Apple is reportedly gearing up to launch its affordable iPhone SE 4. The smartphone is rumored for a March 2025 debut, and it will reportedly be under $500, a margin where a lot of upper mid-range Android phone resides. However, it will reportedly enjoy a premium perk that's currently exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models and 16 series: Apple Intelligence.
As reported by Bloomberg, the iPhone SE 4 will be the first in the SE lineup to support Apple Intelligence tools. That includes Genmoji, Writing Tools, Image Playground, and ChatGPT integration. Most of the Android mid-range devices don't come with features like this, which gives the upcoming affordable Apple phone an upper hand.
That said, this report hints that the iPhone SE 4 could feature the A17 Pro or A18 SoC, which are among the three smartphone SoCs that support Apple Intelligence. It also suggests that the affordable phone will come with at least 8 GB of RAM.
Other than that, the Bloomberg report states that Apple Stores currently have low stocks of the iPhone SE 3. This suggests an imminent launch for the successor. Now, while support for Apple Intelligence could make the SE 4 stand as a cheaper alternative to the iPhone 16, it's rumored to miss out on a secondary rear camera.
Instead, recent leaks have pointed to a single 48MP rear camera. The iPhone SE 4 is also rumored to have a notch similar to the iPhone 14. To compare, all the new iPhone 16 models come with a Dynamic Island. On the bright side, it's rumored to sport an edge-to-edge OLED panel and a new exterior shell.