iPhone SE 4's Design Revealed in CAD Renders

[Future Dwight]

People aren't buying small phones, that's just the way it is.

False. People are not buying enough small phones for Apple to care about it. I'm sure they sold hundreds of thousands iPhone mini but they want to sell millions. Other companies dream to sell that much products but it's nothing for Apple. They want big numbers or they drop the product. They could have sell the iPods, Thunderbolt Displays, AirPort devices for decades and still make good profit but it's not enough for them and shareholders.

 

[dampfnudel]

My guess would be A17, which is what the iPhone 16 is getting. I believe Apple has so far chosen the latest base SoC for the SE models due to the gap between refreshes.

I thought the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus were getting the A18, the binned version of the A18 Pro that the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max will get?

 

[Shirasaki]

What I mean is that they make more "options" than ever, but none of them are really actual options

iPhones are just big, bigger and huge with the same boring palette of colors as ever. Besides, you have to keep people interested in overpriced cases to add color!

And so much of the feature segmentation is mostly artificial just to drive you to spend more.

Illusion of choice.
I just got my iPhone 15 pro max a few days ago, and I don’t know why it was praised so much back last year. The difference between “generations” are so small that it makes little sense to chase intensely and makes purchasing decision process inconsequential.

 

[boak]

I thought the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus were getting the A18, the binned version of the A18 Pro that the 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max will get?

If Apple changes strategy again, then yes

 

[Shirasaki]

Those are more "pro" features


What a crock all this artificial segmentation is.

Put things like the action button EVERYWHERE -- so EVERYONE can use it and Devs can really target it and take advantage of it. It's a button for goodness sakes -- a button!

I'd say the same for the dynamic island also
If you want these things to reach their potential, the feature has to be on every iPhone

Apple clearly forgot the lesson they learned from Apple II days where devs almost always target the lowest denominator. Force Touch died because of that. Touch Bar died more or less because of that. Now the creative use of pill notch will likely die because of that. Action button could stay but that’s years later, and Apple to this day still don’t open control center to third party applications.

 

[Reason077]

What’s especially crazy is that the current SE is using a tweaked version of the iPhone 6 design, which will be 10 years old this fall.

In recent years, Apple have been relying more on old iPhone models being the entry level rather than pushing the SE series.

But the shift to USB-C has created an opening for a new entry level device, as it will be increasingly hard for Apple to keep pushing Lightning devices with a straight face.

 

[Knowimagination]

This is so sad, I was really hoping to get a new SE to downsize from my 14 pro but this aint it.

 

[DailySlow]

My 1st Gen 5SE is functional still. God I love that button. The size is perfect. It’s not part of my cellular, wifi only. Maybe 10% larger would be fine with me (surface area) but no more. Why not?

 

[Reason077]

That just leaves the $4,000 scuba mask on the shopping list. Oh…

Surely more ski goggles than scuba mask. The Scuba mask form factor is reserved for the Vision Ultra - it covers your nose for immersive Smell-O-Vision(tm).

 

[lfaa]

Come on, it's just a rumor...

 

[jouster]

Smaller because they reused chassis from previous versions. There is no smaller device in the lineup anymore to do that with anymore, sadly.

Posted from my appropriately sized 13 mini.

Sure there is. There's the existing SE.

But as many have pointed out, Apple clearly considers the market for small devices to be uneconomic. And now we know that the driver for the SE's design was not size.

 

[jashsayani]

I'd be happy if they just gave me a 13 mini with USB-C

I would be fine with Lightning. I just want a new processor (whatever the new Ax chip is) and decent battery.

 

[bLackjackj]

Those are more "pro" features

You mean, saving for the next iPhone SE. Every "Pro" feature simply arrives for everyone in the next model of the same series.

 

[turbineseaplane]

You mean, saving for the next iPhone SE. Every "Pro" feature simply arrives for everyone in the next model of the same series.

Well, except a high refresh rate screen..

err..

