Rumors are swirling in China about Apple’s upcoming iPhone SE 4, suggesting that it may share the same rear chassis manufacturing process as the standard iPhone 16. According to a leak from Weibo-based source “Fixed Focus Digital,” the backplate production for the iPhone SE 4 is expected to mirror that of the highly anticipated iPhone 16 set to launch in September.

This latest speculation challenges earlier rumors that hinted at the iPhone SE 4 using a modified chassis from the iPhone 14. Reports from November 2023 indicated that the dimensions of the iPhone SE 4 align closely with those of the base model iPhone 14 in its current stage.

The decision to switch to a newer chassis manufacturing process for the iPhone SE 4 raises questions about Apple’s motives behind this change. One possibility could be Apple’s aim to streamline production by adopting this newer process as production of the iPhone 14 models wraps up.

This shift may also hint at a potential upgrade in the camera system for the iPhone SE 4. While the iPhone 14 boasts a different camera setup, rumors suggest that the iPhone SE 4 could sport a single 48-megapixel rear camera, potentially requiring a custom backplate design.

Apple is gearing up to introduce a new vertical camera lens arrangement for its upcoming iPhone 16 models, departing from the diagonal lens setup seen on previous models. This new orientation is expected to support Spatial Video for the Vision Pro headset. If indeed sharing a backplate with the iPhone 16, this could mean that even the SE model might feature a dual camera setup.

Despite rumored upgrades, Apple aims to keep the starting price of the fourth-generation iPhone SE below CAD $600. Speculated changes include swapping Touch ID and Home button for Face ID and a display notch. The current generation of iPhone SE starts at CAD $579 in Canada and runs on A15 bionic chip technology.

Stay tuned for more updates as we eagerly anticipate Apple’s official announcements regarding these exciting developments!