Rumors are swirling again that the iPhone SE 4 will have an OLED display, potentially ending the LCD iPhones
It looks like LCD phone screens may soon be a thing of the past, at least on all but the most low-end models. Android phone makers long ago moved away from the technology, and while Apple held out longer with some of its devices, a report suggests that the last LCD iPhone – the iPhone SE (2022) – could soon be replaced by an OLED model.
This is according to Nikkei Asiawho claims that Apple has started placing orders for OLED displays for the upcoming iPhone SE 4.
OLED screens can offer greater contrast between black and white than LCD screens and often display more vibrant colors. So in most ways they are an improvement. That is why there are so few phones with LCD screens these days.
That would be a welcome change, and we’ve heard about it before. Multiple sources have pointed to an OLED display on the iPhone SE 4, for example.
The iPhone SE 4 could launch in 2025
But this latest leak not only bolsters those claims, it also makes us think that the iPhone SE 4 is likely coming out next year, because if Apple has only just started placing panel orders, it’s unlikely it’ll be ready within the next month or two – meaning a September 9 launch alongside the iPhone 16 is highly unlikely. But that would also mean the phone is in production, so we shouldn’t have to wait longer than 2025.
A late 2024 launch could also be possible, but we haven’t heard any leaks suggesting that, so our best guess is 2025, considering we’ve previously heard the iPhone SE 4 could land in 2025. That said, another leak suggested the SE 4 wouldn’t launch before 2026, so there’s still some uncertainty. We can only hope the long wait for this phone is over soon then.
In the meantime, we’re likely to see the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max launch on Monday, September 9. TechRadar will be covering the launch in depth, so check back on Monday for all the news and announcements.
