Apple's Spring Event Officially Announced: iPhone SE4 Enters the Full-Screen Era with A18 Chip, Starting at $499

Apple's Spring Event Officially Announced: iPhone SE4 Enters the Full-Screen Era with A18 Chip, Starting at $499Apple CEO Tim Cook recently announced, via a short animated clip featuring a gleaming Apple logo, that a spring product launch event will be held on February 19th. While the official announcement didn't reveal specific product details, numerous leaks and market trends strongly suggest the imminent launch of the fourth-generation iPhone SE (hereinafter referred to as iPhone SE4)

Apple's Spring Event Officially Announced: iPhone SE4 Enters the Full-Screen Era with A18 Chip, Starting at $499

Apple CEO Tim Cook recently announced, via a short animated clip featuring a gleaming Apple logo, that a spring product launch event will be held on February 19th. While the official announcement didn't reveal specific product details, numerous leaks and market trends strongly suggest the imminent launch of the fourth-generation iPhone SE (hereinafter referred to as iPhone SE4). Since the launch of the first-generation iPhone SE in 2016, the series has consistently led the trend with its unique selling point of "classic design + flagship chip," earning significant consumer affection. However, the latest market rumors indicate that the iPhone SE4 will break with tradition, introducing revolutionary design and configuration upgrades.

iPhone SE4: Full-Screen Design, Farewell to the Home Button

The highly anticipated iPhone SE4 will adopt a full-screen design for the first time, eliminating the long-standing physical Home button. This marks the SE series' official entry into the full-screen era. Reports suggest its appearance will align with the iPhone 14 series, featuring a 6.1-inch OLED display with a notch, supporting Face ID facial recognition, and boasting a resolution of 11702532 pixels. While the screen refresh rate remains at the standard 60Hz, the adoption of a full-screen display is undoubtedly a significant leap for the SE series, and Apple will no longer release non-full-screen SE models.

To control costs, the screen suppliers for the iPhone SE4 may include domestic manufacturers like BOE and Tianma. It's noteworthy that despite the full-screen design and Face ID, to balance cost and price, the iPhone SE4 will only feature a single-lens rear camera. In the current market environment with high component prices, this strategy effectively controls the final product pricing, making it more competitive.

Starting at $499, Powered by the A18 Chip, Flagship-Level Performance

The iPhone SE4's starting price is reportedly $499 (approximately 3647 RMB), a 16% increase compared to its predecessor, but it remains the most cost-effective model in Apple's product line. More importantly, this new phone is expected to be eligible for a government subsidy program in China (for products under 6000), which, if implemented, would further reduce the final price, enhancing market competitiveness and easing the burden on consumers.

While the iPhone SE4 lacks ultra-wide and telephoto lenses, this doesn't hinder its ability to meet everyday shooting needs. Its image quality is perfectly sufficient for daily tasks like scanning QR codes and sharing on social media. The core configuration of the iPhone SE4 is undoubtedly a highlight; it will be equipped with the A18 Bionic chip, the same as the iPhone 16, built using TSMC's second-generation 3nm (N3E) process, offering powerful performance. It also comes standard with 8GB of RAM, making it the first entry-level model to support Apple Intelligence (though this feature may not be available in China initially).

Although performance release may be slightly inferior to the iPhone 16 due to thermal design limitations, the iPhone SE4's daily smoothness remains comparable to flagship models thanks to iOS's deep optimization.

Apple's First Self-Developed 5G Modem, Battery and Interface Upgrades

Another significant highlight of the iPhone SE4 is the inclusion of Apple's first self-developed 5G modem chip. While it's currently uncertain if this will significantly improve signal strength, it should at least perform as well as models using modems from other manufacturers. Reportedly codenamed "Ibiza" (or "Centauri"), this chip utilizes TSMC's 3nm process, while the accompanying RF IC uses a 7nm process. Its primary goal is to improve power efficiency and stability, supporting Sub-6GHz bands but not mmWave.

Apple's choice to debut its self-developed modem in the SE series allows for controlled technological risk management while simultaneously accumulating valuable experience for future flagship models. For those concerned, continued monitoring of testing and user feedback is recommended.

In terms of battery life, the iPhone SE4 boasts a 3279mAh battery, which, combined with the A18 chip's power efficiency optimization, should be sufficient for a day of light usage. The iPhone SE4 fully adopts a USB-C port, complying with EU regulations and enhancing versatility. It may also feature a dedicated camera button for improved user experience.

The camera features a 48MP main rear camera (same sensor as the iPhone 15), supporting computational photography optimization and 2x optical zoom, and a 12MP front-facing camera. In summary, the iPhone SE4 has undergone significant upgrades across multiple aspects, making its market competitiveness undeniable.

More New Products to Anticipate

Besides the iPhone SE4, Apple may also unveil other new products at this launch event, such as a MacBook Air with the M4 chip, the iPad Air 7, and an 11th-generation entry-level iPad. This launch event is not only a signal of Apple's push into the mid-range market but also a key step in its technological independence strategy, potentially ushering in a more aggressive, consumer-centric era for Apple.

In conclusion, the iPhone SE4's launch is certainly worth anticipating. Its full-screen design, powerful A18 chip, Apple's self-developed 5G modem, and competitive price make it a highly anticipated product. Let's wait and see if this new device can ultimately achieve market success.