The original iPhone SE made its debut in 2016 and since then, we have seen iPhone SE2 (2020) and iPhone SE3 (2022) and the next logical upgrade will be iPhone SE 4. For months, we have been hearing about the purported iPhone SE4 and how it will bring design from iPhone 11 (or 14) and specs from iPhone 16 and so on. Cut to now, the iPhone SE4 is likely making its debut in 2025 and will get an OLED upgrade.
All the previous iPhone SE models had LCD panels and with the iPhone SE4 in the works, Apple is likely to upgrade to a better OLED panel. This comes weeks after we learned Apple has scrapped the project altogether.
According to a South Korean report (The Elec), Apple has asked Samsung Display, BOE, and Tainma for quotations on the OLED panels for the iPhone SE4. In response. The trio responded with a quote per panel of $30, $35, and $40, respectivel, for which, Apple has countered the offer at $20 per panel. It remains to be seen which display maker agrees to the aforementioned quotations as the negotiations are ongoing.
The Cupertino-based giant is expected to reuse the 6.1” panel from iPhone 11 and 14. It helps Apple save a ton in terms of development costs as the R&D on these panels has already been done. The display makers must have ironed any deformities and issues with these panels that will allow them to reach a higher yield rate. It means the iPhone SE4 could see a 6.1” OLED display with 1170*2532 pixels resolution and up to 1200 nits of brightness. There’s also a Ceramic Shield Screen in the mix although we are assuming it might not make it since it will add to the cost of panels defeating the purpose of a price-sensitive iPhone altogether.
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Samsung Display already has an upper hand in the display giving a tussle to BOE which suffered a poor yield rate last year with iPhone 15’s OLED panels. Samsung could quote a lower price per panel to blow off BOE from the competition while Tianma is likely out of the picture anyway.
Earlier reports suggest Apple could introduce Dynamic Island on the iPhone SE4, a 5G modem made by Apple themselves (that may not formulate in time).
