Apple launched the iPhone SE 2022 earlier this year. The new iPhone is Apple’s budget offering for the global market. Priced at Rs 43,900 for the base 64GB model, the iPhone SE 3, aka the iPhone SE 5G comes with an A15 Bionic chip, which is also found in the iPhone 13 series. While the phone got the latest chip from Apple, it sported the same old design from the iPhone 7 series. For the upcoming iPhone SE 4, Apple is said to introduce some design changes.
According to tipster Jon Prosser (via), the upcoming iPhone SE 4 will have the same form factor as the iPhone XR. Apple no longer officially sells the XR but if the SE 4 shares its design language, we might see it finally sport a bigger display.
iPhone SE 4 Design Details Tipped
Prosser shared the details in a podcast titled Geared Up with Andru Edwards & Jon Rettinger. The tipster claimed that Apple will finally say goodbye to the original SE’s design, which was inspired by the iPhone 5s. The upcoming SE 4, whenever it is launched, will be more or less an iPhone XR in terms of design.
This means that the budget iPhone might say goodbye to the thick bezels around the display, which also housed the home button for Touch ID. The SE 4 could also get Face ID, which will be a first in the lineup. Of course, the shrinking of bezels also means that the display will get bigger at 6.1-inch. In case you are wondering, no, the SE 4 is unlikely to get an OLED display and Apple might offer the device with an LCD.
If the SE 4 is also a rebooted iPhone XR, it will also mean that the phone could offer great battery life. The iPhone XR’s best features included its long-lasting battery life, which offered a day’s worth of juice easily. In comparison, the SE 2022 does not have as great a reputation. Apple claims that the SE 3 offers up to 15 hours of video playback. However, in real-world usage, the battery life is unlikely to match the claims.
The Change in Design Could Boost SE Sales
According to reports, SE 2022 has not been doing well in terms of sales for Apple. One of the reasons could be the old design. Like the iPhone 13 mini, the iPhone SE also offers a small display. While the form factor is the same, the 13 mini offers a larger screen estate, which makes it more favourable for content consumption. The SE’s 4.7-inch screen, coupled with poor battery life, might not be as appealing for buyers, despite the comparatively low price.
The XR was among the best-selling smartphones worldwide. A large display, great battery life and a relatively-affordable price were said to be the driving factors for the XR’s sales. Assuming the SE 4 will be priced affordably, it could help Apple regain some market share in the under $500-market – something that the company does not prioritise as much. The upcoming iPhone 14 series is expected to be priced at $799 for the entry-level model. While the timeline of the upcoming SE 4 is unknown. We can expect it to launch maybe in March 2023, if not earlier.
