The iPhone 16 series has been officially unveiled at Apple's Glowtime event last week, with a release date set for September 20. It might seem like the best time to invest in Apple's upcoming smartphone.
However, a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman back in August suggests that the next iPhone SE is on the way and it will be far more powerful than you expect.
If you're a fan of finding the best cost-to-performance ratio, recent rumors surrounding this product make it seem like the iPhone 16 stands no chance against it.
The iPhone that can defeat iPhone 16
iPhone SE is a series of affordable phones that Apple began producing in 2016, solidifying itself as the cheapest option in the line-up of standard iPhone products.
Since then, a second generation launched in 2020, while a third came in 2022. It's been a few years, so it's no surprise that we're set to see the next generation arrive soon.
The iPhone SE 3 started at $429 when it launched in 2022. At the time, it was sandwiched between the launch of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14, which began pricing at $799 (although the iPhone 13 did have a $699 mini model).
Considering the iPhone 16 is continuing with its $799 price point, seeing iPhone SE 4 coming in a few hundred dollars cheaper could be a huge boon for budget-conscious consumers.
In essence, the iPhone SE is a crowdpleaser that hits a price point so alluring that budget-conscious Apple fans cannot help but be excited. And according to Gurman, we'll see it launch in early 2025.
We have no clue if it will maintain its $429 price point, but considering it's been three years, that may be unlikely. Gurman claims it could be a "hot seller" if Apple gets the price down to $500.
Gurman also states that the iPhone SE will look similar to an iPhone 14, alongside a "crisper" OLED panel that stretches across the entire front of the phone.
The iPhone 16 does feature an upgrade to an A18 chip, but unless you're a massive stickler for the best performance out there, the lower price option is best.
But what's most interesting about this leak is that Gurman claims the iPhone SE 4 will have Apple Intelligence. We don't know much about this upcoming budget phone, but that fact reveals more than you think.
What Apple Intelligence means on iPhone SE
Apple Intelligence is the company's upcoming AI initiative, implementing a handful of different features with the launches of iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. However, the caveat of this exciting technology is that it's rather demanding.
On the official Apple Intelligence page, every iPhone 16 model is compatible. However, the company only lists the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max as being compatible with Apple Intelligence. This means that the base iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are not powerful enough to handle Apple Intelligence (this likely has to do with its weaker processor and less RAM).
But according to Gurman, the iPhone SE 4 is powerful enough to handle Apple Intelligence, which means it's more powerful than the iPhone 15 at the very least.
Compared to the iPhone 13, which launched before the iPhone SE 3, both featured an A15 Bionic Chip. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus boast an A16 Bionic Chip.
Compared to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max's A17 Pro chip, it's clear that these higher-end models are built with a greater ability to handle Apple Intelligence.
This means the iPhone SE 4 will have something more powerful than the A16 Bionic Chip, but will it go so far as to feature an A17 Pro?
Considering "Pro" is in the name, this is unlikely. Instead, we imagine that the iPhone SE 4 could feature a base A17 Bionic Chip. We initially predicted that this was what would be featured in iPhone 16, but it has now been confirmed that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are built with an A18 chip.
Keep in mind, A17 isn't technically real as of now. The A17 Pro was available in Pro models of the iPhone 15, and the iPhone 16 seemed to jump right to A18.
If the iPhone SE 4 also features an A18 Bionic, Gurman's leak is in line with what happened during the iPhone 13 and iPhone SE 3, as they featured the same chip and also came out after one another.
If this ends up true, the result is the powerful iPhone SE 4 outmatching the recently launched iPhone 15 and doing so at a price point a few hundred dollars less than what it originally launched with.
If the iPhone SE 4 features a new A17 instead of the A18, it will likely be less powerful than iPhone 16. However, that's okay, as it will still be stronger than iPhone 15 according to Gurman.
We imagine the iPhone SE 4 will be an absolute hit with Apple fans who are less well-off and want a powerful smartphone without spending upwards of $800.
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