Apple updated its entry-level iPhone SE in 2022. It’s been around three years now that the iPhone SE lineup is certainly due for an update. The new model was in the works for quite a long time, but it seems Apple needed some more time, pushing the wait even longer. While we didn’t see the next-gen SE in 2024, the rumors and leaks suggest the new model would be worth the wait. With a bigger & better display, camera improvements, and an AI-capable processor, the upcoming iPhone SE 4 is teased to be the most significant upgrade since the original iPhone SE arrived in 2016. In this article, we’ve summed up all the leaks about Apple’s upcoming affordable smartphone. Let’s begin!
iPhone SE 4 Expected Release Date
When Apple launched only the iPhone 16 series at its Glowtime September 2024 event, it became pretty clear that the iPhone SE refresh isn’t coming in 2024. Previously, Mark Gurman reported that Apple would begin the production of the iPhone SE as early as October 2024, and we might expect an early 2025 launch. In the past, Apple has launched its SE smartphones in the spring and the iPhone SE 2022 made its debut in March. A more recent post from Gurman suggests that Apple will launch the new iPhone SE 4, iPad 11, and M4 iPad Air by April, sometime before the iOS 18.4 iteration.
The April timeline aligns with the previous rumors that Apple will introduce the iPad 11, M4 iPad Air, and next-generation iPhone SE after the MacBook Air update in early 2025.
Possible Names: iPhone SE 4 or iPhone 16E?
Most people are calling Apple’s upcoming budget device “the iPhone SE 4”. Since it’s the fourth generation of Apple’s low-cost smartphone, it makes all the sense to expect that particular “SE” moniker. Well, Apple doesn’t add serial numbers to its budget-friendly iPhones this way. It just calls them iPhone SE followed by launch year. So, the fourth-generation iPhone SE might be called the iPhone SE 2025. However, the upcoming model could mark the end of the original SE branding.
The latest rumor suggests that Apple might name its next-ranger iPhone might be called the iPhone 16E, rather than the iPhone SE 4. This suggests the upcoming model will have more similarities with the iPhone 16, including display size, overall design, chipset, and Apple Intelligence support. If the Cupertino tech giant launched the upcoming model with the iPhone 16 chassis, the rumors of the iPhone 16E would prove to be accurate. However, we aren’t very sure if Apple would give up on its original SE branding.
For now, we’ll call the upcoming model the iPhone SE 4 until we get to hear some more rumors.
Design Upgrades
With a 4.7-inch display, the iPhone SE 3 is the smallest phone that Apple currently sells. Also, it’s the only iPhone with thick bezels and a Touch ID button. Built on the footprints of the now outdated iPhone 8 chassis, the iPhone SE is long due for an update. Interestingly, Apple may impress everyone with its iPhone SE 4 design. Previously, an iPhone XR-like design was rumored for the iPhone SE 4, but it seems Apple wants to go more modern with its most affordable iPhone.
According to rumors, Apple will finally move away from the iPhone 8 chassis, and opt for a modern design language like the latest iPhones. In February 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo revealed that the upcoming iPhone SE 4 will take design inspiration from the iPhone 14, featuring an all-display design and ditching the TouchID button in favor of Face ID.
The CAD renders from 91Mobiles also suggest the iPhone SE 4 would feature a design similar to the iPhone 14. With a 6.1-inch display, the iPhone SE 4 will be significantly larger than the current iPhone SE 3. The bigger size might also leave more space for a bigger battery, delivering a better battery life. Rather than the Dynamic Island that debuted with the iPhone 14 Pro, the iPhone SE 4 will have a notch in the display like the standard iPhone 14 models.
Although the iPhone SE 4 will have a design similar to the iPhone 14, some leaks suggest that Apple is using the same rear chassis manufacturing process for the SE 4 which is currently used in the iPhone 16.
Action Button and USB-C Port
Although the iPhone SE 4 would closely align with the iPhone 14, it will also borrow some design elements from the iPhone 15 launched in 2023. The next generation of iPhone SE is likely to ditch the Lightning port and feature the USB-C connector, which first debuted with the iPhone 15 series. Apple may also add the programmable Action Button which debuted with iPhone 15 models and marked the death of the classic Mute switch on iPhones. Given these rumors and leaks, it seems the iPhone SE 4 would be more impressive than the iPhone 14.
Display Changes
With an iPhone 14-like design, the iPhone SE 4 would feature a 6.1-inch display with a notch and minimal bezels. Leaked images from a Weibo user show dummy units of the iPhone SE 4 featuring a notch with Face ID components, meaning Touch ID would be dropped.
