Apple is developing an updated version of the low-cost iPhone SE, the device is expected to include some significant changes in line with the flagship iPhone lineup, but information about the iPhone SE4 is mixed and vague. Everything will be revealed.
This guide highlights the rumors we’ve heard about the iPhone SE 4 so far, and what to expect if the iPhone SE 4 is in the works.
Design
The current third-generation iPhone SE is Apple’s smallest device, modeled after the iPhone 8. It measures 4.7 inches and is the only iPhone with thick bezels and a Touch ID home button. This is rumored to change with the next iPhone SE update, with rumors suggesting that Apple is planning a new design. The fourth-generation iPhone SE will feature an all-display design similar to Apple’s flagship iPhone lineup, with Apple removing the ‘Touch ID’ home button in favor of Face ID. The display is said to measure 6.06 inches, so it will be larger than the current iPhone SE.
The next iPhone SE is expected to be similar to the iPhone 14, with Face ID biometric authentication instead of the ‘Touch ID’ home button. With the iPhone 15 lineup, Apple switched to USB-C instead of Lightning, and the iPhone SE 4 is also expected to have a USB-C port. While the iPhone 14 will have a dual-lens camera, the iPhone SE 4 will have a single-lens camera to keep costs low, but it will likely have the same 48-megapixel main lens used on the iPhone 15.
While the iPhone SE 4 design is rumoured to be similar to the iPhone 14, Apple is expected to use the same rear chassis manufacturing process for the SE 4 as it did for the iPhone 16.
Apple may also add a multi-functional action button to the iPhone SE by replacing the mute switch. The action button first arrived on the iPhone 15 Pro models, but by the time the iPhone SE 4 is about to launch, it’s a feature available on all of Apple’s flagship devices.
Display Size
If the rumoured iPhone SE is designed like the iPhone 14, it will feature a 6.1-inch display.
Display Material
The iPhone SE is the last remaining iPhone with an LCD display, and the other iPhones in Apple’s lineup are equipped with OLED. Apple has used OLED technology for all of its flagship iPhones since the iPhone 12, and it seems likely that the next-generation iPhone SE will also use OLED technology.
Notch
Along with the all-display design, Apple is expected to adopt a notch for the iPhone SE, a design that Apple has used for flagship iPhones since 2017’s iPhone XR.
A notch display will give Apple a place to put the front-facing camera, but given the price of the hardware it is still unclear whether the iPhone SE will support Face ID and the TrueDepth camera system. Apple has switched to the dynamic island for its flagship iPhone lineup, so the old notch design will set the iPhone SE apart.
One specific rumor has suggested the next iPhone SE will have a dynamic island instead of a notch, but this isn’t in line with other rumors that point to an iPhone 14-style design.
Camera
The iPhone SE 4 is expected to include a single-lens rear camera, but it is said to be upgraded to a 48-megapixel camera. The current iPhone SE has a 12-megapixel camera.
Renders
CAD renders claim the iPhone SE confirms rumours of an iPhone 14-style design. The renders show the device has a 6.1-inch display with a standard ‘Face ID’ notch, and the chassis has flat edges and a USB-C port. There’s a single lens camera at the back.
A-Series Chip
The current iPhone SE has the same A15 chip as the iPhone 13 models, so it’s possible the iPhone SE will get the previous-generation chip when it launches, but more likely it will get the A18 chip that Apple says can actually handle… intelligence.
RAM
The next-generation iPhone SE is expected to have 8GB of RAM, which is the minimum requirement for Apple intelligence.
5G and Modem
The iPhone SE 4 is the first device with an Apple-designed 5G chip. Apple has been working on its own modem chip for years in an effort to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm.
Battery
The iPhone SE 4 will use the same 3279 mAh battery as the iPhone 14, so its battery life should be similar to that device.
Cost
Although the iPhone SE 4 has been upgraded from ‘Touch ID’ to ‘Face ID’, the new device is expected to remain cheaper than other models. It may start at $429, the same price as the current iPhone SE, or increase by about 10 percent. Apple plans to keep the price below $500, even if the price increases slightly.
Release Date
Rumors suggest we could see the iPhone SE 4 in 2025, with no updates to the iPhone SE lineup expected in 2024. The latest rumors suggest the production of the ‘iPhone SE’ will begin in October, possibly with a release planned for early 2025.
