The iPhone SE 3, released in March last year, didn’t offer many significant changes aside from the A15 Bionic chip. The rumor mill has been buzzing about the next iPhone SE, with conflicting reports on its development status. However, a recent rumor suggests that the iPhone SE 4 will have a similar form factor to the iPhone 14, putting an end to iPhones with a Home Button.
According to MacRumors, who cites its own sources, the iPhone SE 4 (codenamed D59) is being developed with a new design that mirrors the iPhone 14 chassis. The dimensions of the iPhone SE 4 will match those of the 6.1-inch iPhone 14, but one notable difference will be the rear camera, which will only have a single lens instead of two.
This change will require Apple to create a new backplate for the device, as the iPhone 14 features two cameras on the back. MacRumors speculates that Apple may equip the iPhone SE 4 with a 48-megapixel lens, similar to the base iPhone 15 model. Although this may seem unlikely, Apple has previously used flagship iPhone camera technology on the iPhone SE.
The iPhone SE 4 is rumored to weigh 165 grams, six grams lighter than the iPhone 14, due to its less complex hardware. Additionally, the report suggests that the new iPhone SE will feature Face ID rather than Touch ID on the side button. Similar to the iPhone 15, the iPhone SE 4 will include a USB-C port instead of the familiar Lightning connector.
Another intriguing rumor is that Apple will introduce the Action Button, currently found on the iPhone 15 Pro, to the new iPhone SE. MacRumors speculates that the entire iPhone 16 lineup, not just the Pro models, will receive the Action Button, aligning the iPhone SE 4 with the 2024 iPhones.
There have been conflicting reports regarding the design and specifications of the new iPhone SE. Some sources, including YouTuber Jon Prosser, initially claimed that the iPhone SE 4 would resemble the iPhone XR. Analyst Ross Young later stated that Apple had not yet finalized the design and display for the upcoming entry-level phone. Meanwhile, Ming-Chi Kuo reported a delay in the development of the iPhone SE 4.
The exact launch date for the new iPhone SE remains uncertain. While some sources suggest a release in 2024, MacRumors believes that the iPhone SE 4 will be introduced in 2025, following the launch of the iPhone 16.
