According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is reportedly restarting the development of a new iPhone SE with a 6.1-inch OLED display and custom 5G chip.
Plans for a Fourth-Generation iPhone SE Reinstated
In January, Kuo claimed that Apple had scrapped plans to launch a fourth-generation iPhone SE due to concerns over its first in-house 5G chip. However, it appears that Apple has now restarted plans for the device, which is likely to be a test for the new custom 5G chip before the iPhone 16 launch in 2024.
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1. My latest survey indicates that Apple has recently restarted the iPhone SE 4, which will feature an OLED display instead of an LCD, as the biggest change. Overall, the SE 4 is a minor modification of the 6.1-inch iPhone 14.— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) February 27, 2023
New iPhone SE Design
The iPhone could ditch the old design introduced with the iPhone 6 and instead feature a larger 6.1-inch OLED screen with more modern, slimmer bezels. The display could be similar to that of an iPhone 14, with a notch, rounded corners, and no physical Home button.
Apple is attempting to reduce its reliance on third party manufacturers with the new iPhone SE 4, equipping it with a 6.1-inch OLED display, thinner bezels and its own 5G modem. While it’s unknown if the device will have MagSafe charging and a dual-camera system, it’s likely to feature a single camera lens like the iPhone XR. Face ID is also likely for the new model if it is based on the iPhone 14.
Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that if the mass production of the SE 4 goes well in the first half of 2024, Apple’s iPad and Apple Watch will also stop using Qualcomm’s baseband chips. This would benefit Apple’s hardware gross margin, while Qualcomm’s Apple business would suffer a significant decrease in the next two to three years.
Kuo did not indicate when the new iPhone SE would be released, but it likely won’t be available until March 2024 or later, in line with previous models. The current in March 2022, for a starting price of $429.
Last year, Apple released the new iPhone SE (2022) in multiple countries, including India. It retains the same design and display as the 2020 model, but has the latest A15 Bionic chip found in its iPhone 13 series, and has a slightly larger battery.