iPhone SE 4: Affordable smartphone tipped to launch with a plethora of QoL upgrades

At this point, the fourth iteration of Apple's affordable smartphone, the iPhone SE 4, seems like a distant dream. Ongoing issues with Apple's in-house 5G modem, among other things, seem to be why it is delayed. However, it could be worth waiting two more years for the iPhone SE 4 to drop if a new leak from tipster @URedditor is accurate.

It was previously established that the iPhone SE 4 would come with a remarkably larger OLED screen (6.1 inches, to be precise). Now, it'll reuse the iPhone 14's chassis, complete with the notch and all. As a result, Apple may have to ditch Touch ID altogether and replace it with Face ID. However, the most significant upgrade comes in the form of a USB Type-C port. Extrapolating information from an earlier report, it will be much slower than the ones found on Pro models.

Apple will continue its legacy of befitting its affordable iPhones with just one camera sensor. The iPhone SE 4 has yet another ace in the hole in the form of its "Action Button". As its name suggests, it will be a customizable key that lets users access an application of their choice with a single tap. It is expected to debut with the iPhone 15 Pro later this year.

Given its 2025 launch, the iPhone SE 4 will likely use a 3 nm SoC. Whether or not it is the TSMC N3B-based A17 Bionic or its (likely N3E-based) successor remains to be seen. The end user wins either way, as the A17 Bionic was found to be blazing-fast in an alleged Geekbench run. Its phenomenal performance, combined with a US$500 price tag, has the potential to decimate the mid-range smartphone market despite the obvious disadvantage in the camera department.

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