Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in one handy summary. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it pairs really well with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it’s cool if you also want to read it during lunch or dinner hours.
Great news
It’s been a roller coaster ride for the iPhone SE since the glory days of 2020’s second-generation model, with rather more downs than ups. But now, based on a series of surprisingly promising leaks, it looks like we’re heading into an ascendant segment.
Earlier this month, a Weibo account posted tantalizing details about the iPhone SE 4 that make it the best $499 smartphone ever. Boasting a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, and an A16 processor, the new phone would represent a huge upgrade over the 2022 model, and that’s before we even get to the 48 MP rear camera, LPDDR5 RAM and large battery.
All of this, the leaker claimed, will cost $499, an increase of $70 over the previous SE, but well below what we’d expect for a handset with these kinds of specs. The iPhone 13, for example, has the same 6.1-inch screen, an older A15 chip, and a camera that can have dual lenses but is limited to just 12 MP…and currently costs $599. After the disappointment of the third generation SE in 2022, this one feels the return.
But wait! There is more. This week, another leak emerged regarding the new generation SE, and this time it focused heavily on the physical dimensions of the device, which will apparently be a bit larger than the iPhone 15. The report corroborates the Face ID and single-camera elements. from the previous leak, and strongly suggests that the 6.1-inch screen part is also correct.
There are a few conclusions to draw from the multiple rumors that have cropped up lately about the SE 4. The first is that the line is not dead: there is interest, there is speculation, and no one only wants the SE adventure to end. Another reason is that the days of small phones seem to be over for good; and I know some readers won’t be happy about that. The SE has always had a niche as both the smallest and cheapest phone Apple makes, and that’s probably about to change. But the good thing is that by adopting a narrower mandate as the cheapest phone on its list, the company can free itself up to offer something altogether more compelling.
Readers with irritating fond memories may remember this same column claiming that the iPhone SE line cannot be saved, and I stand by the gist of that argument. But one thing seems to have changed for the better, and that’s Apple’s understanding of what made the second SE so good and what made the third SE so bad. If the leaks are accurate – and this is by no means a given – then they suggest that Apple will return to the original idea of modern components in an older design at a lower price, a trade-off that many customers will adopt. find it attractive.
By improving the battery and camera, it addresses two of the most notable weaknesses of previous SE models. And by moving from the outdated design with a home button to something relatively more modern, it strives to find the happy medium between too old and too new, which was so compelling in 2020. Add a price of $499, which is just $70 more than the current outd ated SE – and you have the best value phone in the industry.
The best budget Android phones in this range are probably the Google Pixel 7a and the OnePlus 12R, and the iPhone SE is rumored to give them both better battery life, with a better camera, much better biometric security, and which should be excellent battery life. .
I still maintain that the sweet spot is not as nice as it was then, and may never be again, for the simple reason that going from the home button to full screen was a one-time change that left a significant number of users. temporarily interested in keeping an older design. In this sense, the real glory days of the SE are gone for good. But in the absence of a true blockbuster, signs suggest that Apple might offer the best solution, which would simply be a very good budget smartphone.
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Podcast of the week
Apple has filed a civil suit against Apple, and it’s an important suit. In this episode of the igamesnews Podcast, we talk about the case: what it is, why it was filed, what it means for Apple, what it means for users, and more.
You can watch every episode of the igamesnews Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site.
Reviews corner
The rumor mill
THE next major step for Apple chips could take place next year. And the one full of AI M4 chip arrives earlier than expected.
New iPads will “probably” arrive the week of May 6, according to a trusted analyst.
iPadOS 17.5 beta confirms the biggest upgrade to the new iPad Pro.
iPhone SE leak paints a picture of best $499 smartphone ever.
THE next Apple Watch could have a new low-power screen.
Apple Pencil 3 with a new pressure gesture could soon arrive.
Apple’s work on a Foldable iPad hit a potentially fatal roadblock.
If you really think Apple makes a robot, I have a iCar to sell you.
Report: Apple TV with a integrated camera “discussed” at Apple.
iPhone 2024 colors: what’s coming, what’s happening and what is the new trend?
Software updates, bugs and issues
Apple warns users in 92 countries against spyware attack.
“Ghost Touch” bug affects more Apple Watches than previously thought.
And with that, we’re done for this week’s apple breakfast. If you would like to receive regular summaries, subscribe to our newsletters. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads or Twitter to discuss the latest Apple news. See you next Monday and stay Appley.
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