iPhone SE 4 could get this surprise display upgrade

Unofficial renders of the iPhone SE 4
(Image credit: Jon Prosser/Ian Zelbo)

We thought we had a handle on the iPhone SE 4 thanks to recent comprehensive leaks. But a new one suggests that things may not be so neatly wrapped up yet.

According to Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants and a reliable source of smartphone display info, in Super Followers-only tweet, Apple is still undecided on what screen to use on the next budget iPhone, and is looking into several display options from multiple suppliers.

Most excitingly, Young claims Apple is investigating 6.1-inch OLED displays for the iPhone SE 4 as well. This would be a big upgrade over an equivalent LCD thanks to OLED panels' increased power efficiency and more accurate colors. However, as before, Apple has not made changes of this magnitude to previous SE models. Changing the underlying display technology but keeping the same size does sound like a more reasonable upgrade to us than a new size altogether, even if we still think the most likely outcome is that the Cupertino phone maker doesn't change the screen at all.

Young also mentions that this new iPhone SE likely won't arrive until 2024. That would fit with the current two-year refresh cycle for the iPhone SE set by the most recent iPhone SE 2022 model. But that would be a long wait if you want a cheap iPhone that doesn't use a five-year-old design, even if it does have a monstrously powerful 5G-ready chipset inside. 

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Richard Priday
Assistant Phones Editor

Richard is based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, tablets, gaming, and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.