The iPhone SE 4 rumored again to have an OLED display, and could bring an end to LCD iPhones

A long-awaited screen upgrade

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It looks like LCD phone screens could soon be a thing of the past, at least on all but the most low-end models. Android phone makers largely moved away from the tech long ago, and whileAppleheld out longer on some of its handsets, a report suggests the final LCD iPhone – theiPhone SE (2022)– could soon be replaced by an OLED model.

This is according toNikkei Asia, which claims that Apple has begun placing orders forOLEDdisplays for the upcomingiPhone SE 4.

OLED displays can deliver greater contrast between blacks and whites than LCD ones, and often exhibit more vibrant colors, so in most ways they’re an upgrade, which is why so few phones now use LCD screens.

This would be a desirable change then, and it’s one we’ve heard of previously too, with several different previous sources pointing toan OLED display on the iPhone SE 4.

The iPhone SE 4 could land in 2025

But this latest leak doesn’t just add credence to those claims, it also makes us think the iPhone SE 4 will probably land next year, since if Apple has only just begun placing panel orders it’s unlikely to be ready in the next month or two – meaning a launch alongside theiPhone 16on September 9 is very unlikely. But equally, that would mean the phone is in production, so we shouldn’t be waiting beyond 2025.

A launch in late 2024 could also be possible, but we haven’t heard any leaks suggesting that, so our best guess is 2025, as we’ve previously heard thatthe iPhone SE 4 could land in 2025. That said, another leak suggestedthe SE 4 wouldn’t launch before 2026, so there’s still some uncertainty. We can only hope then that the lengthy wait for this phone will be over before too long.

In the meantime though, we’re likely to see the iPhone 16, theiPhone 16 Plus, theiPhone 16 Pro, and theiPhone 16 Pro Maxon Monday, September 9. TechRadar will be covering the launch in full, so head back here on Monday for all the news and announcements.

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James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.

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