iPhone SE 4: latest news, rumors and what we want to see

In all likelihood, the iPhone SE 4 is a long way off. After all, the iPhone SE 3 – also known as the iPhone SE (2022) – only launched as recently as March 2022, and new models in Apple’s affordable iPhone line don’t typically receive yearly releases.

That said, having used the latest iPhone SE extensively, we have a very good idea of what we want from the iPhone SE 4. Despite the current model featuring on our list of the best iPhones, the iPhone SE (2022) is far from perfect, so we’re holding out hope for an upgrade. With that in mind, we’ve created a wishlist of features what we want to see included on the next version, which you’ll find below. 

Before that, though, we’ve you’ll find information on the phone’s possible release date and price, along with any other news and rumors. Right now, we don’t know much – though we have heard a few things – but as information rolls in, we’ll be updating this article, so check back soon.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The next affordable iPhone
• When is it out? Likely 2025
• How much will it cost? Expect a mid-range price

iPhone SE 4 release date and price

It’s hard to say when the iPhone SE 4 will land since, unlike most phones, we don’t get a new one every year. The iPhone SE 3 landed in March 2022, but the iPhone SE 2 was unveiled in April 2020, and the original model landed in March 2016.

So, a March or April launch is likely, but the actual year we’ll see it is more up in the air. Interestingly, seasoned Apple analysts reported in 2022 that Apple had abandoned plans to release a fourth-generation iPhone SE, owing to doubts over the series’ popularity and profitability. 

Then, two months later, the same analysts counterclaimed (opens in new tab) that Apple had restarted development on the iPhone SE 4, albeit with the company eyeing a much later release date than initially intended for the pint-sized device.  

Then, in April 2023, we were given a better idea of when that release date might be, with reliable leaker Jeff Pu predicting that Apple will release the iPhone SE 4 in 2025. As such, it stands to reason that we could see the phone released sometime in the spring of 2025 (that’s between March and May, for our Australian readers). 

As for the price, there’s no news on that front, but we’d expect it to be similar to the iPhone SE 2022, which starts at $429 / £419 / AU$719. That said, rumors point to some significant improvements, which could mean the price will rise a bit.

iPhone SE 4 news and rumors

The iPhone SE 4 could mark a big change for the line. Ross Young (a leaker) (opens in new tab) previously claimed that the screen will be 5.7-6.1 inches, which would be a big jump up from the current model’s 4.7-inch display.  

Since then, they’ve got more specific, saying that a 6.1-inch screen will probably be used, and the iPhone SE 4 will have a notch rather than the current design’s big bezels. That could mean Face ID may be added, too, though it’s also possible that Apple could stick with Touch ID and house the sensor in a side button instead of on the front.

We’ve now seen unofficial renders emerge that show the supposed design of the iPhone SE 4, and they largely match the details above – as well as looking basically identical to the iPhone XR. You can see some of these images below.

Image 1 of 3

Along with these renders, the source claims the iPhone SE 4 will have a 6.1-inch screen and come in Midnight (black), Starlight (white), and Product RED shades.

An earlier leak from the same source (opens in new tab) suggested the iPhone SE 4 might have a punch-hole rather than a notch, but while the iPhone 14 Pro has this change, we’d be surprised if the next SE did.

Young also previously suggested that the most likely size was 5.7 inches (opens in new tab), so they haven’t been very consistent with their iPhone SE 4 leaks. As such we’d take all of these claims with a pinch of salt.

Elsewhere, Ming-Chi Kuo (an analyst with a great track record for Apple information) has also said – via a note seen by MacRumors (opens in new tab) – to expect a larger screen, and that the iPhone SE 4 will have 4GB of RAM. 

Kuo has also predicted that the upcoming device will inherit the OLED display used by the iPhone 14, where Young has been touting an LCD display. For our money, the former screen option is more likely – especially if the phone isn’t arriving until 2025.  

As for the phone’s connectivity, another Apple leaker, Jeff Pu, reports that Apple is developing a custom-designed 5G modem that will be manufactured – using a 4nm process – by the company’s chipmaking partner, TSMC. It’s not yet clear whether this 5G chip will offer any performance or power efficiency improvements over rival modems produced by the likes of Qualcomm, but it’s safe to assume that the iPhone SE 4 will offer top-of-the-range network connectivity. 

iPhone SE 4 wishlist

We don’t know much for sure about the iPhone SE 4 just yet, but we know what we want from it. Below, we’ve rounded up a few of our biggest hopes:

1. A new design

The design of the iPhone SE (2022) is more than old – it’s ancient, with even the cheapest of cheap phones showing it up in many ways.

So, we really, really want to see a design refresh for the iPhone SE 4. This shouldn’t be hard for Apple – it has plenty of phones with more modern designs that it can copy. The good news is that signs suggest Apple might actually do this.

2. More starting storage

The iPhone SE 3 has a starting capacity of just 64GB, which, in 2023, is frankly not enough, especially given its mid-range price and lack of a microSD card slot.

So, for the iPhone SE 4, we want to see 128GB as the starting size – and for that to happen without a price jump.

3. A lower price

Speaking of prices, the iPhone SE (2022) already costs more than the iPhone SE (2020), so not only is a price hike an unwanted prospect, but we ideally want a lower starting cost, so that this truly is an affordable iPhone again.

Given rumors of a larger screen and possibly a new design, this probably won’t happen, but we live in hope.

4. A larger display

The iPhone SE 3 is absolutely tiny with its 4.7-inch screen, and arguably that’s too small even for most fans of compact phones, so we’d like to see the iPhone SE 4 increase in size.

The good news is that rumors point to a 5.7-6.1-inch screen, which would be a notable increase, while still just about being compact, especially if the smaller of those sizes is used. In fact, paired with a new design and smaller bezels, the overall footprint needn’t be much bigger.

5. More camera lenses

The iPhone SE 3 has just one camera lens on the back, which even for a mid-range phone isn’t enough. Sure, it’s a quality camera, but it’s also limited, giving you just a wide field of view. So, for the iPhone SE 4 we want a second lens added, offering either ultra-wide or telephoto functionality.

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