Last week, Apple released a number of rumors, including the impressive report about the iPhone SE 4. The upcoming device, according to the site, will be based on a variant of the iPhone 14 design, bringing an OLED display and Face ID facial recognition technology to the lower-cost model line. Although it will have a single camera, it will be 48MP, have a USB-C port and the characteristic action button of the iPhone 15 Pro.
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Of course, there's a chance that the report is incorrect and Apple's plans for the new SE model could be significantly different. This device was fortunate enough to be at the forefront of Apple's transition from the Home button to full-screen phones. Some people, however, are nostalgic for the old design. This meant that the SE had the potential to be more than just a budget option: it was a nod to a beloved design story.
There was a time when it was clear exactly who the iPhone SE was aimed at: People who wanted new features in an older design and were willing to make some compromises for an affordable price. The second-generation classic SE from 2020 had its fair share of shortcomings, but it also promised years of updates and offered things you couldn't get from the rest of the lineup, most notably a retro design with a home button and an affordable price. However, it's hard to see how a Frankenstein-style iPhone XR-14-15-15 Pro, described above, could be sold for much less than the iPhone 13, which is still available in the Apple Store for $599 .
The iPhone SE had a significant impact on consumers, as it offered an affordable option for those who wanted to get an iPhone without spending a lot of money. Consumers appreciated the device, as it allowed them to easily hold it with one hand and use it comfortably. The iPhone SE's performance was also impressive, as it had the same processor as the iPhone 6S, offering powerful performance in a small package.
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Apple introduced the same conundrum with the 10th generation iPad. Last fall, when Apple unveiled the new model, it made some decisive changes, including a bezel-less display that supports the Apple Pencil 1, for a price of $449. Even though the price was high, Apple decided to keep the same price for the 9th generation model, which stands at $329. In this way, a second “budget” tier was created between the iPad and the iPad Air, despite the fact that it didn’t seem necessary.
The expected SE seems to fall into the same category .It's likely to cost $499 or even $549, and it would involve significant concessions while updating an old design for the times. However, unless Apple completely stops selling older iPhones, which would cause a backlash, the new SE would be in an unusual position, as it would be too expensive and not advanced enough. If Apple continues to sell the current SE model at $429, then neither model would be a reasonable choice.
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Of course, we can never know exactly what Apple’s decision-making process is. Who, for example, could have predicted that the company would release a line of “premium” iPhone cases without first testing their scratch resistance? Even the most observant observer would have a hard time understanding the logic behind an SE device that combines the last five years of iPhone technology
