Apple to Unleash a Quiet Upgrade Storm: The New iPhone SE Arrives February 19th

Apple to Unleash a Quiet Upgrade Storm: The New iPhone SE Arrives February 19thApple CEO Tim Cook announced the release of a new Apple product on Wednesday, February 19th. While Apple remains tight-lipped, all signs point to the highly anticipated next-generation iPhone SE the iPhone SE 4

Apple to Unleash a Quiet Upgrade Storm: The New iPhone SE Arrives February 19th

Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the release of a new Apple product on Wednesday, February 19th. While Apple remains tight-lipped, all signs point to the highly anticipated next-generation iPhone SE the iPhone SE 4. Rumors surrounding this phone have been circulating for some time, to the point where much is already known.

The Naming Mystery: iPhone SE 4 or iPhone 6E?

First introduced in 2016, the "SE" in iPhone SE stands for Special Edition. However, two names are circulating for this new budget-friendly iPhone: iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 6E. The latter originates from an unreliable source and lacks credible evidence. Given the low-cost iPhone's expected inclusion of the same chip as the iPhone 16 and features borrowed from the iPhone 16 lineup, a new name to better distinguish it from flagship models isn't entirely surprising. Cook's announcement, mentioning "welcoming the newest member to the family," hints at a possible connection to the iPhone 16 family, or perhaps simply the broader iPhone family.

Design Language: A Shadow of the iPhone 14

The iPhone SE 4 is expected to adopt a design similar to the iPhone 14, featuring a 6.1-inch display. This is a less dramatic increase than some might imagine compared to the current 4.7-inch iPhone SE. While the updated size difference is noticeable, the narrower bezels minimize the actual increase in physical dimensions. The current iPhone SE measures 5.45 inches tall, 2.65 inches wide, and 7.3mm thick, while the new model is projected to be 5.78 inches tall, 2.82 inches wide, and 7.8mm thick. Apple previously offered the 5.4-inch iPhone mini series, but discontinued it after the iPhone 13 mini due to poor sales. Future foldable "clamshell" devices may cater to users wanting a smaller iPhone, but rumors suggest their release is still a year or more away.

In short, if you want to visualize the iPhone SE 4, think iPhone 14. It will adopt the same overall design, including the all-screen design, aluminum and glass body, mute switch, volume buttons, notch, power button, and 5G antenna/SIM tray. Previous rumors about an Action button or camera controls on the iPhone SE 4 appear unlikely for this budget-friendly Apple device. It's worth noting that early iPhone cases and mockups, often based on supply chain leaks, tend to be highly accurate, as case preparation before launch is necessary.

Display Technology: The Full Arrival of OLED

The iPhone 14 introduced the more durable Ceramic Shield display, better resisting drops and scratches, and the budget-friendly iPhone SE 4 will likely adopt this technology as well. Apple will upgrade the iPhone SE 4 to an OLED display, meaning LCD technology will officially exit the iPhone product line once the current model is discontinued. While LCD technology remains in some Macs and iPads, the iPhone line will fully transition to OLED displays after the SE 4 launch. The iPhone 14s notch houses the TrueDepth front-facing camera and Face ID hardware, a design the iPhone SE 4 will also inherit. Rumors of a Dynamic Island feature on the iPhone SE are circulating, but this feature seems likely to remain exclusive to more expensive iPhones.

Farewell Touch ID: The Triumph of Face ID

Due to the iPhone 14's all-screen design, Apple will remove the Touch ID fingerprint reader. With the current iPhone SE's discontinuation and the new model's launch, Touch ID-equipped iPhones will vanish entirely. While Touch ID persists in some Macs and iPads, Apples iPhone lineup will transition fully to Face ID facial recognition technology starting with the iPhone SE 4. Though some prefer Touch ID, Apple has fully embraced facial recognition, and it's arguably more secure than Touch ID. The removal of the Touch ID home button also provides more screen real estate a significant advantage.

