iPhone SE 4 Likely to Use Modified iPhone 14 Chassis

Following our last in-depth report on the iPhone SE 4, MacRumors has received additional information which further confirms the claims made in our previous article.

iphone se 4 modified flag edges
The ‌iPhone‌ SE 4, also known by the device identifier D59 and project codename Ghost, is a continuation of Apple’s budget-oriented line of iPhones, and is expected to replace the current third-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE.

With the arrival of the fourth-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE, Apple plans to finally retire the aging ‌iPhone‌ 8-style design used for the previous two generations of the ‌iPhone‌ SE. Instead, the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 will feature a more modern look and increased display size, closely resembling the base model ‌iPhone‌ 14.

Newly obtained specifications indicate the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 will use a modified version of the existing ‌iPhone‌ 14 chassis, with the same flat design. The dimensions of the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 in its current stage perfectly match those of the base model ‌iPhone‌ 14. Recent findings also confirm that the fourth-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE will not include a Touch ID home button, instead featuring an all-screen design derived from the ‌iPhone‌ 14, with Face ID serving as the means of biometric identification.

To better illustrate the size difference between the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 and the current ‌iPhone‌ SE third-generation, we have included the dimensions for the ‌iPhone‌ 14 and ‌iPhone‌ SE 3, respectively.

‌iPhone‌ 14 dimensions and weight:

  • Length: 146.7 mm
  • Width: 71.5 mm
  • Thickness: 7.80 mm
  • Weight: 172 g

‌iPhone‌ SE 3 dimensions and weight:

  • Length: 138.4 mm
  • Width: 67.3 mm
  • Thickness: 7.3 mm
  • Weight: 144 g

The ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 is expected to be lighter than the ‌iPhone‌ 14 by about 6 grams, weighing 165 grams. The change in weight is likely a result of the single-camera design Apple has planned for the device. Unlike the ‌iPhone‌ 14, the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 will feature a single 48-megapixel rear camera, developed under the codename "Portland", with a custom backplate for the device to account for the design change.

The decision to use a single-camera design lines up with all previous models of the ‌iPhone‌ SE, with the flash located in a similar position as well. It’s worth emphasizing that there is significant evidence that backs up the single-camera design, with Apple’s internal documentation highlighting it as a key change from the ‌iPhone‌ 14.

Apart from the single-camera design, no other significant factors could impact the weight of the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4. No changes in materials are expected, with the fourth-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE using the same 6013 T6 aluminum found in the ‌iPhone‌ 14, along with a glass backplate. Prototypes of the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 have been seen in a black color closely resembling the Midnight color variant available for the ‌iPhone‌ 14, suggesting that black will be one of the color options Apple plans to offer with the fourth-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE.

Although the chassis dimensions of the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 remain identical to that of the base model ‌iPhone‌ 14, the device will bring two significant features greatly differentiating it from previous ‌iPhone‌ models – a multi-purpose Action button and a USB-C port.

The Action button is a user-configurable button located above the volume buttons, first introduced with the ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro, where it replaces the mute switch. Current information suggests that Apple intends to make the Action button a standard feature across the entire iPhone 16 range, with it eventually being available on the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4 as well. The current development status of the fourth-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE suggests a potential release date of 2025.

While Apple is experimenting with an all-new capacitive Capture button for the ‌iPhone 16‌ range, there are no indications that this feature is being tested on the ‌iPhone‌ SE 4. The Capture button is expected to remain exclusive to the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup.

It is important to remember that the information presented here is pre-production information and may not reflect the hardware found on final mass production units, as changes are always possible during development.

For more details on what to expect, check out our guide for the iPhone SE 4.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple Event in October? Here's What to Expect

Monday September 29, 2025 9:31 am PDT by
Apple's annual iPhone event is in the rearview mirror, but rumors suggest the company plans to release a handful of additional products before the year ends. Will there be another Apple event this October? We discuss the possibility below. Apple in October Apple's most recent October events were in 2021 and 2023. In 2022 and 2024, Apple did not host an October event. Instead, it...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro teal 1

Apple's iPhone Driver's License Feature Now Available in 11 U.S. States

Tuesday September 30, 2025 6:40 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Apple recently revealed that the feature would soon be available in North Dakota, and starting today, the feature has officially gone...
space black mbp

