Greetings and welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, where we compile all the Apple news from the previous week into one convenient bite-sized package. We named it Apple Breakfast because we think it pairs well with a cup of tea or coffee in the morning, but you can also read it during lunch or supper.
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| iPhone SE 4: Best Budget Killer Phone |
Simply Economical
Since the heyday of the 2020 second-generation model, the journey with the iPhone SE has been somewhat turbulent, with more ups than downs. However, a string of surprisingly encouraging disclosures currently suggests that we may be in for an upward phase.
A Weibo account revealed some enticing information regarding the iPhone SE 4 earlier this month, making it seem like the greatest $499 smartphone ever. The new phone would be a significant improvement over the 2022 model with its 6.1-inch OLED screen, Face ID, and A16 processor—and that's before you even consider its 48MP rear-facing camera, LPDDR5 RAM, and large battery.
The leaker stated that the price of all of this would be $499, which is $70 more than the previous SE but still far less than we would anticipate for a phone with this level of specification. For instance, the iPhone 13 sports the same 6.1-inch screen, an outdated A15 CPU, and a 12MP camera that may feature two lenses. and presently sets you back $599. This has the air of a resurgence after the third-generation SE's disappointing release in 2022.
But hold on! There's more. This week, there was yet another leak on the upcoming SE. This time, the primary focus was on the device's measurements, which seem to indicate that it will be somewhat larger than the iPhone 15. The report confirms the Face ID and single-camera details of the earlier leak and makes a compelling case for the accuracy of the 6.1-inch screen information.
The various rumors on the SE 4 that have been circulating recently lead to a few conclusions. One is that there is still interest in the topic, speculation is common, and no one wants the SE trip to end. Another is that it seems like the days of the tiny phone are over, which I know will upset some of my readers. As Apple's smallest and least expensive phone to date, the SE has carved out a niche for itself, but that is likely about to change. The upside is that the company might be able to produce something much more interesting if it embraces a more limited role as just the least expensive phone available.
Some readers may remember this very column in which I expressed my opinion that the iPhone SE series could not be saved, and I still mostly agree with that statement. However, one thing seems to have improved: Apple's comprehension of what made the second SE so excellent and what made the third SE so awful. If the leaks are true—which is by no means certain—they imply that Apple is likely to go back to its original plan of offering modern internals in an older design for a reduced price, which is a tradeoff that a lot of buyers will find acceptable.
It addresses two of the most prominent shortcomings in earlier SE models—the battery and the camera—by making improvements to both. Additionally, by switching to a somewhat more contemporary design from the outdated one with a home button, it is attempting to strike the ideal balance between the two, which was so alluring in 2020. With an additional $499 price tag, which is only $70 more than the existing, antiquated SE, you get the greatest low-cost phone available.
With a fantastic screen, superior camera, considerably better biometric security, and what should be an amazing battery life, the speculated iPhone SE will definitely give the Google Pixel 7a and OnePlus 12R a run for their money as the best Android budget phones in this range.
For the sole fact that the transition from the home button to full screen was an isolated event that temporarily piqued the interest of a sizable portion of users, I continue to argue that the sweet spot isn't as sweet as it was and may never be again. In that regard, the SE's actual golden years are most likely over. But the clues point to Apple maybe developing the next best thing, which is just a very nice low-cost smartphone, in the lack of a major blockbuster.