The highly anticipated iPhone SE 4 has recently received confirmation.

Recently, screen supply chain analyst Ross Young revealed that the screen panels for the iPhone SE 4 are expected to begin shipping in November and will be officially released in early 2025.

Compared to its predecessor, the iPhone SE 4 has significant changes to its screen. Firstly, it upgrades from LCD to a brand-new OLED. Secondly, it upgrades from the traditional 16:9 screen to a notched display. Thirdly, Apple abandons Touch ID fingerprint recognition and upgrades to Face ID 3D facial recognition.

It's finally here, after all.

Unlike previous iterations, the improvements in the iPhone SE 4 are noteworthy and represent the biggest upgrade in the SE series. Based on supply chain information, the iPhone SE 4 is not simple; it comes with a mission.

Firstly, according to Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple's suppliers will begin mass production of the iPhone SE 4 in December. If this information is true, the fourth-generation iPhone SE, which will be released early next year, will have a considerable inventory to meet user demand and boost iPhone sales and revenue.

Additionally, sources have revealed that Apple plans to release the fourth-generation iPhone SE early next year. This new model will be the first in the SE series to feature an OLED display. Compared to LCD displays, OLED technology offers higher-quality visuals and better color accuracy. Furthermore, as Apple fully adopts OLED technology, LCD screens in its high-end iPhone models will be completely phased out.

However, this transition significantly impacts suppliers. Since the introduction of OLED screens in 2017, the number of LCD panels provided by JDI and Sharp for iPhones has drastically declined to approximately 20 million annually. To meet Apple's demands, these two companies can only continue to supply screens for the iPhone SE models.

Simultaneously, changes have occurred in the supply chain. BOE and LG Display have become the primary suppliers of OLED displays for the upcoming iPhone SE 4.0, which Apple is procuring from China and South Korea. Due to these changes, the fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to further drive the development of OLED technology.

Moreover, the iPhone SE 4 upgrades to a 6.1-inch screen with a resolution of 1170×2532, identical to the iPhone 14. With the adoption of a notched display design, it naturally integrates Face ID and eliminates the Home button with Touch ID, although it does not feature the Dynamic Island.

It is understood that the dimensions of the iPhone SE 4 may be the same as the iPhone 16, measuring 147.63mm in height, 71.62mm in width, and 7.8mm in thickness. However, despite their similar dimensions, the iPhone SE 4 may weigh less than the approximately 170-gram iPhone 16.

The camera is a significant upgrade for the iPhone SE 4. It boasts a 12-megapixel front camera, and the rear camera may be upgraded to a 48-megapixel lens similar to the iPhone 15/15 Plus. Although the iPhone SE 4 still lacks a telephoto or ultra-wide-angle camera, the upgraded main camera can somewhat satisfy users' photography needs, at least keeping pace with mid-range flagship Android devices.

Following convention, the iPhone SE 4 will be equipped with the same A18 chip as the iPhone 16 and feature 8GB of RAM, supporting Apple Intelligence functions. Each generation of the iPhone SE lives up to its reputation as a "performance powerhouse," and the iPhone SE 4 is no exception. Its support for Apple AI functions will also become a core competitive advantage of the new device.

Incidentally, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to be powered by the same A18 chip as the iPhone 16, manufactured using TSMC's N3E process. The CPU features a six-core design, including two 4.05GHz P-cores and four 2.42GHz E-cores. The GPU has a five-core design and is equipped with a hardware ray-tracing unit. For AI, it is equipped with a 16-core neural engine.

Notably, the iPhone SE 4 abandons the Qualcomm SDX71M baseband and instead integrates Apple's first self-developed 5G baseband code-named "Centauri." This baseband supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS functions, with power consumption seemingly lower than Qualcomm's baseband but without mmWave technology support.

Indeed, the iPhone SE 4 will be the first to integrate Apple's self-developed 5G baseband. Back in 2019, Apple acquired Intel's 5G baseband business for $1 billion. This self-developed 5G baseband, codenamed Ibiza, is planned to be manufactured using an advanced 3nm process, while its accompanying RF IC will adopt TSMC's 7nm process.

However, it's worth noting that Qualcomm previously announced that it had reached an agreement with Apple to continue providing Snapdragon 5G basebands and RF systems for iPhones released between 2024 and 2026. This means that Apple will continue to use Qualcomm's baseband technology until the iPhone 18 series hits the market. This may suggest that Apple's self-developed baseband capabilities have not yet reached the pinnacle, prompting the company to test it first on the iPhone SE rather than directly applying it on a large scale to the iPhone 16 or iPhone 17.

In terms of battery and charging, the iPhone SE 4 will be equipped with a 3279mAh (A2863) battery, a USB-C charging port, supporting 20W USB-PD charging and 15W wireless charging.

Additionally, the device will utilize Face ID, be certified for IP68 water resistance, and support Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and UWB keys.

Regarding pricing and release date, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to be released in the spring of next year, with a price range between $449 and $499 (approximately RMB 3,225 to 3,506). Despite its relatively low price, it still offers impressive performance, satisfying the needs of most users.

It's important to note that the current starting price of the iPhone 16 is RMB 5,999, and even with ongoing discounts, the official Apple price starts at RMB 5,499.

Compared to this, the iPhone SE 4, with its incredible specifications and ultra-competitive price, is undoubtedly the most cost-effective iPhone of the year.

Remember, this is an iPhone that supports Apple AI functions, especially with a powerful processor and Apple's self-developed 5G chip.

In addition, on September 10th of this year, Apple unveiled the latest iPhone 16 series, including the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

While many had high hopes for this generation of iPhone 16, market feedback suggests that its performance has been less than ideal, with criticisms directed towards its 60Hz screen and delayed Apple Intelligence features.

While Apple typically updates its iPhones annually, there are exceptions. In the first quarter of 2025, Apple is expected to once again update the iPhone SE, introducing the fourth-generation model. Based on currently available information, the iPhone SE 4 promises to be a highly cost-effective Apple device!

In conclusion, the Apple iPhone SE 4 is a highly anticipated device. It boasts powerful chip performance, a classic screen design, a self-developed 5G baseband, and a streamlined imaging system.

These features make it an extremely cost-effective Apple phone. For those with limited budgets but desiring the Apple ecosystem experience, the iPhone SE 4 is undoubtedly an excellent choice.

Furthermore, as Apple continues to advance in hardware research and development, it is believed that this phone will perform even better in the future. Let's eagerly await its arrival!

That's all for now. If you have any thoughts or opinions on the latest revelations about Apple's iPhone SE 4, feel free to share them in the comments section below and join the discussion with Mingmei Unlimited!