Apple’s most affordable iPhone is about to get its biggest makeover ever. The iPhone SE 4, expected to launch today, marks the end of an era as Apple finally retires its iconic home button design after 18 years. But this isn’t just a cosmetic upgrade – from an entirely new chip enabling AI features to a dramatically improved camera system, Apple’s budget iPhone is stepping firmly into the modern age. Here are 10 upgrades to expect from iPhone SE 4 compared to the five-year old iPhone SE 3.
A more modern looking iPhone SE
The SE 4 is rumoured to adopt the iPhone 14’s aluminum and glass design, moving away from the dated iPhone 8-era look. The new model would feature flat edges, a larger footprint, and a more premium feel while also bringing durability with Ceramic Shield glass protection.
Farewell to Touch ID
After 18 years, Apple is said to be retiring the home button on iPhones. The SE 4 will switch to Face ID authentication, housed in the display notch, marking the end of Touch ID on iPhones altogether.
Action Button upgrade
The traditional mute switch might make its way for the customizable Action button, first seen on the iPhone 15 Pro. This programmable button lets users quickly access various functions of their choice.
A bigger display
The most noticeable change would be the shift from a 4.7-inch LCD screen with thick bezels to a modern 6.1-inch OLED display with a notch. This brings the SE in line with Apple’s current design language and offers better contrast and color reproduction.
iPhone 16’s chip
The A18 chip from the iPhone 16 is rumoured to said power the SE 4, replacing the A15 Bionic. This upgrade not only brings significant performance improvements but also enables Apple Intelligence features.
More RAM and storage
Base storage is expected to be doubled to 128GB, and RAM increases to 8GB (up from 4GB), enabling smoother multitasking and future-proofing the device for upcoming features and updates.
Upgraded camera
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Credit: Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial)
While maintaining a single rear camera, the SE 4 might upgrade from 12MP to 48MP, matching the main sensor quality of recent flagship iPhones. This should enable features like 2x optical-quality zoom through cropping and better low-light performance.
Bigger battery
The larger chassis is rumored to bring a significantly bigger 3,279mAh battery, compared to the current model’s 2,018mAh capacity. Combined with the efficient A18 chip, this should provide substantially better battery life.
USB-C and MagSafe
Lightning might finally be out, USB-C is will make its way. The SE 4 adopts universal USB-C charging and adds MagSafe wireless charging support, bringing it up to speed with modern charging standards and magnetic accessory compatibility.
A higher price tag
The iPhone SE 4 is expected to launch with a slight price increase to $499, compared to the $439 price tag of iPhone SE 3.
