Apple is unprepared for the mid-range competition between the iPhone SE 4 and Galaxy S24 FE.

With new gadgets competing for consumers' attention, the smartphone market is always changing. Samsung has already caused a stir in the mid-range market this year, but the Fan Edition may face some competition as Apple is reportedly preparing to unveil the iPhone SE 4 soon.

Despite their seeming differences, these two phones have one thing in common: providing flagship-level performance and user experience at a relatively affordable price. However, based on the information we've been receiving, it appears that the iPhone SE 4 may find it difficult to compete with the Galaxy S24 FE.

Dimensions and Style
Very different in terms of size

Over the previous few years, the iPhone SE 4's design has been a major talking point. Since the phone would probably only have one rear camera, most leakers seem to agree that it will have the same design as the iPhone 14, except the huge camera module.

Samsung's flagship series serves as another source of inspiration for the design of the S24 FE. Actually, it is difficult to distinguish it from the other S24 models. It features an aluminum frame and glass back, which is also what we anticipate the iPhone SE 4 will be composed of.

Apple's second-generation Ceramic Shield may be included with the iPhone SE 4 for durability. However, even if it is an older model, it may still be more resilient than the Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, which shields the S24 FE screen.

The iPhone SE 4's potential color options are yet unknown. One or two "fun" and vibrant colors and a few more "safe" and neutral ones are probably in order.

In the meanwhile, the colors of the Galaxy S24 FE are:

Blue, Graphite, Gray, Mint, and Yellow

Differences in Display

A smaller display also goes hand in hand with the reduced body size. There are a lot of rumors that the iPhone SE 4 will have a 6.1-inch display, which is supposedly the same OLED panel as the iPhone 13.

However, the Galaxy S24 FE will always have a better display, regardless of how much the new SE 4 model improves it. In addition to being 6.7 inches, it features a refresh rate of 120 Hz, while the SE 4 will most likely only reach its maximum at 60 Hz.

In terms of display visibility, during our display lab tests, we measured the S24 FE's maximum brightness at 1110 nits. If the SE 4 receives the same panel, it may also have the same brightness, which is a significant increase above the 849 nits we tested on the iPhone 13.

Given that the SE 4 is expected to have the body of the iPhone 14, we fully anticipate Apple introducing Face ID to the SE series with this device. A quick and precise ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is included with the S24 FE. Both methods are quick, secure, and simple to adjust to.

Software and Performance
The S24 FE is a true beast, but the iPhone SE 4's chip is unknown.

Regarding the performance of the next iPhone SE, there is a minor problem. There is now a lot of conflicting information due to the leaks and reports, making it difficult to predict which chip Apple will use in the iPhone SE 4.

According to some, Apple may even upgrade the SE series to the newest A18 chips, which are produced using TSMC's most recent 3nm process, rather than the A16 and A17 chips. Naturally, this would be incredible, but considering the price the SE series typically commands, it is difficult to accept. But for the time being, we are sticking to the most recent rumor.

However, the Exynos 2400e chip, which powers the Galaxy S24 flagship series, is a significantly modified version of the Exynos 2400 found in the Galaxy S24 FE. We discovered throughout our testing of the S24 FE that this modified version performs remarkably well in comparison to its flagship sibling.

According to reports, the iPhone SE 4 has 6GB of RAM, which is somewhat less than the FE's 8GB. This distinction between the two shouldn't be that important, though, because iPhones typically require less RAM than Androids.

The fact that iPhones are said to require a minimum of 8GB of RAM in order to handle Apple Intelligence (Apple's AI) is noteworthy, though. This could imply that the SE 4 will not be able to use any of the AI features seen in the other new iPhone models, at least not those that need for on-device processing.

All of the Galaxy AI functions found in the flagship series, including Live Translate, Interpreter, Transcript Assist, and others, are available on the Galaxy S24 FE.

The Fan Edition starts at 128GB for storage, and the SE 4 is expected to follow suit. However, the SE 4 may only reach 256GB, while the FE can reach 512GB.

Both phones have the same software update status, with security patches and significant OS upgrades available for up to seven years. Nevertheless, the S24 FE should live longer because it debuted with Android 14 and One UI 6.1, but the iPhone SE 4 is anticipated to debut with iOS 18—the most recent version of iOS.

Camera Apple continues to only use one camera.

Regretfully, in terms of photography performance, the Galaxy S24 will most likely continue to be the superior option. This is due to rumors that the iPhone SE 4 will still only have a single rear camera, as opposed to the S24 FE's wide, ultra-wide, and threex telephoto camera configuration.

The SE 4 is rumored to use a 48MP sensor, which may or may not be the same sensor found in the most recent non-Pro iPhone models (Apple).

The S24 FE would benefit greatly from this since it will provide a greater variety of focal lengths. Images created with varying focal lengths can differ significantly. Nowadays, users are accustomed to having a variety of options when it comes to their phone cameras, so even if your camera is excellent, having just one may seem strange and even a little uncomfortable to some.

Charging and Battery Life
Battery life may change with the iPhone SE 4.

Despite its lackluster performance in our battery life testing, the Galaxy S24 FE was still quite respectable in comparison to the most recent iPhone SE model. But according to reports, the iPhone SE 4 will have the same 3,279 mAh battery as the iPhone 14. The SE 4 may even outlast the S24 FE with its larger 4,700 mAh battery when combined with the OLED display and more power-efficient processor.

There has been no update about the iPhone SE 4's charging capabilities. Although the Galaxy S24 FE has a respectable 25W wired and 15W wireless charging capacity, we don't think Apple will provide these kinds of speeds with its upcoming low-cost iPhone.

The iPhone SE 4 is most likely to be wired for 20W charging. However, if Apple chooses to add MagSafe to its SE series for the first time, we might see 15W wireless charging.

Comparison of Specifications

A brief comparison of the specifications is shown below. Visit our iPhone SE 4 vs. Galaxy S24 FE specifications page for a more thorough analysis.

* Rumored specifications—no details or relevance

In brief

For consumers on a tight budget looking for powerful smartphones from two of the biggest manufacturers on the market, the iPhone SE 4 and the Galaxy S24 FE provide appealing alternatives.

With its small size and light weight, the iPhone SE 4 provides a familiar iOS experience compared to more recent iPhone models, and it may even have the power of the Apple A18 CPU. However, for many prospective customers, its restricted camera capabilities can be a deal breaker.

In contrast, the Galaxy S24 FE has a more capacious, high-refresh-rate screen and a multipurpose triple-camera setup. With a single user interface and quicker charging times, it provides the versatility of Android. Its bigger and thicker shape, however, as well as the possibility of a reduced battery life, are disadvantages to be aware of.

The iPhone SE 4's precise cost and availability have not yet been made public. It will definitely be less expensive than the iPhone 16 and even the iPhone 15 series, at the very least. However, Apple will need to charge $649.99 for the cheapest model of the iPhone SE 4 if it hopes to compete with the Galaxy S24 FE.

A single camera on a mid-range phone may seem a bit absurd, but so is a 60Hz refresh rate, yet Apple has been getting away with it for years. The iPhone SE 4 does not yet seem like a serious rival to the Galaxy S24 FE, but only time will tell if that is the case.