The iPhone SE 4 that Apple is developing has a design that looks similar to the iPhone 14, but does the price of about 500 USD make it difficult to succeed?
Previous rumors indicate that the iPhone SE 4 will have the same chip as the iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max and iPhone 15/Plus. That's clearly a significant power enough to make many people find it attractive. However, everything seems to change after Apple's speech at WWDC 2024.
While Apple wants to run as many iOS 18 features on older devices as possible, the smarter Apple Intelligence and Siri AI suite will require an iPhone 15 Pro or better. At this point, many people will wonder whether the iPhone SE 4 will receive Apple Intelligence or not? A new leak seems to indicate that this could happen. If true, Apple Intelligence could give the iPhone SE 4 a major specs boost - something Apple would have to adjust to and make the company's low-end iPhones yet another major nightmare for Android.
As you know, Apple Intelligence requires a fast Neural Engine and 8 GB RAM on the iPhone. Apple confirmed this after WWDC 2024. That's why iPhone 14 Pro cannot run Apple Intelligence even though it was released less than 2 years ago.
A recent leak from Taiwan shows that Apple will equip the iPhone 16 series with two processors, A18 and A18 Pro. These findings are based on identifiers for next-generation iPhones and confirm that all iPhone 16 models have the A18 chip. That is, the A17 Pro will not be recycled for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, or if it is, it will be a renamed version. But leaked identification information also shows that the 5th iPhone may be equipped with an A18 chip. The only possible explanation seems to be that Apple will bring a major specs upgrade to the iPhone SE 4.
Previously, iPhone SE 4 was rumored to come with an A16 Bionic chip combined with 6 GB RAM to be as powerful as iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max and iPhone 15/Plus. If Apple goes in this direction, it will have to sell the iPhone SE 4 as a completely new product without Apple Intelligence. That would be a huge marketing mistake, as Apple Intelligence will likely develop into the most important software upgrade for all Apple devices.
iPhone SE 4 will be the perfect first device for teenagers and older adults when using smartphones. It could also convince Android users to switch, especially if they tend to buy cheap devices. Some of these customers will definitely want to use Apple Intelligence at some point.
It would be better if the iPhone SE 4 came with the cheapest possible version of the A18 chip, combined with 8 GB RAM to ensure it can run Apple Intelligence. That's certainly a problem for a smartphone that costs $500, but the report from Taiwan that TSMC will not increase the price for the A18 chip is a basis for confidence. Not to mention the fact that Apple can always take risks and provide iPhone SE 4 with Apple Intelligence integration to buyers in the hope that more people will buy iPhones and be loyal to this phone. In the process, they will spend more money on the company's services.
iPhone SE 4 will not be available in stores until spring of next year at the earliest. Apple certainly has time to make the necessary parameter changes to ensure the device is ready for Apple Intelligence. From there, they can boast that “all new iPhones are Apple Intelligence ready through iOS 18.” Furthermore, iPhone SE 4 may continue to support Apple AI in iOS 19 and later releases.
Also, don't forget that Apple will compete with the Pixel 8a and other mid-range Android phones. Some of them, especially Google's Pixel, will have AI features even if they are cheap. The iPhone SE 4 should be able to compete with that.
All of that is just speculation from long-time iPhone users. We'll have to wait much longer to see what the A18 chip is all about. Additionally, information about the iPhone SE 4 will continue to emerge before the product is announced, so we'll know whether it can run Apple Intelligence or not.