Apple is said to launch a new iPhone SE this year. It will succeed the iPhone SE 3 from 2022, which featured dated iPhone 8 design elements from 2017. After seven years, Apple’s budget iPhone is finally set to receive a design overhaul—and it could happen sooner than expected. The iPhone SE 4 could be announced as soon as next week.
Up until the iPhone SE 3, Apple’s budget iPhone lineup has followed a release window of March or April. We were expecting the new model to drop next month, too. However, according to Bloomberg, Apple is now expected to announce the overhauled iPhone SE next week “in a bid to spur growth and entice consumers to switch from other brands.”
The iPhone SE 4 is unlikely to get a dedicated launch event. Instead, it is expected to be announced through a press release on Apple’s website. The company is also slated to introduce a pair of new Beats earbuds called PowerBeats Pro 2 on February 11, and the iPhone SE refresh might be announced around the same time.
iPhone SE 4: What To Expect?
The iPhone SE 4 is expected to mark a significant shift in the design language of Apple’s most affordable iPhone lineup. Currently, the iPhone SE 3 is the only iPhone with Touch ID and a 4.7-inch display with thick bezels. The new one is said to take design inspiration from modern flagships, to house Face ID and a USB-C port.
Unlike iPhone’s Dynamic Island, the iPhone SE 4 is rumored to sport an iPhone 14-like notch to house the Face ID camera and sensors. However, it is expected to be more advanced than 2023’s iPhone 15 in several ways.
First, the new iPhone SE 4 is likely to be the most affordable phone to feature Apple Intelligence. Second, it is expected to be more powerful than the iPhone 15, thanks to the A18 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM—the same configuration as the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. This should result in significantly better battery life and performance compared to the current-gen model.
The iPhone SE 4 is also said to feature a single 48MP camera. Going by speculations, it could use the same primary sensor as the iPhone 16. Additionally, it is rumored to be the first iPhone to debut with a new, in-house modem chip, marking Apple’s first step toward reducing its reliance on Qualcomm.
Overall, the new iPhone SE 4 is expected to resemble the iPhone 14 while delivering performance on par with the latest iPhone 16. It is said to bring modern features like a bigger display, Face ID, a USB-C port, a 48MP camera, and Apple’s A18 chipset. Pricing remains unknown, but based on previous models, the new iPhone SE is likely to launch below the $500 mark.
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