As we method the tip of the 12 months, it’s nearly inconceivable to not marvel what new modifications shall be coming to the tech world over the subsequent 12 months – and it appears to be like prone to be an intriguing 12 months for the iPhone.
For as soon as, it’s not about hypothesis surrounding the subsequent flagship cellphone – the iPhone 17 vary that’s prone to hit within the latter a part of the 12 months – however to do with the heavily-rumored iPhone SE 4.
We’re beginning to get used to anticipating a brand new lower-end iPhone mannequin from Apple each couple of years. But there’s one thing a bit completely different in these rumors that’s caught my consideration – and it’s nothing to do with the rumored {hardware} (reminiscent of a bigger display screen, Face ID or others, which you’ll learn all about in our iPhone SE 4 leaked characteristic roundup).
No, the factor that’s bought me is the robust chance that the brand new iPhone SE might be coming with Apple Intelligence baked in, which might be large for a cellphone tipped to be offered for beneath $500.
Smarter than your common funds cellphone
Up till now, Apple Intelligence has been firmly marketed as accessible on the most costly iPhones: the iPhone 15 Pro vary and the newest iPhone 16 fashions.
While that is nonetheless all firmly hypothesis, to convey the AI capabilities to a lower-end mannequin might be an enormous promoting level for Apple.
If it could possibly construct momentum for the options, it might assist appeal to (and maintain maintain of) individuals who wish to improve their smartphone however don’t care to spend large quantities on a brand new cellphone simply to get a little bit of a spec bump.
While some consumers need a number of cameras and have robust opinions concerning the notch on the high of the display screen, many others simply need an iPhone – it’s what they’ve used fortunately for years and have an ecosystem of devices that it slots into.
These of us might nicely be enticed by an iPhone that may rewrite their emails in several kinds, or get pleasure from sharing customized emoji with household group chats. But provided that it’s on the proper value.
A brand new potential poster baby
This concept of the iPhone SE vary being the ‘low-cost’ option to get among the newest cellphone performance isn’t new – in any case, the iPhone SE 3 was Apple’s approach of providing Fifth Generation connectivity while not having to spend near $1,000.
However, whereas the iPhone SE 4 would want a extra highly effective chipset to deal with any Apple Intelligence options, that AI coronary heart might convey enhancements all through the cellphone with out the necessity for a great deal of different new {hardware}.
Apple’s promised updates to its suite of AI-powered instruments shall be “accessible within the months to come back”, and that would tie in properly with the anticipated spring launch for the newest iPhone SE. These additions shall be vital, as whereas the modifications that got here in iOS 18.1 and 18.2 (reminiscent of Image Playground and ChatGPT help) are OK, they’re not earth shattering.
If the supposed new options are as helpful as they’re rumored to be, reminiscent of on-screen consciousness permitting customers to easily ask the cellphone to work together with issues that seem on the display screen (reminiscent of enhancing a photograph or saving a cellphone quantity despatched), then they might entice customers of older iPhones to improve.
So if the iPhone SE 4 does include Apple Intelligence, I can simply think about a lot of the launch being about bringing Intelligence to a good cheaper price level because the model appears to be like to reinforce the performance of its telephones in new areas.
Taking cues from Google?
All this jogs my memory closely of 2019’s Google Pixel 3a – the ‘a’ vary being the funds model of the flagship Pixel telephones from the search large, the closest equal to Apple’ iPhone SE fashions.
What was attention-grabbing there was that Google had introduced most of the high-end images options from the costlier Pixel cellphone to the funds mannequin. Using the on-phone AI smarts, homeowners of the sub-$400 cellphone have been in a position to get entry to superior images options like Night Sight (one of many earliest examples of computational images getting used to reinforce evening scenes).
AI was getting used so as to add new powers with out the necessity for costly further {hardware}, and that’s what might be on supply with Apple’s iPhone SE4 if the rumors develop into true.
If that’s the case, then we’ll probably see an acceleration within the race to make use of on-device intelligence to reinforce what’s already there. We’re seeing that already – each model is utilizing algorithms to enhance pictures, battery life and efficiency – however discovering new methods to assist customers each day utilizing machine studying shall be particularly highly effective at a cheaper price level.
If Apple does resolve to make Intelligence the headline characteristic of the brand new iPhone SE 4, the success might depend upon whether or not the brand new capabilities are alluring sufficient.
Users might be loath to ditch their fingerprint sensor, or be frightened about going as much as a ‘large’ cellphone (though 6.1 inches is nonetheless under the worldwide common smartphone show measurement). This is the place the phrase of mouth or demonstrations from pals shall be invaluable to Apple, with folks eager to indicate off their AI art work or having the ability to rapidly do duties that used to require extra effort.
Of course, it’s unlikely the iPhone SE 4 will get all the Apple Intelligence options; issues reminiscent of Visual Intelligence want the Camera Control {hardware}, and by locking sure capabilities to the higher-end fashions it can nonetheless give a purpose for others to purchase the costlier fashions.
Should I wait?
So what does that imply for you, particularly for those who’re contemplating shopping for a brand new cellphone within the close to future? I’d be sorely tempted to at the least wait and see if Apple does, certainly, launch a brand new iPhone SE within the early a part of 2025.
That’s as a result of I wish to understand how the rollout of Apple Intelligence will proceed, how lengthy the total suite of promised options takes to reach, and whether or not the rumored launch date for these line up with the anticipated launch of the brand new SE.
The key factor will depend upon momentum. If Apple’s advertising and marketing campaigns for Intelligence proceed apace, and showcase the brand new capabilities in onscreen consciousness mixed with enhanced photograph enhancing or the like, then it might be a compelling purpose for some to improve to a brand new iPhone for lower than they may have anticipated.