Port Revolution: The Farewell of Lightning

The iPhone SE 4 will utilize a USB-C port for charging, continuing Apple's phasing out of the Lightning port. The iPhone SE is among the last Apple devices to retain the Lightning port, and its removal will be complete when Apple discontinues the iPhone 14 (possibly concurrently with the iPhone SE 4 release). The iPhone 14 is quite likely to be discontinued when the iPhone SE 4 launches, as retaining a lower-spec iPhone 14 at $599 would make little sense with a more powerful and cheaper iPhone SE 4 available.

MagSafe Integration: Expanding Accessory Ecosystem

The iPhone 14 introduced MagSafe support, and, given the iPhone SE 4's adoption of the iPhone 14 design, it will also be compatible with MagSafe accessories and support MagSafe wireless charging. MagSafe wasn't an option for the current iPhone SE, but over the past few years, MagSafe charging and accessories have become an increasingly important part of the Apple ecosystem.

Core Specifications: A18 Chip and 8GB RAM

Apple plans to equip the iPhone SE 4 with the same A18 chip as the iPhone 16, meaning it will deliver flagship-level performance at a more accessible price point. The A18 chip will ensure smooth operation for years to come, and it will be the most affordable way to experience Apple Intelligence on a smartphone. With the A18 chip, the iPhone SE 4 will support Apple Intelligence features, a significant upgrade over the A15 chip in the current iPhone SE. Apple Intelligence requires 8GB of RAM, doubling the RAM of the current iPhone SE.

Regarding storage, specific rumors are lacking, but Apple's other iPhones start at 128GB, making the end of the 64GB storage option likely this year. Even for a budget iPhone, 64GB is increasingly insufficient.

Camera Upgrade: 48MP Main Camera

The iPhone SE 4 may adopt the same 48MP wide-angle lens as the iPhone 16, representing a substantial leap in photo quality compared to the 12MP camera in the iPhone SE 3. While the iPhone SE 4 won't feature telephoto or ultrawide lenses, if it does use the same wide-angle lens, it will support next-generation portrait photography with focus and depth control, the latest Photographic Styles, and a 2x optical zoom crop option.

Connectivity: Debut of Apple's In-House Modem

The iPhone SE 4 will showcase Apple's new in-house modem for the first time, offering a first look at a comparison between Apples modem technology and Qualcomms. Apple's modem chip might not support the fastest mmWave 5G speeds, but it will connect to a broader range of 6GHz 5G networks. The extent to which Apple will promote the new modem remains unclear, but expect to see a series of speed and performance comparisons pitting the new modem against Qualcomm's current iPhone 16 modem.

Safety Features: Emergency SOS via Satellite and Crash Detection

This is speculation, but Apple added Crash Detection to the iPhone 14, alerting emergency services if you're in a car accident. The iPhone 14 and later also support Emergency SOS via satellite, features very likely to be included in the iPhone SE 4. Apple likes to highlight its safety features, and these could be major selling points, making their inclusion unsurprising.

Battery Life: More Enduring Power

Rumors suggest the iPhone SE 4 will feature the same battery as the iPhone 14, meaning it will offer 20 hours of video playback, 16 hours of streamed video playback, and 80 hours of audio playback. A 6.1-inch device offers significantly more battery space than the iPhone 14. The current iPhone SE provides 15 hours of video playback and up to 10 hours of streamed video playback.

Pricing Strategy: Maintaining Competitiveness

Due to the higher-end components, the iPhone SE 4 might be priced slightly higher than the current model, but Apple will likely keep it under $500. The iPhone SE 3 launched at $429.

Launch Approach: An Understated Release

The iPhone SE 4 is a significant new iPhone for Apple's product line, but its reuse of components from the iPhone 14 and iPhone 16 makes it less exciting. Apple will likely forgo a launch event, introducing it via press release and coverage on the Apple website. Apple teased the announcement on social media beforehand but didn't hint at the product launch on February 19.

Availability: Pre-orders and Official Launch

Following the February 19th unveiling of the iPhone SE 4, Apple may take pre-orders before releasing it later in the month.