iPhone SE 4 smartphone: what new features will appear in the budget iPhone

The next iPhone should actually be the iPhone SE 4, barring any delays. This iPhone is due out next spring, which means we'll see it in about six months. This will be the first update to the iPhone SE in three years, and will likely be the biggest update to the iPhone SE since its inception.

More on the new design

Apple is sticking with the iPhone 8 design starting with the iPhone SE 2 in 2020. This design still features a 4.7-inch LCD display, rounded edges, and a Home button. However, the next iPhone SE should move away from that.

Instead, we're expecting a design similar to the iPhone 14, with a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, flat-edge design, Face ID, and a smaller notch from that era. However, we still expect it to have a single camera rather than the iPhone 14's dual camera.

Other rumors have also claimed that the next iPhone SE will get an action button, first introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro and now on the entire iPhone 16 line. This will replace the mute switch and give iPhone SE buyers a new customizable button.

USB-C

Unlike the iPhone 14 and the current iPhone SE, Apple is expected to ditch the Lightning connector on the iPhone SE 4.

This is largely due to EU regulations that require all devices with a charging port switch to a unified connector, which is USB-C.

Apple first switched to USB-C with the iPhone 15 lineup last year, and the upcoming iPhone SE will be the last iPhone to make the switch. If you're an iPhone SE buyer, you'll soon be able to charge your phone using the same cable as your iPad and laptop.

Best cameras

Apple's next iPhone SE,&nbsp ;likely to have the same 48-megapixel rear sensor as the iPhone 15, a huge jump from the iPhone SE 3 's 12-megapixel sensor compared to the iPhone 8.

The iPhone SE 4 is also likely to have the same 12-megapixel selfie camera as the iPhone 15, which is another huge step up from the iPhone SE 3's 7-megapixel selfie camera.

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Apple Intelligence

According to reports by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the next iPhone SE should support Apple Intelligence, likely with an A18 chip and 8GB of RAM. It's a little surprising, but it seems that Apple wants to bring Apple Intelligence to as many people as possible, even on its cheapest new iPhone.

As a reminder, Apple Intelligence introduces many new features, such as Writing Tools, Photos Clean Up, Genmoji, Image Playground, Notification Summary and the all-new Siri.

Apple's first modem

The fourth generation iPhone SE is expected to have Apple's first proprietary modem, which they have been working on for years. Apple acquired Intel's old modem business back in 2019 with the intention of developing its own modems and moving away from Qualcomm.

Earlier this week, we exclusively reported at 9to5Mac that Apple will put its first proprietary 5G modem, codenamed Centauri, in the iPhone SE 4. This modem will also work with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.

Qualcomm's 5G modems are among the most expensive components in the iPhone, so it makes sense that Apple is trying to get rid of them. This may be one of the key factors why the iPhone SE 4 has such a low starting price despite being such a modern iPhone.

iPhone SE Pricing

The next-generation iPhone SE is rumored to be more expensive, potentially $499. However, that's still a pretty decent price considering the fact that it's a very modern iPhone for under $500.

Apple is also currently selling the iPhone 14 for $599, so the fact that we'll be getting an upgraded an even cheaper version of this phone would be a real steal. Apple will likely discontinue the iPhone 14 after the next iPhone SE, so the iPhone lineup could potentially look like this:

• iPhone SE: $499
• iPhone 15: $699
• iPhone 15 Plus: $799
• iPhone 16: $799
• iPhone 16 Plus: $899
• iPhone 16 Pro : $999
• iPhone 16 Pro Max: $1,199

This would be a fairly unified iPhone lineup where all iPhones have USB-C. It would certainly be a little strange if the cheaper iPhone SE had Apple Intelligence support and the more expensive iPhone 15 didn't, so I wouldn't be surprised if Apple discontinued that phone as well.