Now that the iPhone 16 series is out, some people might be thinking about what's coming next. But it's not the iPhone 17.
The next iPhone is expected to be the iPhone SE 4, barring any delays. According to current information, it will be released in the spring of next year, which is about 6 months away. This will be the first update to the iPhone SE line in three years and the biggest improvement since the product line was launched.
iPhone SE 4 will be based on iPhone 14 design.
Newer design, better display
Apple has maintained the iPhone 8 design since the launch of the iPhone SE 2 in 2020, with a 4.7-inch LCD display, rounded edges, and a Home button. However, the next-generation iPhone SE will see significant changes. The new product is expected to have a similar design to the iPhone 14, with a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, flat edges, Face ID, and a smaller notch. However, the new iPhone SE will only have a single camera, unlike the iPhone 14's dual camera.
A rumor also suggests that the next iPhone SE could feature an Action button, a feature that is currently only available on the iPhone 15 Pro and has been expanded to the entire iPhone 16 lineup. This Action button would replace the traditional mute switch, giving iPhone SE users a new option for customization.
USB-C
Apple is expected to switch from Lightning to USB-C for the iPhone SE 4, unlike the iPhone 14 and the current iPhone SE. This decision is made to comply with European Union (EU) regulations, which require all devices with charging ports to use a unified connector, namely USB-C.
Sketch of a phone.
Apple officially switched to USB-C on the iPhone 15 series last year, and the iPhone SE will be the last phone in the lineup to make the switch. iPhone SE users will soon be able to charge their phones with the same cable they use for their iPads and laptops, bringing convenience and consistency to consumers.
Apple Intelligence
According to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the next iPhone SE will be equipped with Apple Intelligence, which could mean it comes with an A18 chip and 8GB of RAM. This may come as a surprise, but Apple is trying to bring Apple Intelligence to more users, even on its cheapest iPhone model, so the company had to do it.
Apple Intelligence promises a host of new features, including writing tools, photo cleanup, Genmoji, the ability to remove objects in photos, notification summaries, and a brand new version of Siri.
Selling price
In terms of price, according to sources, the next-generation iPhone SE could cost around $499. Although this price is higher than previous versions, it is still considered reasonable when considering the modern features that the product brings, especially in the sub-$500 segment.
Apple Intelligence is on the product.
Apple also currently sells the iPhone 14 for $599, so getting a modern version of that phone for even less would be a bargain. In fact, Apple will likely discontinue the iPhone 14 after the release of the next iPhone SE 4. More importantly, it would help Apple create a fairly unified iPhone market with all products featuring USB-C.
Besides, it would be a bit odd if the cheaper iPhone SE had Apple Intelligence support while the more expensive iPhone 15 didn't, so it wouldn't be surprising if Apple discontinued that model as well.