iPhone SE 4: Everything you need to know about Apple’s next budget phone

Apple last updated its entry-level iPhone in March 2022, adding a few nips and tucks here and there along with a quiet price increase. It kept the “iPhone 8” design with its Home button and small form factor that appeals to some, but the aging design and minimal upgrades meant the new iPhone SE was coolly received by the masses.

The iPhone SE is in desperate need of a big upgrade, and if you are wondering “will there be new iPhone SE?” it looks like a new iPhone SE – maybe with a brand new name – will arrive in the spring of 2025.

Updated Feb 5, 2025: Contrary to a report that stated that the iPhone SE would have a Dynamic Island instead of a notch, another leaker suggests it will have a notch after all. Plus will the tariffs mean the cheapest iPhone won’t be as cheap?

New iPhone SE release date: When is the new iPhone SE coming out?

It looks like a release is imminent, with all the rumors and leaks indicating a launch in March or April 2025.

This release date isn’t a surprise. Apple’s iPhone SE doesn’t follow the same predictable annual release schedule as the standard iPhone line, and it doesn’t tend to have its release party in September like that handset. There tend to be much longer intervals between updates too. But one thing seems sure: The iPhone SE tends to be updated in March or April. Here’s when the three models released so far made their debut:

Dominik Tomaszewski

What will the new iPhone SE be called? SE 4 or iPhone 16E?

While we assumed Apple would continue the iPhone SE for another generation, a rumor in January 2025 claims that Apple will introduce a new name: iPhone 16E. That name would align it with the current generation and also could indicate an annual upgrade cycle. It may also mean that the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 are removed from the line up, or that the price of the iPhone 16E is more than the iPhone 15.

New iPhone SE price: How much will the iPhone SE 4 cost?

While the iPhone SE is Apple’s cheapest iPhones, it is possible we could see pricing increase with the arrival of the new model.

Pricing has steadily increased across the three existing generations, no doubt influenced by the global cost of components and distribution (and no doubt additional costs from importing components from China and elsewhere will drive up costs for consumers).

When the iPhone SE (3rd generation) was released, Apple added a chunk onto the cost, making the current model somewhat less desirable than previous iterations, especially when you factor in the measly amount of storage that comes with the baseline model.

At launch the prices were even higher in the U.K. but, in September 2023, after adjusting for inflation, Apple dropped the U.K. price back to match the U.S. price. Apple did the same thing for prices in euros in September 2024.

With the current economic uncertainties, price hikes seem likely.

Here’s how they line up:

iPhone SE (3rd gen, 2022):

64GB: $429/£429 (was £449 at launch)
128GB: $479/£479 (was £499 at launch)
256GB: $579/£579 (was £609 at launch)

iPhone SE (2nd gen, 2020):

64GB: $399/£419
128GB: $449/£469
256GB: $549/£569

iPhone SE (1st gen, 2016):

32GB: $399/£379
128GB: $499/£449

Higher component pricing and the effect of higher import duties is likely to lead to higher prices for consumers wishing to purchase the new iPhone SE.

However, the iPhone SE needs to be inexpensive relative to other iPhones, and we’d be surprised to see the price increase too much with the next generation, even with several rumored upgrades. Some rumors claim the 4th-gen iPhone SE could start at $499, which while more than the current price, would still be less expensive than any other new iPhone Apple sells.

However, with Apple tending to have a $100 jump between handsets, with the iPhone 16 starting at $799 and the iPhone 15 at $699. If the iPhone SE replaces the iPhone 14 in the line up, it could mean a $599 starting price. That’s assuming that the new iPhone SE doesn’t replace the iPhone 15 at a $699 starting price.

Hopefully Apple won’t push up the price that much. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims the next model is intended to help Apple compete with low-end Android phones in China, so a low price would be necessary to achieve this plan.

New iPhone SE design: What will the new iPhone SE look like?

Will the iPhone SE get a long-overdue design revamp? Rumors suggest that we could see a move away from the iPhone 8 chassis to something more like modern iPhones, with Face ID and a full-screen display.

That could be good or bad news, depending on your viewpoint. Some people prefer the Home button as a means to interact with their iPhone, for some older people and those who are less dexterous it is helpful to have a physical button.

Rumors have long claimed the iPhone SE 4 will be based on the iPhone 14, the last iPhone to have a notch. However, there are suggestions that the new iPhone SE could take it’s design lead from the iPhone 15 and feature a Dynamic Island.

Touch ID or Face ID?

It looks very likely that the new iPhone SE will use Face ID. That means Touch ID, which has been a staple of the SE line since its debut, will go away.

A notch or not?

No Home button is likely to mean a notch (where the Face ID gubbins resides), but it could also mean a Dynamic Island.

