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iPhone SE 4 Likely to Feature 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence

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Next year's iPhone SE 4 will almost certainly come with 8GB of RAM, up from 4GB in the 2022 model, due to the hardware requirements of Apple Intelligence.

iphone-se-4-modified-flag-edges.jpg

Currently in Apple's smartphone lineup, only the iPhone 15 Pro models support Apple Intelligence, Apple's suite of AI features coming in iOS 18.1, because the features require a minimum of 8GB of RAM. There is only 6GB RAM in the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, so they will miss out.

Following the release of the iPhone 16 lineup in September, Apple will release the fourth-generation iPhone SE as early as the beginning of 2025, according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, and he says "you can bet that it will have Apple Intelligence."
So unless Apple discontinues the iPhone 15 models this year when the iPhone 16 series debuts, this will leave Apple's smartphone lineup in an unusual position, with a sub-$500 device in the iPhone SE 4 able to run Apple's latest AI features while the standard iPhone 15 models cannot.

The fourth-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ is rumored to feature an iPhone 14-like design, Face ID instead of Touch ID, a USB-C port, an Action button, an Apple-designed 5G modem, an A18 processor, and an all-screen look that does away with the Home Button. The device's display is expected to grow in size from 4.7 inches to 6.06 inches and use OLED for the first time.
Apple suppliers are expected to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. The device could be released ahead of the Lunar New Year in January 2025. However, all three existing iPhone SE models were announced in March over the years, so a March 2025 release seems quite possible too.

Article Link: iPhone SE 4 Likely to Feature 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/08/13/iphone-se-4-8gb-ram-apple-intelligence/
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This is a bit tongue in cheek, but I thought they were touting how they were able to get Apple Intelligence working on low RAM machines? This is the same amount of RAM that their Pro line of Macs includes, so it seems like that comment may have been a bit inaccurate?
 
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StuBeck said:
This is a bit tongue in cheek, but I thought they were touting how they were able to get Apple Intelligence working on low RAM machines? This is the same amount of RAM that their Pro line of Macs includes, so it seems like that comment may have been a bit inaccurate?
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Remember, macOS requires only half the RAM of Windows, it's made for low-RAM machines. That's Pro!
 
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StuBeck said:
This is a bit tongue in cheek, but I thought they were touting how they were able to get Apple Intelligence working on low RAM machines? This is the same amount of RAM that their Pro line of Macs includes, so it seems like that comment may have been a bit inaccurate?
Click to expand...
It's almost like Apple is quietly admitting that 8GB is considered a "low RAM machine" ;)

In all seriousness though, LLMs take up tons of RAM, so being able to run them on devices with only 8GB of RAM is actually a legitimate accomplishment. Macs can access virtual memory swap whereas iPhones cannot, so physical RAM is more important on the phone than it is on the desktop. This does not, however, excuse Apple from still shipping 8GB on any Mac today, Pro or not. I expect M4 Macs will start shipping with 12GB of RAM.
 
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klasma said:
It might lack MagSafe, action button, have lower screen brightness, stuff like that.
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BelgianChoklit said:
Please oh please give the poor thibg MagSafe - it's so life changing.
Click to expand...

Not having MagSafe is irrelevant since you can retrofit it on any old phone with a cheap case from Amazon - i do it on my Samsung phone and iPhone XR.
 
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gpat said:
They have to screw up this product somehow, otherwise it will cannibalize other iPhone models.
Otherwise it will probably be the very first iPhone I buy.
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I'm betting this new SE camera still won't support Night Mode. Taking (good) pictures is very important for a lot of people so it's an easy way to push people to the more expensive regular phones.
 
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StuBeck said:
This is a bit tongue in cheek, but I thought they were touting how they were able to get Apple Intelligence working on low RAM machines? This is the same amount of RAM that their Pro line of Macs includes, so it seems like that comment may have been a bit inaccurate?
Click to expand...
Well the downside is that it will run hotter than expected
 
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FridgeToaster said:
This is no strange to Apple. Back in spring 2016 when the first iPhone SE launched, the line up was 6s / 6 / SE, which had A9 / A8 / A9 processors.
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True, but it was still a bigger difference between SE and 6/6S. Sure weaker CPU in 6 but bigger screen. And AI is a big thing at the moment, would be odd if Apple offered devices that couldn't handle it.
But who knows, they might make AI work on iPhone 15 and keep it.
 
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bradman83 said:
It's almost like Apple is quietly admitting that 8GB is considered a "low RAM machine" ;)

In all seriousness though, LLMs take up tons of RAM, so being able to run them on devices with only 8GB of RAM is actually a legitimate accomplishment. Macs can access virtual memory swap whereas iPhones cannot, so physical RAM is more important on the phone than it is on the desktop. This does not, however, excuse Apple from still shipping 8GB on any Mac today, Pro or not. I expect M4 Macs will start shipping with 12GB of RAM.
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Oh yeah, it is. Its just funny to me how people can't admit that their chosen computer/phone manufacturer may be behind the times a bit and not doing whats right for the long term future. The jumps to explain it as OK are gonna look a bit strange if phones start coming with more RAM than their "Pro" range of computers.
 
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m.x said:
I'm betting this new SE camera still won't support Night Mode. Taking (good) pictures is very important for a lot of people so it's an easy way to push people to the more expensive regular phones.
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The current SE already has Night mode time lapse. No reason for the next one not to have the full thing since the old chassis/camera will no longer be a limitation.
 
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if iphone SE will have 8gb ram then its impossible for Apple to keep from even marketing purposes the iphone pro line with the same 8gb ram, so i fully expect next month the iphone pro line to feature 12gb ram
 
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gpat said:
They have to screw up this product somehow, otherwise it will cannibalize other iPhone models.
Otherwise it will probably be the very first iPhone I buy.
Click to expand...
Lower quality display, shorter battery life, USB 2.0 speed, newer SoC but with fewer CPU/GPU cores, etc.

The SE is and always was the entry-level model that showcases more expensive models with its shortcomings, while still offering the baseline iPhone quality (which is already higher than the average baseline Android device).
 
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