iPhone SE4: Apple's AI Testbed and the Gamble on a Small-Screen Revival

iPhone SE4: Apple's AI Testbed and the Gamble on a Small-Screen RevivalApple, a brand that consistently generates headlines and internet buzz, sees any whisper of a new iPhone launch ignite fervent discussion. Following each new iPhone release, speculation about the next generation abounds, with foldable iPhones and the iPhone SE series consistently at the forefront

iPhone SE4: Apple's AI Testbed and the Gamble on a Small-Screen Revival

Apple, a brand that consistently generates headlines and internet buzz, sees any whisper of a new iPhone launch ignite fervent discussion. Following each new iPhone release, speculation about the next generation abounds, with foldable iPhones and the iPhone SE series consistently at the forefront. Even before the release of the iPhone SE3 in 2022, renderings of a "full-screen SE" circulated online. However, the iPhone SE3 ultimately retained the design of the iPhone 8. This "full-screen SE" concept has evolved into the much-anticipated iPhone SE4.

For the past three years, rumors surrounding the iPhone SE4 have been incessant, with speculation ranging wildly: some predict it will be the last iPhone without Dynamic Island, others believe it will be Apple's cheapest smartphone, and some even boldly suggest a revival of the iconic iPhone 4 design. Recently, leaked images of what appears to be an iPhone SE4 dummy model surfaced online, offering a glimpse into its design details and potential specifications.

A Cost-Conscious iPhone SE4: Compromises and Innovation Under Budgetary Constraints

While the authenticity of these images remains unconfirmed, they offer valuable insights. Assuming the photos depict the upcoming iPhone SE4, several observations can be made.

The iPhone SE4's positioning as an entry-level device adheres to a principle of simplicity. The single-camera design, for instance, means it won't support the spatial photo/video format introduced by Apple Vision Pro. Apple's stance on Apple Vision Pro remains unclear neither aggressively promoting nor suppressing it. However, the iPhone SE4's single camera design reflects a certain attitude towards the adoption of spatial photo/video technology. Alternatively, Apple might be intentionally limiting the camera specs to avoid impacting iPhone 16 sales.

Furthermore, despite a screen protector obscuring the leaked images, the placement of the Face ID module and front camera suggests the absence of Dynamic Island. Although this "visual inspection" method is imprecise, combined with the single camera (possibly the iPhone 16 series' 48MP wide-angle camera) and Apple's consistent cost-cutting strategy for the SE line, the likelihood of SE4 foregoing Dynamic Island is high.

However, the absence of Dynamic Island might have another explanation: reports from media and supply chains suggest that the iPhone SE4 design was finalized in 2022, initially slated for a 2023 release. The non-Pro iPhone 14 models released in 2022 also lacked Dynamic Island. Given the iPhone SE4's "age," the omission of Dynamic Island might simply be a matter of timing.

This "time constraint" is also evident in another detail: the iPhone 16 series now uses an Action button instead of the previous silent switch. The Action button is cheaper than the complex switch, yet the SE4 retains this retro physical switch. While the leaked images don't show the bottom of the phone, the EU's USB-C mandate makes a USB-C port almost certain. However, cost considerations might limit this USB-C port to basic USB 2.0 speeds.

Apple's Cheapest Smart Device? A Necessary Evil in its AI Strategy

Why would Apple release such a cost-reduced phone? The answer might lie in two words: AI.

Last year, Apple released its first "AI phone system" iOS 18. As its first AI system, Apple implemented significant improvements, including a smarter Siri and album support for natural language classification. These AI features require not only cloud support but also higher local device AI performance. This means only phones with the A17 Pro chip or better can fully run Apple's smart system.

However, Apple's smart system has faced delays and criticism due to its reliance on ChatGPT. The stringent hardware requirements also limited the user base. This is where the iPhone SE4's necessity comes into play.

Traditionally, new SE models use the previous generation's flagship processor. This suggests the iPhone SE4 might use the A17 Pro chip, meeting the minimum hardware requirements for Apple's smart system. Apple's frugality in other SE4 specs likely aims to offset the cost of the A17 Pro chip.

Furthermore, the "sideline phone" status of the iPhone SE4 provides an ideal testing ground for Apple's self-designed modem. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman reported in late 2024 that Apple plans to launch a phone with its own 5G modem in 2025, reducing reliance on Qualcomm. However, due to performance limitations, Apple's self-designed modem hasn't matured as quickly as Apple Silicon and requires a long transition period. To avoid impacting iPhone sales, Apple is unlikely to directly implement the new modem in its flagship products. A more reasonable approach would be to test it on peripheral cellular devices like iPads, gradually expanding to "sideline phones." In 2025, the iPhone SE4 perfectly fits this "sideline phone" definition.

The Small-Screen Phone Revival: Opportunities and Challenges

Despite high hopes for the iPhone SE4, its competitiveness in the Chinese market in 2025 seems uncertain.

The iPhone SE series' competitive advantage has always been its small size. However, since the second half of 2024, Chinese smartphone brands have begun focusing on small-screen phones. Small-screen designs, once limited to low-end models, now appear in flagships. "Small-screen flagships" are becoming a new battleground for Chinese brands.

On one hand, we have the iPhone SE4, cutting costs to accommodate the A17 Pro chip. On the other, we have Chinese smartphones with flagship processors, high-refresh-rate screens, better cameras, and readily available AI features. Unless you are deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem (e.g., using an Apple Watch, owning numerous iOS apps, or needing iOS development), the iPhone SE4's appeal to average users is limited, given the trend of Android phones offering Apple ecosystem compatibility.

However, the iPhone SE4 can be considered a "single-camera," non-Dynamic Island version of the iPhone 16. As a simplified iPhone 16, a significantly lower price point (around 5000 yuan) would maintain competitiveness within Apple's ecosystem (the iPhone 16 typically sells for around 5900 yuan online). A price below 3500 yuan (aligned with previous SE pricing) might make it a "best buy" for Apple.