A report on January 21, 2025 by leaker Evan Blass states that the new iPhone SE will have a Dynamic Island and not a notch. Apple first introduced the notch with the iPhone 14 Pro followed by the iPhone 15 a year later.

But, a later X post on January 29, 2025, this time from Ross Young, a displays analyst, stated “Notch like iPhone 14 is correct.” Young has a very strong track record for display rumors as he relies on supply chain reports rather than leaks. Read: The new iPhone SE will have a notch after all.

A rumor back in July 2024 suggested Apple will change course with the iPhone SE 4 and instead use the same body as the iPhone 16, making it a true budget version of the latest iPhone lineup.

New iPhone SE camera: One of two?

One of the defining features of the iPhone SE is a single camera on the back. This is probably not going to change, although if the new iPhone SE does adopt the chassis of an iPhone 14 or 16 it is possible. Rumors suggest a single 48 megapixel camera, which would at least give the iPhone SE 4 a good 2x “optical zoom” mode using the center 12MP of the sensor, as the iPhone 16 does.

If Apple chooses to use the chassis of the iPhone 16 rather than the iPhone 14 that could allow the best alignment of two camera lenses for talking videos for the Vision Pro. But that would mean that the iPhone SE would have two cameras on the back, rather than just one, as it does currently. It would also make it hard to differentiate between models, pushing some users who might otherwise consider the iPhone 16 to buy the iPhone SE 4 at a lower price.

We got our first look at what a “dummy model” for the new iPhone SE in January from leaker Sonny Dickson, and it definitely looks like an iPhone 14 with a single rear camera.

Sonny Dickson/X

iPhone SE 4 specs: Will Apple Intelligence be supported?

The iPhones launched in 2024 were all about Apple Intelligence AI features, which first arrived with iOS 18.1 and will continue to get new features in iOS 18 updates. It is therefore likely that when the new iPhone SE (or iPhone 16E) launches, it will support Apple Intelligence.

In fact, one of the biggest new features, a massive expansion of Siri capabilities, is due for release in iOS 18.4 around the same time the iPhone SE 4 is expected to be released.

Processor & RAM

To run Apple Intelligence an iPhone requires an A17 Pro or A18 chip and 8GB of RAM. There is some expectation that the iPhone SE 4 could meet these requirements. It is common for the iPhone SE to have the same processor as the latest non-Pro iPhone but skimp on other features to differentiate itself, so we expect the iPhone SE 4 to have the A18 processor.

Modem

The iPhone SE 4 might be the first iPhone to feature Apple’s own 5G modems (codenamed Sinope). It will offers sub-6 support but no mmWave, and lower performance than Qualcomm’s best 5G modems but better power efficiency.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Apple is also about to switch over to its own Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, codenamed Proxima. The rumors say this chip will actually appear first in a refreshed HomePod mini and Apple TV, but there’s a chance it could be used in the iPhone SE 4.

Storage

With the iPhone 13 range moving to a baseline of 128GB (and the 14-series handsets following suit), it’s hoped that the new iPhone SE might do likewise, as 64GB isn’t enough for most users anymore, especially since system files take up more than 10GB (and you can add a multi-gigabyte Apple Intelligence model to that).

However, there have been reports that iPhone users are opting to use iCloud, rather than spending more on an iPhone with more storage. So it may still be the case that 64GB is adequate. And by keeping the 64GB version Apple may still be able to offer an iPhone SE for $499. See: Study: Fewer iPhone users are springing for storage upgrades.

There are no good rumors one way or the other about the minimum storage for the iPhone SE 4. However, since Apple has upped the entry-level storage in the iPad mini from 64GB to 128GB it may follow suit with the iPhone SE 4 (we hope so).

USB-C

We expect the iPhone SE 4 to feature a USB-C port for charging, as all new iPhones do, and IP68 water resistance. The current SE is one of the last remaining Apple devices to still have a Lightning port. Apple has been forced to stop selling the iPhone SE and 14 and 14 Plus in the EU because of the use of the Lightning port, so it would be illogical if it had anything other than USB-C.

Action Button

An alleged leak of an iPhone SE 4 case shows a cutout for the mute switch rather than an Action Button, and of course there will be no Camera Control button—if the iPhone SE 4 had these features there would be little reason for anyone to buy an iPhone 16!

iPhone history

The iPhone 16 range and the iPhone SE 3 are the current-generation models available from Apple. In addition to this SE 4 model we’re also expecting iPhone 17 to launch in 2025. Below you can find links below to our reviews of all iPhone models, including the latest generation. Learn more about all the new Apple products coming this year and when is the next Apple event. You might also want to check out our advice on when is the best time to buy a new iPhone, our iPhone buying guide, and our comparison of every iPhone that is available to buy today.