iPhone SE 4: Here's What the Latest Rumors Say

[dan98]

Now if only they could make a really light phone, say around 100g, usuable with only one hand, nice and cheap, no PWM, all day battery, preferably without any silly bumps and notches, and basically capable of all the same stuff as the latest version.
Am I dreaming?

(...sent from my 7 year old SE1)

 

[SmugMaverick]

The SE 5G didn't sell well for these reasons.

Overpriced (£439)
DEEPLY dated design
LCD 720p
single lens
BEZELS
tiny battery

While the Pixel 6a is

£299 in the UK
OLED 1080p
dual camera lens
minimal bezels
modern design
decent battery

Android owns the mid range market, Pixels especially and the 7a next month is adding 90hz display ffs.

Those that want a cheap iPhone will just buy an older model, the iPhone mini also PROVED no one wants a smaller phone aside from the few on this forum banging the drum.

 

[d686546s]

Maybe you could see that Apple originally created the SE for those who wanted to keep a small form factor, but slowly developed it into a budget midranger with a powerful processor and plenty of ram, for those who don't mind the looks of a phone and just want a powerful runner. For comparison, it has the same A15 as the latest iPhone, and for it's time it was on par with the iPhone 13 Pro, which cost $1000.

Yep. It's pretty immaterial whether the OG SE was intended as a small phone to cater to a specific demographic or whether that was just convenient marketing spin to reuse an existing (smaller) body at a time when literally every other phone moved in the other (bigger) direction.

Ultimately, as you say, the SE is now the budget option pretty consistently across product categories. The Apple Watch SE is available in multiple sizes and the iPhone SE is no longer the smallest iPhone Apple sells (which is the 13 Mini). I really hate big phones and I will keep using my own 13 Mini for a while longer, but I think the SE folks out there should make their peace with the fact that it's no longer meant to be a 'small' device and no amount of complaining or pointing to early marketing material will change that.

That doesn't mean that Apple couldn't or wouldn't resurrect the Mini line through the SE, it just means it's unlikely. Realistically it makes more sense to use the body of an iPhone that actually sold well (like the 11 or X/XS) and go for a screen size that's closer to what the rest of the lineup is using. I still have the occasional blunder on my Mini where apps just don't scale well, which was never an issue on the 4.7" or, I'm guessing, on the 6.1" phones.

So Apple will have a range of 6.1" and 6.7" phones, some of which with a notch (SE) and others without, with a small number of cameras (SE) and others with the whole shebang etc etc etc.

My fellow small phone people, let it go. The SE is not a 'small' phone. It's an 'affordable' phone. It can be both, but it doesn't have to be.

 

[seek3r]

Right but there are various reasons/factors WHY it didn't sell well. The people who just outright prefer a smaller iPhone (like myself) as their first priority isn't a large group.

People who generally prefer a small iPhone but battery life is more of a priority didn't buy the mini.
People who generally prefer a small iPhone but wanted a Pro camera didn't buy the mini.
Even neutral size users found the $100 price savings not worth it (again vs the better battery life of the regular size).

IF they made the mini form factor more of a budget iPhone (say ~$350 less than the regular size like the current SE), I think it would have a larger following despite the less battery life and lack of pro cameras. But is that even enough to make it a good seller? I don't know.

FWIW a new mini with newer chips on a 3nm process, with nothing else changed, would probably have better battery life than my 13 mini

 

[seek3r]

I think the SE folks out there should make their peace with the fact that it's no longer meant to be a 'small' device and no amount of complaining or pointing to early marketing material will change that.

while that may well be true, we wont actually know until the next SE is out, so your statement is *way* more definitive than current reality.

 

[d686546s]

while that may well be true, we wont actually know until the next SE is out, so your statement is *way* more definitive than current reality.

Yes and no. It is current reality as the SE is neither the smallest iPhone in the bunch, nor is it specifically marketed as a small phone. Granted that could change with the next version.

 

[floral]

My fellow small phone people, let it go. The SE is not a 'small' phone. It's an 'affordable' phone. It can be both, but it doesn't have to be.

My main point was that the SE was a great phone for it's value, whereas the OP I replied to consistently bashed it and tried to convince people to not buy it.

in @ApplesAreSweet&Sour 's words:

"SEs are the least in size, display, battery, etc., and gives you the smallest total value/$ of all iPhones.

It's primary selling point is it's low total end cost for consumers which makes it attractive enough to warrant a purchase for consumers who can't or won't spend more than around $400 despite lacking in nearly every key area, like display size, battery, cameras, etc."

 

[jadot]

I would like the next SE, if it’s even a thing to be an updated internals iPhone 11, with one camera and 5g.

That should be a really easy ask, surely?

 

[sdz]

keep the SE as is and lower it to 299.

 

[OneBar]

just buy a 11/12 no need to wait for this.

Except the SE uses the current A series in the older body. So it wouldn't be the same. The current SE uses the 8 body but the A15 chip.

 

[aaronvanderwal]

People often look at the SE from the perspective of a phone that is cheap to buy, but I think it's important to look at it as a phone that is cheap to make. In hindsight, the previous SE were all geared around phones that saved Apple money on the production, distribution, and support side. Yes, they have to have a value proposition on the consumer side, but ultimately the cheapest iPhone with a relatively recent CPU (not because the CPU matters, but because long term support by iOS matters) is very compelling to many consumers. Even if the screen quality is low, even if the battery life isn't great. This describes the past several SE.

I'm age 40+ and a large number of my peer group have SE, not because anyone recommended it to us, but because it was the natural place to land for people with a mortgage and kids, who don't really care about advanced features, and certainly don't create content.

