iPhone SE 4 Likely to Feature 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence

Next year's iPhone SE 4 will almost certainly come with 8GB of RAM, up from 4GB in the 2022 model, due to the hardware requirements of Apple Intelligence.

iphone se 4 modified flag edges
Currently in Apple's smartphone lineup, only the iPhone 15 Pro models support Apple Intelligence, Apple's suite of AI features coming in iOS 18.1, because the features require a minimum of 8GB of RAM. There is only 6GB RAM in the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, so they will miss out.

Following the release of the iPhone 16 lineup in September, Apple will release the fourth-generation iPhone SE as early as the beginning of 2025, according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, and he says "you can bet that it will have Apple Intelligence."

So unless Apple discontinues the iPhone 15 models this year when the iPhone 16 series debuts, this will leave Apple's smartphone lineup in an unusual position, with a sub-$500 device in the iPhone SE 4 able to run Apple's latest AI features while the standard iPhone 15 models cannot.

The fourth-generation ‌iPhone SE‌ is rumored to feature an iPhone 14-like design, Face ID instead of Touch ID, a USB-C port, an Action button, an Apple-designed 5G modem, an A18 processor, and an all-screen look that does away with the Home Button. The device's display is expected to grow in size from 4.7 inches to 6.06 inches and use OLED for the first time.

Apple suppliers are expected to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. The device could be released ahead of the Lunar New Year in January 2025. However, all three existing iPhone SE models were announced in March over the years, so a March 2025 release seems quite possible too.

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Top Rated Comments

DrWojtek Avatar
7 months ago
It wont have a camera. Instead you can prompt what you see. ”Picture of me and my son at the beach in LA, during sunset. I smile”

You’re gonna love it
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bradman83 Avatar
7 months ago

This is a bit tongue in cheek, but I thought they were touting how they were able to get Apple Intelligence working on low RAM machines? This is the same amount of RAM that their Pro line of Macs includes, so it seems like that comment may have been a bit inaccurate?
It's almost like Apple is quietly admitting that 8GB is considered a "low RAM machine" ;)

In all seriousness though, LLMs take up tons of RAM, so being able to run them on devices with only 8GB of RAM is actually a legitimate accomplishment. Macs can access virtual memory swap whereas iPhones cannot, so physical RAM is more important on the phone than it is on the desktop. This does not, however, excuse Apple from still shipping 8GB on any Mac today, Pro or not. I expect M4 Macs will start shipping with 12GB of RAM.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mrkevinfinnerty Avatar
7 months ago

They have to screw up this product somehow, otherwise it will cannibalize other iPhone models.
16gb of storage
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
one more Avatar
7 months ago
It better, otherwise it is pretty much DOA.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
im_to_hyper Avatar
7 months ago
Apple is still doing the 8GB thing in 2024 on phones too?

Minimum 12GB, come onnnnn
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma Avatar
7 months ago

This is a bit tongue in cheek, but I thought they were touting how they were able to get Apple Intelligence working on low RAM machines? This is the same amount of RAM that their Pro line of Macs includes, so it seems like that comment may have been a bit inaccurate?
Remember, macOS requires only half the RAM of Windows, it's made for low-RAM machines. That's Pro!
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)