Apple is gearing up to launch the iPhone SE 4, and a new report suggests that it will share some design elements with the upcoming iPhone 16. The iPhone SE series has been a popular choice for consumers looking for Apple technology at a more affordable price point. According to a Weibo-based leaker, the backplate manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 is “exactly the same” as the standard model in Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, which is expected to be released in September.
The iPhone SE 4, meanwhile, is slated to arrive in the spring. This latest claim contradicts a previous rumor that suggested Apple would use a modified iPhone 14 chassis as the basis for the fourth-generation iPhone SE. It was previously learned from a source close to Apple’s manufacturing process that the dimensions of the iPhone SE 4 “perfectly matched” those of the base model iPhone 14 in its current stage.
The change in chassis design could indicate a change in the camera system on the fourth-generation iPhone SE.
iPhone SE 4 design updates
Unlike the iPhone 14, the iPhone SE 4 was previously rumored to include a single 48-megapixel rear camera with a custom backplate for the device to account for the design change.
For the iPhone 16 models, Apple is planning a new vertical camera lens arrangement that departs from the diagonal lens setup found on the iPhone 15. The new orientation will presumably allow the standard iPhone 16 models to capture Spatial Video for the Vision Pro headset. Adopting the same backplate for the iPhone SE 4 would seem to suggest it will feature the same dual camera setup, although there have been no rumors explicitly claiming that this is in Apple’s plans.
Apple is targeting various upgrades for its fourth-generation iPhone SE model. Face ID and a display notch will replace Touch ID and the Home button, while the display size will increase from 4.7 inches to 6.1 inches. The third-generation iPhone SE was released in March 2022, so there is likely pent-up demand for a new model that includes some of the latest features from Apple’s flagship iPhone models.
For everything else we know about the iPhone SE 4, stay tuned for further updates.
