What exciting new products will Apple introduce tonight?

As per prior announcements, Apple is set to unveil a slew of new devices on the early morning of February 20, 2025, Beijing time. The long-rumored iPhone SE4, with its full-screen design, is expected to make its official debut. However, following Apple's traditional practice, the spring event typically encompasses products such as the iPad and MacBook as well.

Therefore, in the countdown to the event, Lei Technology presents an in-depth pre-event prediction, encapsulating our expectations from Apple's forthcoming announcements.

SE4: A Comprehensive Revamp with Premium Features

Undoubtedly, the iPhone SE4, which has garnered immense hype over the years, will steal the spotlight at tonight's event. Based on previous leaks, the SE4 will adopt the sleek flat-edge design from the iPhone 12 series, featuring an aluminum frame and a matte etched glass back with a reflective logo.

Interestingly, the SE4 is likely to retain the classic iPhone silent switch instead of introducing a new operation button. Given its probable single-camera setup (possibly the 48MP wide-angle lens from the iPhone digital series), the camera module won't require an additional glass layer, maintaining a design reminiscent of older models like the SE3.

Image Source: Sonny Dickson

In terms of the display, considering the timeline of its development, the SE4 will not incorporate the Dynamic Island FaceID solution but will instead continue with the 6.1-inch notched XDR display from the iPhone 14. As for color options, adhering to the iPhone SE tradition, the SE4 is anticipated to offer black, white (Starlight), and possibly an accent color.

However, the iPhone SE's appeal has never been about peripheral configurations; it's the powerful flagship chip that draws enthusiasts. Recognizing the significance of the SE4 to Apple's Intelligence initiative, Apple will undoubtedly equip the SE4 with top-tier hardware. Specifically, the SE4 is expected to feature either the A18 or A17 Pro chip.

Upon closer examination, considering cost control, ISP performance requirements, and internal product competition, Lei Technology believes that the SE4 will likely utilize the A18 chip with one less GPU compared to the A17 Pro found in the iPhone 15 Pro.

Moreover, the SE4's modem is also noteworthy. As suggested in previous articles, the iPhone SE4 could serve as a testing ground for Apple's new modem. In late 2024, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple would introduce an in-house 5G modem in 2025 to reduce reliance on Qualcomm. However, due to performance considerations, Apple's in-house modem cannot be swiftly integrated like Apple Silicon and will require a gradual transition. Hence, it's plausible that the new modem will initially be tested on peripheral devices like the iPad before being introduced to "secondary phones," making the iPhone SE4 a fitting candidate.

Additionally, the SE4 will switch to a USB-C port, albeit with USB 2.0 transfer speeds—a testament to Apple's cost-saving measures in non-core components.

SE4 Price Prediction: A Challenging Market Entry

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Turning to pricing, given Apple's Intelligence requirements for memory and storage, the upcoming SE4 is likely to start at 128GB. Considering the pricing strategy of the iPhone SE series, Lei Technology anticipates that the SE4's final pricing may fall between 3699 yuan and 4499 yuan.

However, this poses a challenge: On Apple's official website, currently available iPhones include the 16 Pro, 15, 14, and iPhone SE. The new SE4 will inevitably replace the SE3, directly competing with the iPhone 14. With the A18 chip, the SE4 will "outperform" the iPhone 14 in all areas except the camera, potentially leading Apple to discontinue the iPhone 14 upon the SE4's launch, thereby creating a pricing gap in its lineup. Therefore, Lei Technology remains cautious about the SE4's specific pricing.

Despite high hopes for the iPhone SE4, given the 2025 mobile phone market landscape, we don't foresee significant market competitiveness in China. Since late 2024, domestic brands have focused on the "small screen" segment, equipping Mini models with flagship-level hardware. Unless users are heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, the SE4's appeal to the average consumer may be limited, especially with domestic Android phones increasingly compatible with Apple services.

New iPad and MacBook Predictions: Value-Driven Upgrades

While the new iPhone SE's release is almost certain, routine iPad updates are somewhat probable. Apple has previously skipped events to directly launch new iPad models on its website. Considering the relatively minor updates to the iPad and MacBook Air, a direct launch seems plausible.

In terms of hardware upgrades, Apple's primary focus will be ensuring that the new iPad and MacBook Air meet the Apple Intelligence standards. The new iPad 11 is expected to follow the iPad mini 7 with the A17 Pro processor and upgraded starting storage to 128GB. To balance the iPad lineup, the iPad 11 might eliminate the 256GB option, offering only 128GB and 512GB. Pricing-wise, the new iPad should remain around 2999 yuan, close to the "Chromebook lifeline" of 349 dollars.

Similarly, we don't anticipate a separate event for the MacBook Air with the M4 chip. Since adopting the new design, the MacBook Air line has emphasized features unrelated to performance but rather functionality. For instance, the MacBook's notch design has persisted for four years without practical FaceID integration, leading to speculation that Apple has technically achieved this but is waiting for the right time to implement it.

Undoubtedly, the Apple Intelligence wave has extended the MacBook Air's lifespan, and with the upgraded M4 processor and 16GB of unified memory, Apple can confidently sustain its current offerings for another year. Therefore, Lei Technology believes that this year's M4 MacBook Air will be directly listed, with at most a video announcement of the shipping date.

This concludes our comprehensive summary and prediction of Apple's new products at tonight's event. Do you agree? To stay updated on Apple's latest offerings, tune in to Lei Technology for our first-hand, systematic coverage on the early morning of February 20. If you're planning to stay up late, join us live on Lei Technology's video account!

Source: Lei Technology