Apple

5 Reasons to Wait for the iPhone SE 4 & 3 Reasons Not To

Published

4 weeks ago

08/14/2023

Apple may, or may not, be working on a new iPhone SE 4. While some of you will certainly want to upgrade your current device in the near future, others might want to hang back and see if Apple decides to release a fourth-generation iPhone SE.

Last year, Apple released its iPhone SE 3, its third-generation iPhone SE. The device serves as a budget alternative to its flagship iPhone 14 series and it’s certainly worth a look if you want a newer iPhone model, but don’t want to break the bank.

Many of you will be perfectly fine buying an iPhone SE 3, iPhone 14, or another device in 2023. That being said, iPhone SE 4 rumors are swirling and that might have those of you in the hunt for a new device feeling curious about Apple’s plans for its budget iPhone.

iPhone SE 4 Rumors

While most iPhone rumors have been focused on the iPhone 15 series and iPhone 16 series, we’ve also heard about a new iPhone SE 4.

Some analysts believe the iPhone SE 4 is currently in development and claim it will come with some interesting changes including a larger screen and an overhauled design.

At one point analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Apple cancelled the iPhone SE 4. He then claimed Apple restarted the iPhone SE 4’s development.

Now Kuo’s saying the device he thought was a new iPhone SE might actually be an in-h0use engineering prototype Apple’s using to test its in-house 5G baseband chip.

Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Tom O’Malley also believe Apple’s scrapped plans to release a new iPhone SE 4 in 2024. The device was expected to have Apple’s in-house 5G modem on board, but those plans have been delayed, it seems.

We’re a long way out from a potential announcement which means Apple’s plans could certainly change. That being said, there are some reasons to consider waiting for the next iPhone SE.

In this guide we’ll take you through the best reasons to wait for the iPhone SE 4 and the best reasons to go with another device long before it arrives.

Wait for a Larger Display

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Those of you hoping for a return to a smaller 4-inch display probably won't be interested in Apple's next iPhone SE.

The iPhone SE 3 employs a larger 4.7-inch display and we could see an even bigger screen deployed on the iPhone SE 4.

According to analyst Ross Young, Apple hasn't finalized its display choice for the iPhone SE 4 but it's likely considering 6.1-inch OLED panels from two suppliers as well as 5.7-inch to 6.1-inch LCD panels from two suppliers.

Kuo believes the iPhone SE 4 will utilize a 6.1-inch OLED display. Overall, Kuo thinks the iPhone SE 4 will be a "minor modification of the 6.1-inch iPhone 14."

Korean publication The Elec states that China's BOE will supply the OLED panels for the upcoming iPhone SE 4.

Using an LCD display would help keep the cost of the device manageable while a move to OLED could mean we see a price increase.

So if a 5.7-inch to 6.1-inch iPhone SE sounds like something you'd be interested in, think about waiting for the iPhone SE 4.