Cook Officially Announces: New Product Launch on February 20th, the New iPhone SE4 (or iPhone 16E) is Coming!

Cook Officially Announces: New Product Launch on February 20th, the New iPhone SE4 (or iPhone 16E) is Coming!On February 14th, Apple CEO Tim Cook unexpectedly announced on social media an upcoming product launch event on February 19th, Pacific Time (February 20th, Beijing Time). While Cook's tweet didn't explicitly mention the new product, various online leaks strongly suggest the star of the show will be a brand-new iPhone SE model, highly likely the much-anticipated iPhone SE4

Cook Officially Announces: New Product Launch on February 20th, the New iPhone SE4 (or iPhone 16E) is Coming!

On February 14th, Apple CEO Tim Cook unexpectedly announced on social media an upcoming product launch event on February 19th, Pacific Time (February 20th, Beijing Time). While Cook's tweet didn't explicitly mention the new product, various online leaks strongly suggest the star of the show will be a brand-new iPhone SE model, highly likely the much-anticipated iPhone SE4. The final name, whether iPhone SE4 or iPhone 16E, remains to be officially revealed.

Based on previous leaks about the iPhone SE4, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of its performance, design, and pricing.

Performance Configuration: Powered by the A18 Chip, Significantly Enhanced Performance

According to previous leaks, the iPhone SE4 will be equipped with the same A18 Bionic chip as the iPhone 16, along with 8GB of RAM. Compared to the previous generation iPhone SE, this will result in a significant improvement in CPU and GPU performance, offering a smoother user experience and enhanced gaming capabilities.

A noteworthy upgrade is the iPhone SE4's adoption of Apple's self-developed 5G modem, finally abandoning Qualcomm's modems. This signifies not only more stable network connectivity but also a further advancement in Apple's in-house chip development capabilities. Furthermore, the iPhone SE4 will support Apple's latest AI features, providing users with a more intelligent experience.

Design: Farewell to Small Screens and LCDs, Embracing a 6.1-inch OLED Display with a Notch

The iPhone SE series has always been known for its compact size and the use of older iPhone designs (like the iPhone 5/5s and iPhone 8), with its iconic Home button and Touch ID being beloved by some users. However, the iPhone SE4 seems to break this tradition. Reports suggest the iPhone SE4 will feature a 6.1-inch OLED display with a notch, abandoning the LCD screens used in previous generations. This makes its front design very similar to the iPhone 14, significantly improving screen quality, although the refresh rate remains at 60Hz.

However, the iPhone SE4 seems to retain a tradition of the SE series: storage options. According to digital blogger Shunian Shuma, the iPhone SE4 will still offer a 64GB version, along with 128GB and 256GB options. With the increasing size of applications, 64GB of storage might prove insufficient for many users, perhaps even as a secondary phone. Many consumers anticipate storage issues after two years of use, leading to speculation about Apple's product strategy.

Price Prediction: Starting Price May Exceed 4000 Yuan

Price is undoubtedly a major concern for consumers. Following Apple's consistent "more features, higher price" strategy, and based on 9to5Mac's 2024 prediction, the starting price of the iPhone SE4 could be as high as $499 to $529 (approximately RMB 3635 to 3850). The Chinese mainland price is expected to start around RMB 3999; with government subsidies, the final price might drop to around RMB 3500.

Market Expectations: Target Annual Sales of Nearly 20 Million Units

Well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted in a February 15th article that iPhone SE4 shipments in 2025 will approach 20 million units, making it the best-selling iPhone SE model in history. This indicates Apple's optimistic market expectations for this new device.

Netizen Discussion: Price-Performance Ratio as the Biggest Point of Contention

However, consumers are debating the price-performance ratio of the iPhone SE4's price and configuration. Many netizens believe that if the iPhone SE4's price truly reaches RMB 3999, its configuration might lack competitiveness compared to other models in the same price range, perhaps even less attractive than buying an iPhone 16. Whether the iPhone SE4 will become a "must-have" in 2025 remains to be seen.

In summary, the upcoming iPhone SE4 (or iPhone 16E) incorporates numerous upgrades and improvements, such as a more powerful A18 chip, a self-developed 5G modem, and a larger OLED screen. However, its ultimate market acceptance will depend not only on its performance and design but also on its pricing strategy. Whether the starting price of RMB 3999 will be a significant obstacle remains to be seen. Whether consumers will pay for these upgrades will also be revealed in the coming period. Whether the iPhone SE4 can successfully continue the SE series' market popularity and become a best-selling model in 2025 will ultimately depend on market feedback. We look forward to Apple bringing us more surprises at the February 20th launch event.