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There's only one iPhone that truly falls into the budget category: the iPhone SE.
While it may be Apple's cheapest phone, some people love the iPhone SE for other reasons. It's a practical, compact, no-nonsense phone.
The next iPhone SE, which we'll call iPhone SE 4 (it's the fourth generation, but it's worth noting that Apple just calls each generation "iPhone SE"), is rumored to be a massive update compared to previous generation (read our review here). But there's some bad news as well. Its launch date is very unclear, and we might not even get one until 2025. Here's everything we know so far.
iPhone SE 4 release date
Right now, there's very little information about a potential release date for the iPhone SE 4. Analyst Jeff Pu claims it will launch in 2025. And well-known Apple analyst and expert Ming-Chi Kuo said in February that Apple is planning to launch the device in the first half of 2024.
Apple released the first iPhone SE in 2016, following up with upgraded versions in 2020 and 2022. This might indicate that the company switched to a two-year launch schedule for its budget iPhone, meaning the next one could come in 2024.
If the iPhone SE 4 does come in 2025, one culprit for the delayed launch could be the 5G modem inside. Pu claims that the new phone will come with an Apple-designed 5G modem, switching out the Qualcomm modem that's in iPhone SE 3.
iPhone SE 4 design
This is a big one. The current version of the iPhone SE looks nothing like modern iPhones, with massive bezels on top and bottom, and a comparably tiny, 4.7-inch display.
Now, several reports point to new iPhone SE 4 being basically a slightly modified iPhone 14, with a 6.1-inch display and a notch on top. This might be a big incentive for some prospective buyers, as it would give the iPhone SE a modern look, with a ton more screen real estate.
The iPhone SE 4 is also likely to get a USB-C port, in line with other new iPhones, following the European Union's mandate that all phone makers switch to the same charging standard.
Apple iPhone 14's color palette is richer than that of the 3rd-gen iPhone SE. Perhaps the new version of iPhone SE gets some of these colors. Credit: AppleA more recent rumor that's a bit harder to believe claims that the iPhone SE 4 will also get an Action Button, replacing the mute switch on the phone's side. Given that only the iPhone 15 Pro models got that particular feature, it's difficult (but not impossible) to imagine the iPhone SE 4 getting it (at least not in early 2024).
It's worth mentioning the colors, too. The current-generation iPhone SE comes in just three colors: Starlight, Midnight, and PRODUCT(RED). The iPhone 14 is available in six colors: Starlight, Midnight, PRODUCT(RED), Blue, Purple, and Yellow; perhaps the iPhone SE 4 will inherit some of those.
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iPhone SE 4 cameras
This is a big unknown at this point (we'll update this post as we hear more, so stay tuned). One report claims that the iPhone SE 4 will have a single camera and flash on the back, similar to the current-generation iPhone SE. This camera would likely be improved, but there are no details on how much at this point.
Rumors say that the new iPhone SE will once again have a single rear camera. Credit: AppleHowever, the same report says that Apple has been working on several different designs for the iPhone SE 4's cameras, so it's unclear what the final decision will be (and perhaps it hasn't been made yet).
iPhone SE 4 specs
Besides the aforementioned 5G modem, USB-C, and Action Button, the new iPhone SE 4 is rumored to come with a new 6.1-inch, OLED display with Face ID authentication nestled in the phone's notch on top of the display.
There isn't much info on the iPhone SE 4's chip, but if the phone really ends up being an overhaul of the iPhone 14, it's reasonable to expect it to come with Apple's A15 Bionic chip.
We’ll periodically update this rumor hub as new iPhone 16 leaks trickle in, so be sure to bookmark this page.