iPhone SE 4 rumors: Apple’s next budget iPhone won’t be at Monday’s ‘Glowtime’ event
Apple typically announces new premium iPhones, such as the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro, every September. On Monday, Apple will hold a Glowtime event where the iPhone 16 will likely be announced. But don’t forget about Apple’s cheaper, smaller model, the iPhone SE. While rumors leading up to the event have pointed to new iPhone models and features, a new iPhone SE is unfortunately not expected.
The pint-sized iPhone made a comeback in 2020 and 2022, though its future is less certain. Apple hasn’t released the iPhone SE on a regular basis like it has with its standard iPhones, making it difficult to predict when a new model might arrive.
Apple hasn’t said whether it plans to release new iPhone SE models in the future, as it rarely talks about future products. But now that Apple has phased out the iPhone Mini, the iPhone SE has a major role to play as the more portable and affordable iPhone in Apple’s lineup.
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There’s still plenty of room for Apple to improve its pint-sized iPhone. While my colleague Patrick Holland praised the 2022 iPhone SE for its accessible price and familiar home button, he criticized its lack of night mode photos and dated design. Android rivals Samsung and Google have also improved their similarly priced budget phones in recent years, with the Google Pixel 8A and Samsung Galaxy A55 5G both offering features once reserved for premium devices, like high refresh rates and multiple cameras.
It’s impossible to know exactly what to expect from Apple until the company makes an announcement. Based on predictions from often-accurate TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, along with other leaks and Apple’s product launch history, here’s what to expect from Apple’s next budget iPhone.
When this story originally published, Apple did not respond to a request for comment about a future iPhone SE.
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iPhone SE 4 release date is a mystery
Perhaps the biggest question about the iPhone SE 4 is whether it will ever exist; Kuo’s predictions have gone back and forth over the years. In 2019, the analyst said that Apple was working on an iPhone SE with a full-screen design similar to the iPhone XR, if MacRumors reported at the time. Apple has since released two versions of the iPhone SE that retain the old iPhone 8-inspired design, leading to speculation over whether the model Kuo was referring to has been canceled or delayed.
Kuo’s 2023 predictions for the iPhone SE 4 are also mixed. He reported last January that an iPhone SE was originally planned for 2024 was cancelled but went on to say that project was revivedHe changed his prediction again in april 2023 to say that the model he was referring to earlier may be a prototype of Apple’s own 5G baseband chip. His previous comments also suggested that the iPhone SE 4 would include this 5G chip.
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A report from MacRumors indicated that Apple is indeed developing a new iPhone SE that will reportedly feature some dramatic upgrades. But it may not launch until 2025, according to a newer report from MacRumors.
The iPhone SE release schedule isn’t as routine as that of Apple’s flagship iPhones. Apple launched the first iPhone SE in March 2016, while the second-generation version arrived in April 2020. The latest, third-generation iPhone SE arrived in March 2022. A 2024 launch would fit into the schedule Apple has been following in recent years, though it’s hard to know for sure given the four-year gap between the first two models. But as we approach the end of the year, a 2025 launch seems more likely.
Rumors suggest a design similar to that of the iPhone 14 or XR
The iPhone XR (left) compared to the iPhone 8 Plus.
If the company is working on another iPhone SE, there’s a chance it could feature a 6.1-inch display, similar to Apple’s modern flagship phones. The current iPhone SE, for comparison, has a 4.7-inch display with thick bezels at the top and chin, just like the iPhone 8.
What’s less clear is which iPhone Apple will model the SE after, if the company is working on a new version. In addition to Kuo’s 2019 report, serial leaker Jon Prosser And analyst Ross YoungCEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, have also indicated that the next iPhone SE could have a larger display and a design similar to the iPhone XR.
An article from MacRumors reported in September 2023 that the iPhone SE 4 will have a modified version of the iPhone 14’s housing and reiterated that point again in November. Given that MacRumors’ reporting is more recent, it seems reasonable to expect the next iPhone SE to resemble the iPhone 14 in appearance.
