Slated for spring 2025, the iPhone SE 4—formerly the little iPhone that grew up—might just be Apple’s big surprise! On the agenda: Apple intelligence, OLED screen, Face ID, and notably, a proprietary 5G modem…
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A Homegrown 5G Modem!
For several years, Apple has been developing its own 5G modem. According to the latest buzz, the iPhone SE 4 could be the first to feature it, allowing the company to test it under real conditions with more limited production volumes.
Mark Gurman suggests this 5G chip—dubbed Centauri
—would be more than just a modem, also handling Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Currently, it wouldn’t offer any immediate or major improvements over Qualcomm’s modem technology.
Apple Intelligence (AI), an A18 Chip, and 8GB of RAM
Moreover, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to support the artificial intelligence features currently in beta in iOS 18.1: you can bet it’ll have Apple Intelligence
, writes Mark Gurman in one of his newsletters.
To run AI locally, it would need to include 8GB of RAM (up from 4GB in the 2022 model) and an A18 chip (like all the iPhone 16 models). Indeed, these features require a minimum of 8GB of RAM, which is why the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, which only have 6GB, lack them.
A 6.06″ OLED Display
The iPhone SE 4 might sport an OLED display. Indeed, all subcontractors agree: Apple has stopped ordering LCD panels. Since this model was the last iPhone to feature an LCD screen, this would confirm the shift to OLED for the next generation.
According to Nikkei Asia, Apple is about to stop working with two Japanese suppliers—Japan Display and Sharp—who were responsible for the LCD screens of the iPhone SE 3. Meanwhile, other sources claim that Apple has placed orders for OLED displays with LG Display and BOE.
The latest rumors suggest the screen would also increase from 4.7 inches to 6.06 inches. Apple would thus be saying goodbye to its last small iPhone and this convenient form factor. According to the latest CAD files, it was already known that it would be larger and heavier than its predecessor, and this seems to be confirmed. According to leaker Nguyen Phi Hung, the smartphone would grow larger over the years, reaching the following dimensions: 148.5 mm x 71.2 mm x 7.8 mm.
For reference, the iPhone 14 measures: Length: 146.7 mm – Width: 71.5 mm – Thickness: 7.80 mm – Weight: 172 g. Meanwhile, the iPhone SE 3 is smaller and more slender: Length: 138.4 mm – Width: 67.3 mm – Thickness: 7.3 mm and Weight: 144 g. With the disappearance of the mini form factor, there will no longer be a small model, which is likely to disappoint many fans who loved this form factor.
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An iPhone 14 Look
According to leaker Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo, the back of the SE4 would be identical to that of the iPhone 16 (with an aluminum chassis). In other words, placed side by side on the front, the two smartphones would have identical backs—only the color might differ.
Ultimately, it’s not a big surprise: according to CAD renderings, the next iPhone SE 4 would be the largest SE ever designed with a form factor modeled after the iPhone 14. Apple hasn’t made significant changes to the chassis of its devices since the iPhone 14, and the iPhone 16 isn’t expected to show noticeable differences.
Overall, the iPhone SE 4 should abandon the aging design of the iPhone 8 (iPhone SE Gen 2 and 3) for the look of the iPhone 14. Goodbye rounded edges, hello straight chassis and flat sides.
According to another rumor, it would also be lighter than the iPhone 14 by about 7 grams, with a total weight of 165 grams. This reduction in weight is due to the design with a single camera.
However, in the supposed CAD files, there’s no trace of a possible Action Button, which makes sense since this feature has just been introduced to the iPhone.
Face ID and a Better Battery
This summer, rumors were rife on Weibo. The next iPhone should indeed come with Face ID and USB-C, in a major upgrade that replaces the home button’s Touch ID and the Lightning port. It would have a single 48-megapixel rear camera.
But the iPhone SE 4 would do much more than just borrow the look of the 2022 generation, it would also borrow some components, like its battery. Indeed, various documents and prototypes (which have reportedly been misplaced) suggest a battery designated under the code A2863
—the same one used in the iPhone 14. This would be a significant improvement in terms of capacity—and naturally, battery life—for the small smartphone.
A Slight Price Increase!
While rumors abound regarding the design, features, or release date of the iPhone SE 4, one last point is generating a lot of discussion. According to leaker @Revegnus1, the next iPhone SE could be about 10% more expensive (in the United States, what about the rest of the world?) due to Face ID.
Currently, the iPhone SE 3—released in 2022—starts at $429 for 64GB (note, US prices are always Excluding Tax). In France, with various taxes and conversion rates, you should expect 529 euros for this same version. So the bar of 500 dollars HT / 600 euros TTC wouldn’t be crossed, but it would already be substantial for the cheapest new iPhone in the catalog.
For comparison, Apple officially lists the iPhone 13 (128GB) at 749 euros, the iPhone 14 at 869 euros (128GB), and the iPhone 15 (128GB) at 969 euros.