Anyway, from this perspective I think there's a chance that the SE takes the mini form factor. There's less physical material in a mini (they can save money on the chassis costs alone), and you can fit more of them on a pallet (saving money on packaging and shipping). At $600 or whatever the mini was not a great seller, but at $400 as a base model phone I bet it does just fine.

 

[jimmy_uk]

I would like the next SE, if it’s even a thing to be an updated internals iPhone 11, with one camera and 5g.

That should be a really easy ask, surely?

Now that I'm an iPhone 11 user I can get on board with this post 💯

 

[seek3r]

Yes and no. It is current reality as the SE is neither the smallest iPhone in the bunch, nor is it specifically marketed as a small phone. Granted that could change with the next version.

Technically it’s the smallest screen in the bunch right now, the mini is slightly smaller dimensions-wise, but has a much bigger screen.

 

[Bregalad]

So it seems that iPhone SE 4 is good as dead.
I was really excited for this SE model since all I want is a cheap iPhone with good battery and an updated design. The SE 4 seemed to be the perfect phone for me. But now I am really disappointed .

If the SE is truly dead my family will have no choice but to move to Android when our current SE's reach end of life. I really don't want to have to integrate non-Apple devices, but none of us can afford or justify $1000+ for a phone. Buying an older model at a reduced price is no better because you get fewer years of support and thus the cost/year is just as high as getting the latest model.

 

[casperghst42]

The formfactor (mini) and touch unlock are the two reasons why I like the SE. The mini has the formfactor, but the face recognition does not really work for me (I have to physical raise the phone from my desk). Bugger.

 

[_Spinn_]

Will be interesting when Apple finally launches their 5G modem.

 

[fidelisoris]

I have an SE 2020. I didn't upgrade to the 2022 because there was simply no reason for me to. However, the "SE 4" would be in my crosshairs as a potential upgrade... although with the rumors I will die on the hill of:

- Touch ID is a must. I don't care if they move it to the power button. Face ID is a deal breaker.
- Small form factor. If it doesn't fit in the leg pocket of a pair of carpenter's jeans WITH a lightweight case on it (I personally have a love affair for the Otterbox universe cases) then no deal.

If the 4 is announced without those two requirement, I will likely grab one of the last SE 2022 models on fire sale and hold out another 4 years. I can afford any iPhone in the lineup. I choose the SE for the reasons above.

 

[mattspace]

I have an SE 2020. I didn't upgrade to the 2022 because there was simply no reason for me to. However, the "SE 4" would be in my crosshairs as a potential upgrade... although with the rumors I will die on the hill of:

- Touch ID is a must. I don't care if they move it to the power button. Face ID is a deal breaker.
- Small form factor. If it doesn't fit in the leg pocket of a pair of carpenter's jeans WITH a lightweight case on it (I personally have a love affair for the Otterbox universe cases) then no deal.

Still on original SE, know someone who is also on original SE, and they're very of the opinion that they'd go to Android if they were required to use FaceID to stay with Apple.

Thumbprint biometrics - NFC tap-to-do is literally the most important feature in a phone, and TouchId does this better than FaceID. Neither of us have used cash for ~5 years.

 

[d686546s]

Still on original SE, know someone who is also on original SE, and they're very of the opinion that they'd go to Android if they were required to use FaceID to stay with Apple.

Thumbprint biometrics - NFC tap-to-do is literally the most important feature in a phone, and TouchId does this better than FaceID. Neither of us have used cash for ~5 years.

Personal preferences are personal preferences, but to me using Apple Pay with FaceID was a minor adjustment and that's that. You pull out your phone, double click, hold it in the vicinity of your face and put it on the reader. In reality it maybe adds a second or two.

I'm not saying it's better or worse, everyone can decide that for themselves, but I do think people blow this (FaceID with Apple Pay) out of proportion.

 

[mattspace]

Personal preferences are personal preferences, but to me using Apple Pay with FaceID was a minor adjustment and that's that. You pull out your phone, double click, hold it in the vicinity of your face and put it on the reader. In reality it maybe adds a second or two.

I'm not saying it's better or worse, everyone can decide that for themselves, but I do think people blow this (FaceID with Apple Pay) out of proportion.

Whereas with TouchID I pull my phone out of my pocket, my thumb is naturally already on the home button, put it to the reader, put it back to my pocket... without removing my mask.

 

[d686546s]

Whereas with TouchID I pull my phone out of my pocket, my thumb is naturally already on the home button, put it to the reader, put it back to my pocket... without removing my mask.

Yeah, that's fair enough, although I'd expect that mask wearing will massively decrease over the next year if it hasn't already.

Anyway, I was a massive FaceID sceptic and there definitely are scenarios where TouchID is better, but I bit the bullet because I wanted a Mini and personally I found the deal breaker things I had imagined quite manageable. Frankly I think we tend to overthink these things.

In some areas that I also do quite often, for example biometric authentication to access apps like my password manager, FaceID is actively better so it's not as clear cut.

 

[mattspace]

In some areas that I also do quite often, for example biometric authentication to access apps like my password manager, FaceID is actively better so it's not as clear cut.

I find it hard to imagine any time savings to be had in FaceID, Vs. touching the home button. 🤷‍♂️

 

[d686546s]

I find it hard to imagine any time savings to be had in FaceID, Vs. touching the home button. 🤷‍♂️

It's marginally faster but a lot more convenient. When you want to put in a password you follow your procedure like you always do, but when you need to authenticate it just works automatically without you needing to do anything.

Overall the time savings all around are minuscule.

 

[mattspace]

I now have a FaceID iPad Pro, and I’d happily lose faceID to gain a TouchID top button. When I have the tablet flat on a table in front of me, I have to pick it up, or stand and loom over it for FaceID to work, because the angle between my face and the IR camera is too steep.

So I don‘t think the experience of using it will convince me.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

iPhone SE in Product Red ♥️