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A reportedly leaked case design further suggests that the iPhone SE could feature a refreshed look to match Apple’s latest devices. The images were published by serial leaker Majin Bu on X and also on the Chinese social network Weibo before it made the rounds on tech blogs like MacRumors, TechRadar And NotebookCheck. The blog 91Mobile phoneswhich regularly posts smartphone leaks, also claims to have obtained leaked renders of the iPhone SE, which point to a design similar to that of the iPhone 14 with a 6.1-inch display.
Kuos Message from February 2023 also suggested that the iPhone SE 4 could feature an OLED display instead of an LCD, which would be a notable step forward for Apple’s lower-end phone. MacRumors similarly reports that the next iPhone SE will feature an OLED display, as does South Korean news site The Elec.
OLED displays typically exhibit deeper blacks and better contrast than LCD displays. Apple previously limited this display technology to the Pro series.
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The iPhone SE will likely have a larger battery
The next iPhone SE could also inherit the iPhone 14’s battery, according to MacRumors. If the blog’s previous reports about the iPhone SE 4 following in the iPhone 14’s footsteps are accurate, a larger battery would be needed to power the larger display. Apple doesn’t disclose the battery capacity of its phones, but says the iPhone 14 should get an extra five hours of video playback compared to the third-generation iPhone SE. Given the new chip and larger battery we’re expecting in the next iPhone SE, it sounds like Apple’s next affordable iPhone could see some pretty significant battery life improvements.
Touch ID or Face ID? We’ll have to wait and see
Fans of Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor may be out of luck. MacRumors reports that the next iPhone SE will have Face ID, like other modern iPhones, instead of Apple’s fingerprint sensor. That clashes with Kuo’s report of 2019which indicated that the next iPhone SE would have a smaller notch and no Face ID or Touch ID in the power button. That seems to be similar to Apple’s approach with its 10th-generation iPad, fifth-generation iPad Air and sixth-generation iPad Mini, which have Touch ID in the top button.
It could get the iPhone 15’s camera, USB-C and action button
Apple’s next affordable iPhone may share some similarities with the iPhone 15. Given that Apple has switched to USB-C for the iPhone 15 lineup to comply with new European regulations, it seems likely that the iPhone SE 4 will also ditch the Lightning connector. MacRumors also claims the iPhone SE 4 will feature USB-C.
The most surprising note in MacRumors’ story is that the iPhone SE 4 could get the Action button, a new key for programming shortcuts that’s currently exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. It would be an interesting choice, given that the Action button is currently one of the key differentiators that sets Apple’s new pair of premium iPhones apart from its entry-level models. (However, Bloomberg reports that this year’s standard iPhones will also get the Action button).
MacRumors is also reporting that a 48-megapixel single camera could be in store for the next iPhone SE. That would be another similarity to the iPhone 15, which also has a 48-megapixel main camera. If the report is accurate, the iPhone SE will only have a single camera on the back, unlike Apple’s higher-end phones. The regular iPhone 15 has wide-angle and ultra-wide cameras, while the Pro versions have wide-angle, ultra-wide, and telephoto cameras.
It will likely have a new processor, rumored Apple 5G modem
Apple’s latest mobile processor is the A16 Bionic, which is also in the iPhone 14 Pro series.
The iPhone SE typically shares the same processor as Apple’s most recent flagship iPhone. The 2022 iPhone SE, for example, has the same chip as the iPhone 13, which launched in September 2021. Given that Apple’s latest mobile chip is typically the iPhone SE’s most notable feature, it’s hard to imagine Apple deviating from that pattern.
Kuo also suggested the next iPhone SE could have an Apple-made 5G chip. Still, it’s hard to know if that prediction still holds true, as he later revised his estimate and said this device was likely an engineering prototype to test that 5G chip. MacRumors also reports that the iPhone SE 4 will have an Apple-made 5G modem.
Apple acquired Intel’s modem business in 2019, leading to speculation that it will eventually build its own 5G modems instead of relying on Qualcomm as a supplier. Making its own chips allows Apple to maintain more control over launch timing and product features, an approach that has been a key part of its strategy for its major product lines. While Apple has not disclosed its future plans, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon has said CNBC in March that he expects Apple to start using home-grown modems in 2024.
The fourth-generation iPhone SE could be one of the most exciting iPhone updates in years, simply because we don’t know exactly what to expect. If leaks, rumors, and reports are true, Apple’s budget iPhone could get a big leap forward in design, features, and screen size this year or 2025.
