Why iPhone SE 4 might substitute each iPhone SE 3 and iPhone 14 in Apple’s 2025 lineup (begin at $600)

In case it wasn’t clear, that is extra of a “prediction” story, which is why it’s best to take it with a wholesome pinch of salt.

However, the purpose is to make a prediction about the place the heck the iPhone SE 4 goes to slot in Apple’s 2025 iPhone lineup.

Proper now, this one is made out of the traditional iPhone SE 3, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, iPhone 16, and iPhone 16 Professional sequence, and two of those iPhones occur to be just about inconceivable to advocate to anyone – in fact, I’m speaking in regards to the iPhone SE 3 and iPhone 14, which fall far behind what the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 can do.

And whereas the iPhone SE 3 will naturally (lastly!) be taken care of by the arrival of the iPhone SE 4, one weird iPhone alternative would possibly nonetheless be lurking round Apple’s 2025 lineup – the iPhone 14. And I discover this so onerous to justify, that I truly assume it may not occur.

Apple’s H1 2025 iPhone lineups – 3 potential methods the iPhone SE 4 can shake issues up

Choice 1: The iPhone lineup stays unchanged – iPhone SE 4 replaces iPhone SE 3, beginning at $500

Good and straightforward – this could give individuals a alternative of 4 vanilla iPhones, and two iPhone 16 Professional fashions, and selection is all the time good.If this state of affairs was to play out, the iPhone 14 would probably retain its $600 price ticket, which is $500 greater than the rumored worth of the iPhone SE 4. And that’s the place I see the primary main trace that this will’t be Apple’s precise plan. However I’ll get to that in a bit…

Choice 2: The iPhone SE 4 successfully replaces the iPhone 14 – begins on the similar $600

Now, that’s the opposite (apparent) state of affairs, and one I feel is probably, or at the very least makes essentially the most sense to me.

To be clear, the explanation I say the iPhone SE 4 might “successfully” substitute the iPhone 14 is as a result of the iPhone SE 4 isn’t the iPhone 14’s successor on paper. Nevertheless, this isn’t how issues work out in apply.

In different phrases, the iPhone SE 4 is predicted to have greater than sufficient upgrades over the iPhone 14 that it’s beginning to seem like a cellphone that may simply substitute Apple’s 2022 flagship within the 2025 iPhone lineup.

Choice 3: Each the iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 14 stay in Apple’s 2025 lineup however swap locations/costs

And the third potential final result is maybe essentially the most unconventional state of affairs, however one I imagine additionally occurs to make a ton of sense.

In different phrases, if Apple *actually, actually* wished to maintain the iPhone 14 in its 2025 lineup (for causes I wouldn’t perceive), there’s an opportunity the iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 14 can mainly swap locations, or relatively costs.

In apply, this could imply the iPhone 14 would drop all the way down to $500 from $600, and the noticeably extra superior iPhone SE 4 would begin at a hefty (for an SE mannequin) $600.

The explanation this final result makes much more sense than the reversed worth distinction is as a result of it’d be way more worthwhile for Apple, and it wouldn’t be in any respect unjustified. iPhone customers would fortunately pay $600 for an iPhone SE with the newest and best AI tips, a greater digicam, and a much more superior chip relatively than save $100 to get the iPhone 14, which they’ll get on eBay for some $350.

The iPhone SE 4 can/will/ought to take the iPhone 14’s spot in Apple’s 2025 lineup – this is why

Now, to get to the “burning” query – why is the iPhone SE 4 going to be so a lot better that I feel it’d substitute the iPhone 14 and/or begin at as excessive as $600, which might be correctly costly for a “Particular Version” iPhone identified and beloved for its $400 beginning worth.Nicely, for one, as I alluded within the intro of the story, the iPhone SE 4 is legitimately anticipated to make not solely the iPhone 14, but additionally iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 look dangerous by way of worth.

• To give attention to the iPhone 14 comparability, the iPhone SE 4 ought to have an as much as 50% sooner A18 chip with 8GB of RAM enabling the newest and best Apple Intelligence options in comparison with the iPhone 14’s A15 chip with solely 6GB of RAM and nil AI tips

• Despite the fact that it’s going to return with a single rear digicam, the iPhone SE 4 will truly offer you extra flexibility than the iPhone 14 should you prefer to zoom into your photos/movies relatively than zooming out. That’s as a result of the 48MP digicam within the iPhone SE 4 will sensor-crop to 2x lossless zoom in each pictures and movies – one thing the iPhone 14’s 12MP digicam can’t do. This additionally means higher 4x zoom pictures/movies for the iPhone 15, making the ultra-wide-angle shooter within the iPhone 14 look much less vital on this comparability

• Despite the fact that the iPhone SE 4’s battery wouldn’t be a lot greater than the one within the iPhone 14 (for the reason that two ought to share mainly the identical physique), the extra environment friendly A18 chip will undoubtedly offer you higher battery life. If our iPhone 16 vs iPhone 14 battery benchmarks are to be taken as a tough instance, we could be speaking about a mean of 2h further battery life, which is fairly important

• Throw within the iPhone SE 4’s Motion Button, Digital camera Management key, and potential design change ( barely curved entrance and rear glass just like the iPhone 16), and also you’ve obtained a legit iPhone 14 killer. Maybe actually