Beyond the size, Apple might offer a new, good-looking display on its upcoming affordable iPhone. The iPhone SE 3 is the last remaining iPhone with an LCD display, others have moved to the OLED screen. Since the iPhone 12, Apple has moved to the OLED technology for its flagship iPhones. According to a rumor from Nikkei Asia, the iPhone SE is most likely to feature an OLED screen. Also, a paywalled report from DigiTimes suggests that Apple is sourcing OLEDs for its next-gen iPhone SE models. If that happens, it would mark the end of the “LCD” era for Apple.
A sketchy rumor from Majin Bu suggested that the next-gen iPhone SE will feature a Dynamic Island, instead of a notch. However, this leak isn’t in line with other rumors that suggest an iPhone 14-like design. Since Apple has transitioned its newer iPhones to Dynamic Island, the notch would set the iPhone SE apart. Given the price difference, this shouldn’t be an issue. Well, Apple might still choose to surprise its fans with a Dynamic Island on the iPhone SE 4.
Camera Improvements
The budget-friendly iPhone SE lacked a standout camera system and night mode support. Every iPhone SE has a single rear camera, and this is unlikely to change with the SE 4 model. While the iPhone 14 has a dual rear camera, the iPhone SE 4 is likely to stick with a single-lens camera.
This should be a move to keep the costs down. That said, the camera quality could improve in the new model. Rather than the 12MP camera found on the current SE and even the iPhone 14, we might see a more capable 48MP primary camera found on the iPhone 15 models. This will surely be one of the biggest upgrades on the iPhone SE 4. If this turns out to be legit, Apple’s mid-ranger could finally compete against devices like the Google Pixel 8a to be the best mid-range camera phone.
A-Series Chip, Upgraded RAM, & Apple Intelligence Support
Looking at the past trends, Apple typically launches its iPhone SE with the chipset of the flagship iPhone launched the previous fall. For instance, the iPhone SE 2022 arrived with the A13 Bionic chipset which debuted with iPhone 13 in 2021. If Apple follows the same for the upcoming iPhone SE 4, the iPhone 16’s A18 chipset would make its way to the budget iPhone. That would be a superb addition to the SE 4, given how capable the A18 chipset is. Also, this means we’ll get another AI iPhone. With the AI-capable A18 chipset, the upcoming mid-ranger would support all Apple Intelligence features. To make this happen, the upcoming SE 4 would have an 8GB of RAM.
At the moment, only the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and the entire iPhone 16 series support Apple Intelligence. If the AI-powered iPhone SE 4 joins the list, users could experience Apple’s AI even on its most affordable iPhone. Unarguably, the AI support alone would be enough to make the iPhone SE 4 a worthy upgrade. In fact, the iPhone SE 4 might even kill the iPhone 15 for the same reasons.
As of now, Apple has rolled out iOS 18.1 and iOS 18.2 updates with Writing Tools, a new Siri interface, Call Recording, Clean Up, Notification Summaries, Image Playground, Genmoji, ChatGPT Integration, and more. We’ll get to see Priority Notifications, Genmoji on Mac, and more AI features in 2025.
Apple’s 5G Modem
The iPhone SE 4 processor could bring a hidden upgrade, and that’s Apple’s first in-house 5G modem. To lessen its technological dependence on Qualcomm, the Cupertino tech giant has been developing in-house 5G modem chips for quite some years now. Apple’s 5G modem may also handle Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.
In February 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that the baseband chip would be built on a 4nm process and support only sub-6GHz bands. In April 2023, analyst Jeff Pu claimed that the 2025 iPhone SE would feature an Apple-designed 5G modem manufactured by TMSC. However, in April 2023. Kuo tweeted that the iPhone SE 4 is only an engineering prototype to test the in-house 5G baseband chip technology, and the mass production might be pushed to 2026. More recent rumors suggest that the upcoming iPhone SE 4 could be the first device to feature an Apple-designed 5G modem.
iPhone SE 4 Battery
With a bigger 6.1-inch size, the iPhone SE 4 should also leave more space for a larger battery. In fact, the iPhone SE 4 might pack the same 3,279mAh battery found on the iPhone 14. With a bigger battery, the iPhone SE 4 should last longer than the current iPhone SE 3.
iPhone SE 4 Price Predictions
The current iPhone SE 3 sells for around $429, and we don’t expect Apple to increase the price dramatically, especially when its direct rivals like the OnePlus 12R and Pixel 8a come with a $499 price tag. However, smartphones have seen price hikes in the past few years. Last year, Apple increased the price of its iPhone 15 Pro Max by $100. Also, other phone makers have made price hikes. For instance, the Google Pixel 6a was priced at $449, whereas the Pixel 8a (current model of the Pixel A-series) costs $499. Therefore, we expect Apple to stick with the same price of $429 with the upcoming iPhone, or we might see an increase of 10 percent. So, even if the prices go up slightly, the iPhone SE 4 would be priced below $500.
That’s everything we know about the upcoming iPhone SE 4. We’ll keep updating this piece as more rumors and leaks pile up in the coming months. So, stay tuned!
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