Next year is shaping up to be a big moment for the iPhone if rumors and reports are to be believed. Apple is expected to introduce an entirely new type of iPhone reportedly called the iPhone 17 Slim, and the standard iPhone 17 models are said to get major upgrades to the display and front-facing camera.
The next-generation iPhone SE, which reports from MacRumors, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg say is coming next year, will be particularly important. Apple’s budget iPhone fills a distinctive need that the standard lineup doesn’t, catering to those who don’t mind sacrificing certain features for a lower price.
That’s true of every iPhone SE Apple has launched so far. What would make the iPhone SE 4 particularly impactful, if the reports are accurate, is that it could put Apple Intelligence in the hands of more people. On top of that, the rumored upgrades also indicate this could be Apple’s most competitive budget phone yet, potentially bringing it up to speed with devices like the Google Pixel 8A.
Read more: 3 Ways the iPhone 17’s Screen Should Improve Over the iPhone 16’s
The iPhone SE 4 would expand Apple Intelligence’s footprintIf the rumors are true, the next iPhone SE (not pictured) will have Apple Intelligence, possibly putting it in the hands of many more people.
Numi Prasarn/CNET
You currently need to splurge on one of Apple’s iPhone 16 models or last year’s iPhone 15 Pro to get access to Apple Intelligence on your iPhone. If reports turn out to be true, that will no longer be the case soon enough. The iPhone SE 4, which could arrive in March or April, is expected to support Apple Intelligence according to Bloomberg. That makes sense considering the iPhone SE typically includes the same processor as Apple’s latest iPhones.
That could make Apple Intelligence much more accessible since the iPhone SE is usually notably cheaper than Apple’s regular iPhones. (The iPhone SE costs $429 compared to the $799 iPhone 16). Although Apple Intelligence is free, you could argue it comes at a premium since you need one of the newest iPhones to get it. By bringing it to a lower-end device like the iPhone SE, Apple can further boost its presence among iPhone loyalists.
It would be a critical move for Apple because there’s an expectation that generative AI will reshape the internet, and we’re signs that it’s already happening. A McKinsey survey found that 65% of respondents said their organizations are regularly using generative AI, while market research firm the International Data Corporation predicts the market for generative AI software will balloon from $2.8 billion in 2023 to $39.6 billion by 2028. Over the past two years, the technology has made it into everything from the software that powers our laptops and phones to search engines.
In other words, Apple’s approach to generative AI (i.e. Apple Intelligence) could play a major role in the iPhone’s future. Putting the current version of it in the hands of more people is an important step in getting the iPhone’s massive installed base familiar with (and perhaps even excited about) Apple’s new AI tools.
Read more: I’m Not Impressed With AI on Phones Yet. What It Will Take to Change My Mind
Finally, a budget iPhone that competes with AndroidRumors suggest the next iPhone SE could look like the iPhone 14 (pictured).
James Martin/CNET
You could argue that the iPhone SE 4 won’t make that much of a difference in expanding Apple Intelligence since it’s presumably not as popular as Apple’s top-tier iPhones. Apple doesn’t share data about sales of specific iPhone versions, but market research firm Counterpoint Research found that the iPhone SE placed ninth when ranking the top 10 best-selling phones of 2022. The iPhone 13, which came out the year prior, placed first, and even the two-year-old iPhone 12 placed higher in sixth.
It’s no wonder those looking for something that feels like the latest iPhone, but cheaper, opted for older models instead of the iPhone SE. The current version of Apple’s low-cost iPhone is vastly different from the company’s mainline models; the screen is only 4.7 inches compared to the standard iPhone’s 6.1-inch screen, there’s no Face ID or edge-to-edge display, it uses an LCD panel instead of OLED, battery life estimates are several hours shorter than the iPhone 14 which launched during the same year, and there’s no MagSafe compatibility.
For all that Apple has done right with the 2022 iPhone SE, you can’t deny there’s a huge gap in the iPhone experience when comparing it to flagship models — even older ones like the iPhone 13. That all seems likely to change with the iPhone SE 4.
In addition to Apple Intelligence support, the next-generation version could have an iPhone 14-like design, Face ID, an OLED screen, USB-C, the Action button and a new 48-megapixel rear camera, according to MacRumors. Those changes would go a long way in making the iPhone SE feel more modern, potentially appealing to those who would have purchased an older or refurbished iPhone instead in the past.
Read more: Why Google’s New Android VP Says ‘People Don’t Want to Hear About AI’
It would also be the first Apple budget phone that could truly stand up to competitors like Google’s Pixel A series and Samsung’s Galaxy A lineup, both of which have offered more premium features like borderless screens and multiple cameras for years.
The iPhone SE 4 may not draw as much attention as the iPhone 17 next year, especially with rumblings of a new "Slim" model in the works. If it lives up to expectations, it could end up playing a big role in popularizing Apple’s new AI features — all while ushering Apple’s budget phone into the present.
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