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

iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Monday June 30, 2025 1:08 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are less than three months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max in September this year. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models:Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an...
Apple Watch Ultra Night Mode Screen

Apple Watch Ultra 3 Launching Later This Year With Two Key Upgrades

Wednesday July 2, 2025 1:13 pm PDT by
The long wait for an Apple Watch Ultra 3 appears to be nearly over, and it is rumored to feature both satellite connectivity and 5G support. Apple Watch Ultra's existing Night Mode In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on track to launch this year with "significant" new features, including satellite connectivity, which would let you...
A18 Pro Chip

New MacBook With A18 Pro Chip Spotted in Apple Code

Monday June 30, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
Apple is developing a MacBook with the A18 Pro chip, according to findings in backend code uncovered by MacRumors. Earlier today, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. The machine is expected to feature a 13-inch display, the A18 Pro chip, and color options that include silver, blue, pink, and yellow. MacRumors...
iPhone 17 Pro Lower Logo Magsafe

iPhone 17 Pro's New MagSafe Design Revealed in Leaked Photo

Wednesday July 2, 2025 8:37 am PDT by
The upcoming iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are rumored to have a slightly different MagSafe magnet layout compared to existing iPhone models, and a leaked photo has offered a closer look at the supposed new design. The leaker Majin Bu today shared a photo of alleged MagSafe magnet arrays for third-party iPhone 17 Pro cases. On existing iPhone models with MagSafe, the magnets form a...
macbook air spacegray purple

Apple Planning to Launch Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

Monday June 30, 2025 3:20 am PDT by
Apple is planning to launch a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In an article published on X, Kuo explained that the device will feature a 13-inch display and the A18 Pro chip, making it the first Mac powered by an iPhone chip. The A18 Pro chip debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro last year. To date, all Apple silicon Macs have contained M-series...
iOS 18

Apple Releases Second iOS 18.6 Public Beta

Tuesday July 1, 2025 10:19 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 updates to public beta testers, with the betas coming just a day after Apple provided the betas to developers. Apple has also released a second beta of macOS Sequoia 15.6. Testers who have signed up for beta updates through Apple's beta site can download iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6 from the Settings app on a compatible...
Wi Fi WiFi General Feature

iOS 26 Adds a Useful New Wi-Fi Feature to Your iPhone

Wednesday July 2, 2025 6:36 am PDT by
iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 add a smaller yet useful Wi-Fi feature to iPhones and iPads. As spotted by Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach, sign-in details for captive Wi-Fi networks are now synced across iPhones and iPads running iOS 26 and iPadOS 26. For example, while Weinbach was staying at a Hilton hotel, his iPhone prompted him to fill in Wi-Fi details from his iPad that was already...
maxresdefault

Five Features Coming to AirPods Pro 3

Friday June 27, 2025 10:52 am PDT by
Apple hasn't updated the AirPods Pro since 2022, and the earbuds are due for a refresh. We're counting on a new model this year, and we've seen several hints of new AirPods tucked away in Apple's code. Rumors suggest that Apple has some exciting new features planned that will make it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest model. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Heal...
replay all time playlist apple music

Apple Music Debuts All-New Personalized Playlist

Monday June 30, 2025 7:16 am PDT by
As part of its 10-year celebrations of Apple Music, Apple today released an all-new personalized playlist that collates your entire listening history. The playlist, called "Replay All Time," expands on Apple Music's existing Replay features. Previously, users could only see their top songs for each individual calendar year that they've been subscribed to Apple Music, but now, Replay All...

Top Rated Comments

Oldfash33 Avatar
22 months ago
Thats great for many, but what about the MINI fans out there???
Score: 49 Votes (Like | Disagree)
greenbreadmmm Avatar
22 months ago
Why does apple think everyone wants iPads in their pocket ?
Score: 41 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Keymaster Avatar
22 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
22 months ago
Would’ve been a perfect time to reintroduce the mini form factor.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coffeemilktea Avatar
22 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
22 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)