The current buzz around Apple’s iPhone SE 4 is as if people are paying more and more attention to the rumors and leaks emerging about its features and specs. Tech lovers want to know what’s been in store for this affordable range of iPhones since they don’t hear anything from Apple about any updates since 2022. Popular Apple tipster Sonny Dickson had leaked various pieces of information. So, there are quite a number of changes – both in terms of upgrades and design – which could make the iPhone SE 4 even pretty different from its predecessor.
Design and Display: Taking Design Inspiration from iPhone 14
End. That would translate into missing: the Home button, Touch ID, and instead, Face ID, also the notch, once considered an abomination by some but now the standard fare on the company’s higher-end iPhones. The screen will expand, from the 4.7-inch LCD of the SE 3 to a 6.1-inch OLED screen. This would definitely make the visual performance much better, with deeper blacks, brighter colors, and sharper contrast, almost like what one experiences in higher-end models.
The suspected design of the SE also includes a flat back with a camera cut out that is larger than that on previous models and could demonstrate a dual cameras, a first for the SE series, which would build onto the specifications used by the iPhone 14, for example, in depicting a basic wide-angle and ultra-wide lens on the same camera.
Camera and Photography: Two Cameras on a Budget iPhone?
The most exciting feature leaked by design is the inclusion of a second rear camera. If iPhone SE 4 does indeed introduce dual cameras, then this would bring a great step forward in photography capabilities for the SE range. The extra lens could be an ultra-wide camera, allowing one to capture more expansive scenes, which is lacking in the current offerings from the SE lineup.
This would also confirm the desire of the company to pack more advanced photography features coming from flagship models in the budget range. Adding the A-series chips designed by Apple, this will bring the result of upgrading computational photography, enhancing low-light performance and almost all portrait mode features.
Action Button and Camera Control Button: What’s Missing
One story surrounding the iPhone SE 4 was that it would use the Action Button which has appeared on iPhone 15 Pro models and would be ported over to the iPhone 16. The Action Button serves as a replacement for the mute switch, providing additional function variation to the user, perhaps with exposure to the camera app or enlisting a way to quickly get users into accessibility features, while still replacing the functionality of the mute switch. However, the leaked iPhone SE 4 case suggests that the feature may not make its way to the SE just yet as the cutout on the case includes only the mute switch and not the Action Button.
The absence of the Camera Control Button, as seen on the iPhone 16 series, which can be used to snap a photo or start video recording with a recessed tactile switch, is not included in this case design. Some of these omissions may disappoint some but it keeps the SE series on track with its budget-oriented focus that might help Apple keep the gadget at a cheaper price.
Processor and RAM: The Power of AI and Apple Intelligence
The biggest upgrade reportedly happens to come under the hood. As expected, the new model will be powered by Apple’s A18 chip, which is currently being utilized in their latest flagship models. That should enable a satisfactory performance boost so that the SE 4 should not have much trouble handling demanding tasks from gaming to multitasking.
What is promising about the A18 chip, though, is integration with the Apple Intelligence suite. Apple Intelligence is AI-based software that could deliver better image processing, sharper Siri suggestions, and much more personalized experiences with how a user operates on the smartphone. As AI continues to seep into the very heart of how modern smartphones operate, that, in itself, becomes a headline feature – especially when budget phones from competitors like Apple deploy AI, as the Google Pixel 8a is, to name just one example.
But rumors have also gone so far as to mention the SE 4 with 8GB of RAM, double what the SE 3 has at 3GB. This would assure well-received performance with multitasking and keeping apps open in the background longer to therefore benefit from an overall faster experience on the phone.
Battery and Charging: USB-C and the Future of Ports
The other major change is the switching of the iPhone SE 4 from the Lightning port, which is exclusive to Apple, to the USB-C port. With its adoption of the iPhone 16 series, using USB-C makes sense to apply this also to the more budgeted devices of Apple. USB-C is faster and more adaptable than Lightning because of its speed in transferring data, as well as charging, much faster than Lightning. This would also make it line up with EU regulations where smartphones are soon going to be charged and connected by way of USB-C ports, which makes the SE 4 a future-proofed device in the matter of charging and connectivity.
Price: A Potential Hike
All these updates might make the iPhone SE 4 more expensive. The iPhone SE 3 started at $429, but the SE 4 is likely to retail at close to $500. Though this is a step up, it keeps the SE 4 squarely in budget territory at least against the iPhone 16 that starts at $899. Assuming all the upgrade-carrying expectations from display, performance, and camera, this price premium seems to be well-justified by this device, which may match many mid-range Android devices in competitive power.
Launch Date and Availability
Based on the usual launches of Apple’s series, The iPhone SE 4 is likely set to come out during spring 2025. By spring of 2025, Apple will have gotten enough time to balance the features of the device and possibly add more if consumers have something to say regarding it. With rising leaks and rumors, we should be able to get a better view of how it’s going to be.
Even if the iPhone SE 4 lacks the company’s flagship models’ bells and whistles, it still seems like a great improvement upon its predecessor. Right from a possible inclusion of a dual-camera system, Face ID, to a bigger OLED display and Apple’s latest A18 chip, the SE 4 might bridge the gap in budget and premium iPhones better than ever before.
As we approach the date of release for the iPhone SE 4, rumors will surely change, and we could finally hear more details soon. For now though, it is easy to conclude that Apple wants to give a powerful feature-rich budgeted iPhone that keeps up with the innovations seen in its flagship lines while still maintaining an attractive price point for consumers.
FAQs
What do iPhone SE 4 case leaks reveal about design
Leaked images shared by Apple tipster Sonny Dickson seem to reveal multiple design changes for the iPhone SE 4. Perhaps a flat back with a bigger camera cutout, which may somewhat indicate a dual-camera setup, something that the SE line has never used before. Design looks rather close to the iPhone 14; in this sense, the user will be seeing a deviation from the traditional SE design, where a Home button combined with Touch ID was usual.
Will iPhone SE 4 have Face ID?
The case leak clearly suggests that the iPhone SE 4 will house Face ID. The design that is expected kills off the Home button, and this will be a feature that would be missing on the iPhone SE 4. This will mark the first SE model with Face ID, hence putting it in line with other models of higher-priced segments from Apple.
Does the leak confirm the addition of the Action Button or Camera Control Button?
No, it does not leak, but the case leaks the fact that the iPhone SE 4 will not come with the Action Button or Camera Control Button. There indeed is a cutout for the traditional mute switch on the case with no sign of the Action Button that first featured with the iPhone 15 Pro series and the new Camera Control Button featured in the iPhone 16 series.
What other upgrades are expected for the iPhone SE 4 based on the leak?
In addition to the potential dual-camera system and Face ID, the iPhone SE 4 is rumored to feature an OLED display, a 6.1-inch screen, and USB-C charging. It may also include Apple’s A18 chip, which would support AI-powered features, and could offer 8GB of RAM, making it a significant upgrade over previous SE models.