Tom O’Malley, an analyst with Barclays, and his team recently completed an Asia trip, where they met several electronics manufacturers and suppliers. Afterwards, in a recent research note, they said Apple will unveil the iPhone SE 4 by the end of the first quarter of next year, consistent with earlier speculation that an announcement could take place in March, the same month as the prior generation launched in March 2022.
The new iPhone SE 4 will reportedly feature an iPhone 14 base model-like design. Key specs that have reportedly been included in the device: a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, one single rear camera for a 48-megapixel main sensor, a USB-C port, and a newer A-series chip. The device may also feature 8GB RAM to support enhanced Apple Intelligence features. Most notably, the fourth-generation iPhone SE will feature Apple’s first in-house 5G modem, a move to significantly reduce its reliance on Qualcomm for cellular technology.
Apple has been working on its own 5G modem since 2018, after relying on Qualcomm for several years. It would develop its proprietary modem to give Apple a tighter grip on hardware and the levers of cost. While Apple extended its deal with Qualcomm to provide modems for iPhones through 2026, the company is ramping up toward an all-in transition. Apart from the new iPhone SE 4, noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple’s “iPhone 17 Air” will also include the custom 5G modem.
In 2017, Apple sued Qualcomm over anticompetitive practices and unpaid royalties. Both companies settled the lawsuit in 2019. Apple then acquired a majority of Intel’s smartphone modem business, for more patents and expertise that would catapult its modem project.
The current iPhone SE that was released in March 2022 starts at $429 in the U.S. It keeps a very similar design to the iPhone 8, including a Touch ID button, thick bezels, and a Lightning port, which are all features now considered ancient next to modern iPhones. It’s expected that this new model will be a considerable upgrade, so the price might just increase accordingly.
If the rumours of the March release is true, the new iPhone SE 4 will make its debut in the upcoming months at an Apple event. With increasing competition in budget smartphones and Chinese smartphone makers offering flagship specs in mid range phones, Apple will have a tough time selling iPhone SE 4.
Via Macrumors
Images: 91Mobiles
