On February 7, it was reported that Apple was accelerating the strategic adjustment of its product line and planned to officially release the fourth-generation iPhone SE model in the next week.According to supply chain and retail channels, pre-sales of the new machine may start later this month, and the first batch of deliveries is expected to be completed in early March.

The release of the iPhone SE 4 marks a major innovation in Apple's entry-level product line in three years.According to Mark Gurman, a senior technology reporter at Bloomberg, the new model will abandon the retro design of the previous generation used on the iPhone 8, switch to the same 6.1-inch OLED full-screen as the iPhone 14, and introduce the dynamic island for the first time.(Dynamic Island) interactive function, completely bid farewell to the physical Home button and Touch ID fingerprint recognition, and fully embrace Face ID face unlocking technology.

In terms of performance, this model will be equipped with an A18 bionic chip of the same generation as the flagship iPhone 16 series, equipped with 8GB of running memory and 128GB of starting storage space to support Apple's latest AI system "Apple Intelligence" and achieve cross-Device task collaboration and personalized services.It is worth noting that the iPhone SE 4 may become the first model to use Apple's self-developed 5G baseband chip. This will not only reduce its dependence on Qualcomm's technology, but also hopefully further reduce terminal prices through supply chain cost optimization. The Bank of China version is expected to be priced below RMB 4,000, which may become a strong competitor in the Android mid-range market when combined with potential subsidy policies.InvalidParameterValue

The market's expectations for new machines have been directly reflected in inventory dynamics.Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at Tianfeng International, pointed out that the current third-generation iPhone SE has experienced a shortage of inventory in many Apple retail stores in the United States, and the delivery cycle of some configured models has been extended to March. This phenomenon is usually regarded as a clear signal before the launch of new products.In addition, due to charging interface regulations in the European Union, sales of old iPhone SE and iPhone 14 series have been suspended. The comprehensive shift of the new generation of models to the USB-C interface will allow them to return to the European market in compliance and help Apple consolidate their share in the region. Provide key support.InvalidParameterValue

From a financial perspective, the launch of the iPhone SE 4 comes at a critical time when Apple urgently needs to boost hardware sales.

Although the company's fourth-quarter 2024 financial report showed a 12% year-on-year increase in service business revenue, overall iPhone sales fell by 1% year-on-year, with sales in Greater China dropping sharply by 11%, highlighting the fact that mid-range models are becoming increasingly important to incremental users as the high-end market is approaching saturation.Analysts at Morgan Stanley pointed out that if the new SE can continue its "cost-effective flagship" positioning, its penetration in emerging markets such as India and Southeast Asia is expected to increase significantly, thereby hedging the performance risks brought by the weakness of the China market.InvalidParameterValue

In addition to the iPhone SE, Apple's 2025 product matrix also shows a multi-point momentum.According to supply chain news, the MacBook Air equipped with the M4 chip may be unveiled first in the spring. Its neural engine computing power has increased to 38 trillion times per second. The AI task processing efficiency has jumped 40% compared with the previous generation. The goal is aimed at lightweight creation market.The iPad product line will welcome updates to the 11th generation basic style and the 6th generation Air series. The former may support full-fit LCD screens and Wi-Fi 7 protocol for the first time, while the latter may be equipped with an M3 chip and a 90Hz adaptive refresh rate screen, further blurring the performance boundary with the Pro series.In the smart home field, the third-generation HomePod equipped with a 6.7-inch OLED screen is expected to be released at the same time as the SE4. Its built-in Apple Intelligence system can serve as a home control hub or reconstruct the user interactive experience through innovative features such as sound source tracking.InvalidParameterValue

It is worth noting that there are still hidden concerns behind Apple's aggressive product strategy.On the one hand, the commercialization process of self-developed baseband chips carries a risk of technological maturity. If the first batch of models experience signal stability problems, it may have an impact on brand reputation; on the other hand, Android camp manufacturers such as Samsung and Google are already in the mid-end market. With intensive layout, the Galaxy A series and Pixel 8a both use AI functions as their core selling points, and the pricing range is highly overlapping with the iPhone SE 4, and market competition may become further intense.InvalidParameterValue

The release of the iPhone SE 4 is not only Apple's tactical move to improve its product echelon, but also its strategic response to the structural adjustment of the global smartphone market.Through technology decentralization and cost control, Apple is trying to leverage the incremental market with the strategy of "low price but not low price" while maintaining the premium of high-end brands.However, whether we can successfully break through the encirclement of Android manufacturers still needs to observe the dynamic balance between consumers 'price sensitivity and functional needs.As the new product cycle starts, Apple's share price may usher in a short-term catalysis, but medium-and long-term performance still depends on the deepening of emerging market development and ecological synergy.