Apple’s upcoming iPhone SE 4 might bring significant camera upgrades to the budget phone, with plans to incorporate a 48-megapixel main camera and a 12MP TrueDepth front-facing camera, according to a new report.
That, plus other improvements, marks a substantial upgrade over the iPhone SE 3. Unfortunately, that means you can expect the new handset to come with a bit of a price increase, too.
iPhone SE 4 could get 48MP main camera and 12MP TrueDepth front camera
Launched in 2016, the iPhone SE was smart from the start. It packed solid specs into a compact chassis (repurposed from the iPhone 5s), delivering great performance at a budget price. It proved popular with people who didn’t like the much larger iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, and also effectively lured “switchers” from similarly priced Android phones.
For the next version of the budget-friendly iPhone, Apple apparently plans to boost one of the iPhone SE 3’s only weaknesses: its single-lens camera. Korea-based LG Innotek will serve as the primary supplier for both camera modules for iPhone SE 4, with Foxconn and Cowell Electronics also contributing camera components for the device, according to a Sunday supply chain report from ET News.
The camera specifications represent a major leap forward from the current iPhone SE 3. The current handset features a 12MP wide camera system and a 7MP front camera. The likely new 48MP sensor, similar to the one found in the iPhone 15, should enable the device to capture significantly higher-resolution photos. And it could offer 2x “optical” zoom capabilities through sensor cropping.
Big design overhaul
Rumors say the fourth-generation iPhone SE will undergo a complete design overhaul. It will adopt a modern all-display design similar to the iPhone 14. And the device reportedly will feature a 6.1-inch OLED display, marking a significant increase from the current model’s 4.7-inch LCD screen. The redesign will also probably introduce Face ID authentication, finally retiring Touch ID from Apple’s smartphone lineup.
Other rumored specifications include USB-C connectivity, an Action button replacing the traditional mute switch and 8GB of RAM to support memory-challenging Apple Intelligence features. Perhaps most notably, the rumor mill anticipates that the iPhone SE 4 will be the first Apple device equipped with the company’s in-house designed 5G modem chip. That follows Apple’s acquisition of Intel’s modem business in 2019.
Early 2025 launch
If all these iPhone SE 4 rumors prove true, the device will share several premium features with its higher-end siblings. But even though the iPhone SE 4 brings big camera upgrades, Apple might omit some features to maintain SE 4’s budget positioning. These could include the Dynamic Island (introduced with iPhone 14 Pro) and the iPhone 16 lineup’s Camera Control button.
The iPhone SE 4 likely will launch in the first quarter of 2025. That’s about three years after its predecessor’s March 2022 debut. While the current iPhone SE starts at $429, rumors suggest the new model could get a price hike, perhaps to between $499 and $549. That would reflect its significant upgrades and more premium positioning in Apple’s lineup.