Sorry, I mean "ProMotion"

That feature should have been everywhere years ago

 

[Scoob Redux]

This design would be a substantial upgrade over the current iPhone SE, which features curved edges, a 4.7-inch display, a Home Button with Touch ID, and large bezels.

Other than the flat edges, every single one of those is a downgrade from the current SE.
6.1" < 4.7"
no Home button < Home button
FaceID < Touch ID
Notch < Bezels

 

[Scoob Redux]

False. People are not buying enough small phones for Apple to care about it. I'm sure they sold hundreds of thousands iPhone mini but they want to sell millions. Other companies dream to sell that much products but it's nothing for Apple. They want big numbers or they drop the product. They could have sell the iPods, Thunderbolt Displays, AirPort devices for decades and still make good profit but it's not enough for them and shareholders.

But the problem is, Apple DOESN'T sell a small phone. They sell a large 4.7", a huge 6.1", and a giant 6.7". They also cripple the "small" iPhone Mini with old tech. Apple has targeted the "budget" market with the Mini, when many customers want a flagship small phone. So, we really have no data on the market for a true high-end small (4") phone with top-level processor, memory, and cameras. I'd pay $2000 for that.

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Looks like it's bigger and has a camera wart. Sad!

 

[padams35]

This is bad!
I love the iPhone 6/7/8 size, (single handed use) but need to upgrade to something 5G compatible. I don’t want to buy 2022/older tech in 2024 but it looks like I may have to.

 

[mgarc1125]

"substantial upgrade"

I hope this is fake. I suspect it is fake.

 

[kerr]

Does that look like the smaller notch from the iPhone 13 rather than the wider notch of the iPhone X/XS/11/12?

 

[ThomasJL]

Let me guess: No SIM card slot for the American models so Tim Cook can save money on manufacturing costs, in order to not pass that savings on to customers, in order to maximize profits?

For those of us who travel internationally, many of us need a SIM card slot. But I'm sure plenty of people on this forum will defend Cook's anti-consumer actions and say he's doing an excellent job because Apple's stock is doing well.

 

[DakotaGuy]

But the problem is, Apple DOESN'T sell a small phone. They sell a large 4.7", a huge 6.1", and a giant 6.7". They also cripple the "small" iPhone Mini with old tech. Apple has targeted the "budget" market with the Mini, when many customers want a flagship small phone. So, we really have no data on the market for a true high-end small (4") phone with top-level processor, memory, and cameras. I'd pay $2000 for that.

You don’t need to do market research to figure out sales on a $2000 4” phone are going to be poor. Very poor.

 

[Havoc035]

Shame. Was really hoping Apple would use some common sense and demote iPhone 13 Mini as SE.

That would’ve made a lot of intuitive sense. But probably sourcing the displays is too hard or expensive. Small screens are rare nowadays.

 

[hydrochloride]

when many customers want a flagship small phone

You cannot have flagship features with the iPhone mini‘s microscopic battery. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[beginnersview]

So, reading through many of these post comments, seems the consensus is mostly that Apple won't sell a smaller Mini/SE sized phone going forward is due to the larger phones having larger sales and higher profit generation for Apple.
The SE (3rd gen) is still offered for sale, as Apple's current and only small form factor iPhone.
One could *hope* that (one of) the richest companies in the world could use a bit of its tons of cash to continue to provide a model which users with smaller hands actually want, need and clamor for.
Several folks in my family fall squarely into this category, and would wish to upgrade in the future but NOT to a too-big-to-use 'regular' iPhone.
So... there is a possibility that Apple could keep the SE (3rd gen) alive for sale in its stores, or replace it with a similar not yet disclosed/rumored smallish iPhone. Maybe another/new reboot "mini" or "Se" (Big S little e).
Or they could just continue down their path of total greed and don't give a sh--- about customers with small hands by only selling larger higher profit phones. (starting to sound like an American SUV car company pathway...)
One could hope they remember their customer base is varied.
And while they make an effort to be accommodating to differently-abled persons, they may not be thinking that small hands are worth their effort. Who knows what transpires in the minds of those directors/planners.