It can’t hurt to use the same chassis for two upcoming iPhone models.
Per Weibo-based leaker “Fixed Focus Digital,” Apple will use the same rear chassis manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 that it is using for the upcoming standard iPhone 16. The leaker has stated that the backplate manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 is “exactly the same” as the standard model in Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 lineup, which is expected to be released in September. The iPhone SE 4, meanwhile, is expected to arrive next spring.
The new rumor casts doubt on a previous rumor suggesting that Apple would use a modified iPhone 14 chassis as the basis for its fourth-generation iPhone SE.
While it’s unknown what may have led to the change, it’s possible that the newer rear chassis would be cheaper to use for the upcoming iPhone SE and allow for an economy of scale at the point of production as the manufacture of iPhone 14 models winds down towards retirement. It could also indicate that the next-gen iPhone SE’s camera system might require the change. The iPhone SE 4 has been previously rumored to include a single 48-megapixel rear camera with a custom backplate for the device to account for the design change.
Apple is also thought to be using a vertical camera lens arrangement that departs from the diagonal lens setup found on the current iPhone 15 models. The new orientation will presumably allow the standard iPhone 16 models to capture Spatial Video for the Vision Pro headset.
Apple is also thought to be targeting a sub-$500 starting price for the fourth-generation iPhone SE, despite several significant upgrades. Touch ID and the Home button will be replaced by Face ID and a display notch, while the display size will increase from 4.7 inches to 6.1 inches. Other features expected for the next iPhone SE include a USB-C port and an Action button.
The third-generation iPhone SE was released in March 2022, so there is likely pent-up demand for a new model that includes some of the latest features of Apple’s flagship iPhone models.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.