There’s no denying that the Google Pixel 7A will sell like hotcakes after it launches. After all, it has everything you would look for inside a flagship without the hefty price tag. And that is not a piece of good news for other smartphone makers, especially Apple. But with the iPhone SE 4, Apple might definitely steal Google’s thunder.
That is, recent rumors and leaks suggest that Apple will make the device go head-to-head with the Google Pixel 7A. But the elephant of the room is, will the phone really have what it takes to beat Google’s upcoming budget flagship?
Everything We Know About iPhone SE 4
So, the rumors and leaks about the Apple iPhone SE 4 have been a little bumpy. They started by promising great internals for the price, and then, out of nowhere, we heard that Apple ditched the phone. Later, the leaks stated that Apple resurrected the phone, and now we hear that the device will rival Google Pixel 7A.
However, some of the recent rumors did come from reputable sources. And as far as the track record of those tipsters goes, those specific leaks could indeed turn out to be true at the final iPhone SE 4 release.
Design
If you can recall, the iPhone SE 3 came with a pretty identical design to its predecessor. And the case is the same with SE 2 and the original SE. So, it goes without saying that Apple will revamp the design with the iPhone SE 4. How so? Well, if Apple stuck with the same old design, the phone would look 10 years old! And no one would like a device that looks like it came from a time machine.
Thankfully, most recent rumors about the device are also saying the same thing. According to them, the phone will feature the same design as the iPhone XR. And the good news is that the iPhone XR is not that dissimilar in looks from the current iPhone 14. But yes, the newer models do have flatter edges and smaller notches.
Nonetheless, rumors also suggest that the phone will come with an IP67 rating instead of an IP68 that current iPhones usually use. So, that indicates that the iPhone SE 4 might be a direct copy of the iPhone XR. However, Ming-Chi Kuo claimed the phone would feature an iPhone 14 design. No matter what, the phone will look modern.
iPhone SE 4 Display
A recent report states that iPhone SE 4 will come with 6.1-inch OLED screens. And even though the design might be a copy of the iPhone XR, Apple is opting for a different screen. The highlighted report suggests that Apple will rely on OLED screens that are from China-based manufacturer BOE.
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Apple might have initially planned these displays for iPhone 15 because BOE has reportedly missed the initial shipment. And that has eventually made LG and Samsung claim most of the orders for the iPhone 15 series. However, don’t get too excited because Apple might not use the same exact panels.
Instead, to keep the cost low, Apple will use the OLED inventory that was originally put in place for 2022’s iPhone 14 or 2021’s iPhone 13. And BOE the report also suggests that BOE has ramped up production of this low-cost OLED to make up for the initial mishaps.
That said, no matter what the case is, the device is expected to come with an OLED panel, which means it can definitely compete with Pixel 7A. However, the budget-friendly Pixel will still have an advanced, and that would be refresh rate. If the previous report is valid, the screen of the iPhone SE 4 will be stuck at 60Hz. That is because the screens of the regular iPhone 13 and 14 do not have ProMotion.
iPhone SE 4 Specs
So, what will be under the hood of the upcoming iPhone SE device? Well, things are not that clear yet. However, it is possible that Apple will utilize the A16 chip for the affordable device. And according to the latest rumors, it will be the same chip that will power the standard iPhone 15, while the iPhone 15 Pro models will sport an A17 chip.
That said, one piece of info from a reliable tipster suggested that the iPhone SE 4 will come with an in-house 5G modem. If this is true, it would be the first iPhone that will rely on an in-house 5G modem instead of something provided by Qualcomm.
When it comes to storage, the base model might come with 128GB of storage. There’s no info regarding the RAM specs, though. But, yes, the phone might pair the A16 SoC with 6GB of RAM.
Cameras
Looking back, the iPhone SE 3 (2022) came with a single camera module on the back. The case was the same for the previous iterations. So, if Apple does want to take on the Google Pixel 7A, it needs to pack the iPhone SE 4 with at least two cameras on the back.
After all, an ultra-wide angle lens for a flagship-like device is a must. But there’s no solid info regarding the specs of the camera modules. Maybe, the phone might feature the same sensors found in the iPhone 14. In that case, the primary sensor would be 12MP with an f/1.5 aperture, while the ultra-wide will be 12MP with an f/2.4 aperture.
