When Apple announces what CEO Tim Cook called “the newest member of the family,” on Wednesday, Feb. 19, it will almost certainly be the fourth version of the iPhone SE (even if it goes by a different name). But a new report claims that one aspect of the new iPhone may not be welcomed: onboard storage.
The new iPhone SE could look similar to this, the iPhone 14.
The report comes in the form of a leak showing a purported Chinese retailer listing for the new device, spotted by GSM Arena. It claims that the next iPhone will come with just 64GB of storage. So, how likely is this?
In one way, it makes good sense. The current third-generation iPhone SE has 64GB. Let’s remember that this is the entry-level iPhone, with one of its key features being a much more affordable way to buy an Apple product. So, to keep the cost down, Apple could choose to repeat the storage of the current model.
After all, there’s so much that’s brand new in this iPhone—it looks like it will be the first iPhone SE with an original rather than an inherited design— that limiting storage could be a clever way to be able to offer a low price.
But there are two words which make me question this information: Apple Intelligence.
Every report says that the new iPhone SE will be capable of Apple Intelligence, which currently sees a recommendation for a minimum of 7GB storage to work. This is a figure which has grown already, and we’re still only in the first few months since Apple Intelligence arrived. So further storage space may be needed in time.
There will surely be other storage options—the report claims these will be 128GB and 256GB—but these will come with a higher price tag.
For sure, Apple will want to ensure that customers wanting to pay the extra for the iPhone 16 will see plenty of reasons to do so. The iPhone 16 storage starts at 128GB, so this could be a way Apple differentiates.
More importantly, Apple won’t want to be behind other mid-range Android phones, though it could argue that Apple Intelligence, Face ID and other features already set it apart.
The truth is, I’m skeptical about hist report, though I’m sure Apple will have tested options to ensure a satisfactory user experience. Can 64GB deliver that? We’ll find out in a just a matter of days.