Here's Every New Apple Product That Leaked Yesterday

Wednesday October 1, 2025 8:27 am PDT by
A handful of upcoming Apple products leaked yesterday, through a combination of YouTube videos out of Russia and U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) documents that were released, despite Apple's confidentiality requests. The leaked products include an iPad Pro with an M5 chip, as well as updated MacBook Pro and Apple Vision Pro models. All of these devices had already been rumored...
maxresdefault

New iPad Pro With M5 Chip Leaked in Unboxing Video

Tuesday September 30, 2025 8:39 am PDT by
An apparent unboxing video for an unannounced iPad Pro with the M5 chip was uploaded to YouTube today by Russian channel Wylsacom. The same YouTube account leaked the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip before it was announced by Apple last year, so this is likely a legitimate leak. Based on the box shown in the video, this appears to be a 13-inch iPad Pro with an M5 chip, 256GB of...
fcc vision pro leak

FCC Accidentally Leaks Apple's Next Vision Pro

Tuesday September 30, 2025 3:48 pm PDT by
The United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has seemingly confirmed Apple's work on an updated version of the Vision Pro headset. One of several documents the FCC shared today references an Apple-designed "Head Mounted Device" with a model number of A3416. An included image confirms the device is a Vision Pro. The FCC's uploads are transmission tests, SAR test reports, and...
macbook pro prime day 2025

FCC Leaks Upcoming MacBook Pro and More

Tuesday September 30, 2025 1:58 pm PDT by
The United States Federal Communications Commission has confirmed Apple's work on a new version of the MacBook Pro and several other products, leaking details on the devices ahead of launch. The FCC published documents that reference model numbers that do not correspond with existing devices. A3434, for example, references an unreleased MacBook Pro, while other numbers are likely for...
iOS 26 Feature

iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Wednesday October 1, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
iOS 26 was released last month, but the software train never stops, and iOS 26.1 beta testing is already underway. So far, iOS 26.1 makes both Apple Intelligence and Live Translation on compatible AirPods available in additional languages, and it includes some other minor changes across Apple Music, Calendar, Photos, and Safari. More features and changes will follow in future versions,...
iPhone 17 vs Air and Pros Feature

New iPhones See 'Stronger Than Expected' Demand With One Exception

Thursday October 2, 2025 7:26 am PDT by
Nearly two weeks after the iPhone 17 series launched, analysts at investment banking firm Morgan Stanley said demand for the devices has been "modestly stronger than we originally expected," based on a combination of extended shipping estimates on Apple's online store and information it gathered from Apple's supply chain. There has been strong early demand for the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro,...
Apple 2025 Thumb 1

Apple's 2025 Product Roadmap: What's Still Coming

Wednesday October 1, 2025 3:56 pm PDT by
Apple's two big yearly events, WWDC and the iPhone launch, are done and over with, but there are still some new products that we're expecting to see before the end of the year. Apple TV The Apple TV hasn't been updated since 2022, so it's due for a refresh. It doesn't look like Apple is going to change the design of its set-top box, but we can expect a faster chip Apple code suggests...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.0.1 With Fixes for Wi-Fi, Cellular, and Camera Issues on iPhone 17 Models

Monday September 29, 2025 10:12 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 26.0.1 and iPadOS 26.0.1, the first updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out earlier this week. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes for the update, iOS 26.0.1 addresses a bug that could cause aberrations in...

Top Rated Comments

Oldfash33 Avatar
25 months ago
Thats great for many, but what about the MINI fans out there???
Score: 49 Votes (Like | Disagree)
greenbreadmmm Avatar
25 months ago
Why does apple think everyone wants iPads in their pocket ?
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Keymaster Avatar
25 months ago
It's really too bad that Apple isn't interested in making the Mini size anymore. They are following the market, which seems to want larger phones to watch videos and play games on, but it's hard to believe that there isn't enough market for a smaller size phone. This thread is already mostly about missing the Mini, that should be telling Apple something...maybe the foreign market finds the Mini so unpalatable that they don't sell there (it always seems like it's Americans complaining about the missing Mini).

I really do like the Mini after years of using an iPhone X, it's just much nicer. I don't watch videos on my phone though.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Gengar Avatar
25 months ago
Would’ve been a perfect time to reintroduce the mini form factor.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coffeemilktea Avatar
25 months ago
I wondered if maybe it would use the now-abandoned 13 mini chassis, just because it seemed like it would be cheaper than re-engineering the iPhone 14 design to only have a single camera ?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jmonster Avatar
25 months ago
Everyone, remember, almost none of the rumors in this site are accurate.

This further solidifies that it IS going to be a 14 Mini.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)