Apple might have made an important decision about the iPhone SE 4

By Bryan M. Wolfe Published July 30, 2024

The Apple iPhone SE (2022) being held in a mans hand. — Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Apple seems to be getting closer to introducing the world to the iPhone SE 4. According to a new report from The Elec, BOE will be the primary display vendor for the latest budget phone, while LG Display will be the secondary vendor. Little has been leaked over the last few months about the next iPhone SE, which was last updated in March 2022, so news like this should be welcomed.

The iPhone SE 4 is expected to have a 6.1-inch display, an upgrade from the current 4.7-inch model. This would align the next iPhone SE display size with the current iPhone 15 and the upcoming iPhone 16. With a larger display, the iPhone SE 4 is also expected to offer Face ID. In doing so, Touch ID authentication via a traditional home button will be a thing of the past. The next iPhone SE should also transition from Lightning and introduce a USB-C port like the current iPhone models.

Recommended Videos

Beyond this, the iPhone SE 4 should feature a new chip, better cameras, and almost certainly new color choices.

There’s no word on when the next iPhone SE will be released, although it’s entirely possible it will happen before the end of the year. But 2025 is looking more likely given how long Apple has waited to release new iPhone SE models previously.

The original iPhone SE was introduced in 2016 with a tiny 4-inch display. Four years later, in 2020, it was replaced by the iPhone SE 2, which had a 4.7-inch display, two years before the current iPhone SE 3.

We are expecting to see new iPhones this year, regardless of what happens with the iPhone SE. Apple will almost certainly announce the iPhone 16 series in September.

Topics

Mobile and A/V Freelancer

Bryan M. Wolfe has over a decade of experience as a technology writer. He writes about mobile.

Mobile

It’s the end of the road for these two iPhone models

Apple iPhone 6S Plus

Seeing your favorite handheld gaming device in a retro store has a unique way of making you feel old, but Apple might have topped it. According to the company, the iPhone XS Max and iPhone 6s Plus are now "vintage." They join the ranks of the iPhone 4 and even the iPad Pro 12.9-inch model.

It's not wholly unexpected. Apple declares a device vintage after five years, and that means it becomes more difficult to have that device repaired or to find replacement parts for it. Obsolete is applied to products that are more than seven years old, but sometimes certain variants get that label early.

Mobile

The uncertain future cost of Apple’s Emergency SOS feature

Person holding iPhone 14 searching for Emergency SOS satellite.

It's been roughly two years since the launch of the iPhone 14 and its Emergency SOS via satellite feature. You might recall that during the first two years, Apple said it would be free to use but that it might require a subscription after that time, according to MacRumors. Last year, Apple extended the time limit by one more year, so you actually have until November 2025, when the trial period ends.

That's good news. The Emergency SOS feature is, quite literally, lifesaving. During April of this year, three university students lost their way in a canyon and used the feature to call for help. Another story arose in July where the feature came through once more in a moment of crisis. And if you keep digging, you'll find numerous other examples of how this tech is truly beneficial.

Computing

Google Gemini arrives on iPhone as a native app

the Google extensions feature on iPhone

Google announced Thursday that it has released a new native Gemini app for iOS that will give iPhone users free, direct access to the chatbot without the need for a mobile web browser.

The Gemini mobile app has been available for Android since February, when the platform transitioned from the older Bard branding. However, iOS users could only access the AI on their phones through either the mobile Google app or via a web browser. This new app provides a more streamlined means of chatting with the bot as well as a host of new (to iOS) features.