceID and it becomes the main criteria to choose new model.

 

[iZac]

I'm still holding out the slim hope that there is an SE mini hiding behind that enormous CAD render.

 

[ItsASpider]

The smallest iPad screen I think is now 8.3". At 6.1" for the SE, how long until the smaller, budget iPhone screen is LARGER than the smallest iPad? I know a lot of people never put their phones to their ears anymore, but still...just so stupid. Keep a small screen size for those who want that.

You do understand that as the diagonal increases, the screen size grows exponentially within its aspect ratio, right?

Anyways, given the example of the 10th gen iPad, I have very little faith that the iPhone SE 4 will be priced right... Then again, even the third gen was already a ridiculous price/value proposition compared to its competition and even its predecessor.

 

[knirirr]

> This design would be a substantial upgrade over the current iPhone SE

Personally, it would not, due to the replacement of TouchID with FaceID.
I'll be looking for a Pixel phone instead, once my SE 2022 is no longer supported (or perhaps sooner, if some lingering issues can be resolved).

 

[whcchief]

Smaller is a byproduct of being a low-cost iPhone. Apple will be increasing the size of iPhone 16 Pro to 6.3-inches and the regular iPhone 17 will follow.

But many many businesses use them for staff etc as the lowest cost option so it wouldn't bother them being low cost.

 

[.wojtek]

Meh... SE is my compact and handy iPhone... I would also miss curved sides and home button (I like finger ID! it's awesome to unlock phone without having to look directly at it...)

 

[impaler]

Lost me at 6.1”

Agreed. PLLLLLease give me a mini sized phone as the new SE.

 

[OrenLindsey]

Having one camera lens is not the greatest, but hopefully it'll be more than 12 MP. Not holding my breath though, it's Apple after all. At least it'll probably have cool colors.

 

[Populus]

It would take (some) attention (and sales) away from the iPhone 16 release.

Past iPhone SE releases always came after the main iPhone release.

iPhone 6s / 6s Plus with A9 SoC announced September 2015
iPhone SE (1st gen) with A9 SoC announced March 2016

iPhone 11 with A13 SoC announced September 2019
iPhone SE (2nd gen) with A13 SoC announced April 2020

iPhone 13 with A15SoC announced September 2021
iPhone SE (3rd gen) with A15 SoC announced March 2022

which means

iPhone 16 announced September 2024
iPhone SE (4th gen) announced March or April 2025?

The question is what SoC will the 4th gen iPhone SE use, an A16, A17, or A18?

I’d bet, being a bit optimistic, for an A18 Bionic. That way it follows the tradition of using the most powerful SoC available in an older design, and includes this new appealing AI features that might be exclusive for the new devices.

 

[subjonas]

the current iPhone SE, which features curved edges, a 4.7-inch display, a Home Button with Touch ID, and large bezels.

Oh I get it, we’re listing all the ways the current SE is better.

 

[hydrochloride]

Looks to me like the perfect budget iPhone. Mini times are over, live with it. I switched from my beloved 12 mini to a 15 and I would never, never go back to a mini phone. Everything is easier with the bigger screen and just looks freaking better.

 

[klasma]

You can barely see the buttons on the side and there's no Action Button, but also no silent switch.

Well, there is something:

It looks like someone erased either a switch or a button, but missed the very edge on one side.

 

[femike]

No. No. The notch is dead. It's too big. Should of been a mini size with the pill shaped cutout.
I'll stick with my iPhone 6S or may get the current SE to tie me over for another 5 years until Tim Cook is gone.