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iPhone SE 4 Launching as Soon as Next Week

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Apple's next-generation iPhone SE could debut as soon as next week with a launch to follow later in February, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple isn't expected to hold an event for the iPhone SE 4, and will instead unveil the device through a press release.

iPhone-SE-4-Single-Camera-Thumb.jpg

The iPhone SE 4 is expected to have an iPhone 14-style design, with Apple eliminating the thick bezels and Touch ID Home button of the current iPhone SE. When the iPhone SE 4 launches, it will mark the end of Touch ID in the iPhone lineup.

Apple is planning to unveil its custom in-house modem in the iPhone SE 4, and it will be the first iPhone to get the new modem chip. While Apple's modem chip won't be as advanced as Qualcomm's modem chips, it will be Apple's first step toward cutting down on its reliance on Qualcomm.

The iPhone SE 4 will support Apple Intelligence, and it will be equipped with the same A18 chip that's in the iPhone 16 and 8GB RAM. It will also have a USB-C port, allowing it to be sold in Europe again, and it is expected to feature a single-lens 48-megapixel rear camera.

While the current iPhone SE is priced at $429, Apple could increase the price of the new model due to the inclusion of the faster chip, Face ID, and other features. Pricing is expected to remain below $500 though, so that the iPhone SE 4 is competitive with lower-end smartphones from Samsung and Google.

Gurman suggests that Apple will unveil the iPhone SE 4 around the same time as the new PowerBeats Pro 2 earbuds, which Apple plans to unveil as soon as February 11.


Article Link: iPhone SE 4 Launching as Soon as Next Week
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/02/06/iphone-se-4-launch-next-week/
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ZipZilla said:
I wish Apple the best, but the homemade modem will be based on the tech they bought from Intel. The Intel models were horrible when Apple last used them. Poor reception in low signal areas. Qualcomm all the way here.
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It's been years since that original tech from Intel was bought and there is a reason they haven't released it in the years since. They've definitely had hurdles getting it to work to their standards which is fine although I don't expect it to be on the level of Qualcomm with this first generation but I don't think it will be terrible.
 
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ZipZilla said:
I wish Apple the best, but the homemade modem will be based on the tech they bought from Intel. The Intel models were horrible when Apple last used them. Poor reception in low signal areas. Qualcomm all the way here.
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Yes the Intel ones are horrible but since this is all Apples work which took too many years from them to decode and decypher from Intel to be like Apple since they bought the modem technology before COVID

Also creating your own modem is one of the hardest things to do in technology
 
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It will definitely be interesting to see how many people bite. It won't be considerably different in size and form factor over the base iPhone 16 but if it's $499 versus $799 that the base iPhone 16 is, there should be a reason number of holdouts still out there that could see this pretty enticing who have older iPhones.
 
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ZipZilla said:
I wish Apple the best, but the homemade modem will be based on the tech they bought from Intel. The Intel models were horrible when Apple last used them. Poor reception in low signal areas. Qualcomm all the way here.
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Practically speaking, I doubt most users will notice. The current SE uses X57 and only has sub-6 2x2 MIMO and LTE Advanced (even iPhone 11 has Gigabit LTE). This hobbled modem performance should be easy to match, even for Apple.
 
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frownface said:
I imagine it'll be quite a commercial success. SE price tag without the dated design. It may even outsell 15's in regions that still sell it.
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In the US, the base 15 is still being sold for $699, $200 more than the rumored SE 4 and the SE 4 does have at least the freshest iPhone design we've seen since the base 16 which isn't saying much but at least it does look unique and it will offer more than enough internals to be sufficient for a large group of people.
 
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ZipZilla said:
I wish Apple the best, but the homemade modem will be based on the tech they bought from Intel. The Intel models were horrible when Apple last used them. Poor reception in low signal areas. Qualcomm all the way here.
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I have an iPhone XS with intel modem and it’s true there were issues with the modem initially. Those issues went away with software updates at least a year ago.
 
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arthurgd3 said:
Up until last year the modem still wasn't ready so even if it's so-called ready now for the SE 4, I don't expect it's going to be at the level of the latest Snapdragon modem's but if it's still good then majority of users won't notice a difference.
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of course it won't be at the level of the latest Qualcomm, but, you are talking a "budget" phone here, not flagship, so don't expect "flagship" performance.
I had a 11PM and I honestly did not have connectivity issues.
 
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arthurgd3 said:
In the US, the base 15 is still being sold for $699, $200 more than the rumored SE 4 and the SE 4 does have at least the freshest iPhone design we've seen since the base 16 which isn't saying much but at least it does look unique and it will offer more than enough internals to be sufficient for a large group of people.
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Specs aren't confirmed yet, but if they follow the release strategy of the previous 3 SE's it'll launch with the same chipset as the 16.

The SE3 launched 6 months after the 13 with the same chipset.
The SE2 launched 6 months after the 11 with the same chipset.

Compared to the base 15 you lose a second camera and dynamic island, but gain an updated chipset and the ram to run apple intelligence, and save $200. I'd actually take the SE4 over the 15. It may even cannibalise a lot of the sales from the 16.
 
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I'll be waiting to see the Memorial Day deals. If I can get it for US$2.75 per month with promotional credits, that won't hurt.
 
frownface said:
Specs aren't confirmed yet, but if they follow the release strategy of the previous 3 SE's it'll launch with the same chipset as the 16.

The SE3 launched 6 months after the 13 with the same chipset.
The SE2 launched 6 months after the 11 with the same chipset.

Compared to the base 15 you lose a second camera and dynamic island, but gain an updated chipset and the ram to run apple intelligence, and save $200. I'd actually take the SE4 over the 15. It may even cannibalise a lot of the sales from the 16.
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Camera performance on base iPhone's is very mediocre so that alone will always keep me off the non-Pro phones but I'm a Pixel Pro user and once you experience a Pixel Pro camera you won't go back to anything less but I'm speaking for me personally. If someone is coming from a base iPhone, they will be perfectly happy with a SE 4. I don't think missing the Dynamic Island is a big detracting factor nor is gaining Apple Intelligence since it has a long way to go to prove itself useful for a lot of people but the $200 cheaper and newer chipset will definitely go a long way to sell more of these than the base 15.
 
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I still think Apple is going to have a hard time justifying the $300 difference between the SE 4 and iPhone 16. An extra camera (most people aren't using), camera control button (not going to say much more here but... mehh). Outside of this? Internals are going to be the exact same. I just don't see it.

Comparing the rumored SE 4 vs iPhone 16
- Essentially same frame
- same CPU
- same RAM
- same base 128GB storage
- same Apple Intelligence
- same screen and paltry 60hz refresh
- more than likely very similar battery life
- Notch vs Dynamic Island
- Apple Modem vs Qualcomm (too early to tell)
- camera button (not really the needle mover for most people)
- extra camera (i'd be willing to bet most people aren't using - and if you are, you bought the Pro/Max)


This basically says Dynamic Island, Camera Button, and extra camera most people don't use is worth $300 more?? Am I missing something?
 
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Based on current iPhone 14 pricing (AU) this new SE will see a hefty price increase.

Apple selling the 128GB SE for AU$799 and the 128gb 14 for $1049.

I’d wager we will see the price of the base model SE4 increase by a huge 30% (with a storage increase to 128GB)
 
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