A recent rumor from China suggests that Apple will utilize the same rear chassis manufacturing process for the upcoming iPhone SE 4 as it plans to use for the standard iPhone 16 model. According to a leak from Weibo user “Fixed Focus Digital,” the backplate manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 will be “exactly the same” as that of the standard iPhone 16, which is expected to be released in September. Meanwhile, the iPhone SE 4 is anticipated to launch in the spring of next year. This new claim contradicts previous rumors that suggested Apple would use a modified iPhone 14 chassis for the fourth-generation iPhone SE, as earlier reports indicated that the dimensions of the iPhone SE 4 matched those of the base iPhone 14 model.
While it remains uncertain what prompted Apple to shift its plans, one possibility is that Apple is looking to leverage its newer rear chassis process for the iPhone SE 4 to achieve greater production efficiency, especially as the manufacturing of iPhone 14 models winds down. Additionally, this manufacturing change may indicate a possible update to the camera system of the fourth-generation iPhone SE. Previous rumors suggested that the iPhone SE 4 would have a single 48-megapixel rear camera, unlike the iPhone 14. However, adopting the same backplate as the iPhone 16 could imply that the iPhone SE 4 will feature the same dual-camera setup as the upcoming iPhone 16 models, which will sport a vertical camera lens arrangement, differing from the diagonal lens layout on the iPhone 15.
Despite these potential upgrades, Apple reportedly aims to keep the starting price of the iPhone SE 4 under $500. Significant changes are expected, including replacing the Touch ID and Home button with Face ID and a display notch, increasing the display size from 4.7 inches to 6.1 inches, and incorporating a USB-C port and an Action button. The third-generation iPhone SE, released in March 2022, left many fans eagerly awaiting a new model that would include some of the latest features found in Apple’s flagship iPhones. As such, there is likely pent-up demand for a more affordable device with these anticipated enhancements.
