The iPhone SE series has long been a great value compromise for anyone wanting a brand-new iPhone on a mid-range budget.
The series combines Apple’s custom-designed chipsets and the latest iOS and app support with slightly lower specs to open the door to the Apple ecosystem without leaving you £800+ short.
The iPhone SE first stepped onto the scene in 2016 and was updated four years later with the iPhone SE 2 in 2020. Then, in 2022, Apple unveiled the iPhone SE 3, meaning we could be due the iPhone SE 4 anytime now.
Keep reading to discover everything we know about the iPhone SE 4, including what it is, what it’ll look like, what specs it’ll have and how much you can expect it to cost.
We’d also recommend checking out our guide to the best iPhone deals available right now if you’re keen to upgrade today.
Latest update: Updated on 30 October 2024 with rumors about the potential release of the iPhone SE 4, as well as more details on its rumored specs.
iPhone SE 4: At a glance
- The iPhone SE 4 is expected to arrive in March 2025
- The phone could see a small price hike
- It might resemble the iPhone 13 crossed with the iPhone XR
- The display could be bigger and use an OLED panel for the first time
- Face ID is expected to replace Touch ID
- USB-C will likely replace Lightning
- The SE 4 is expected to include a single 48-megapixel camera
- The phone is rumoured to feature any chipset from the A16 to the A18
iPhone SE 4 rumored release date & pricing
Apple’s iPhone SE series is known for its reasonable prices, with the iPhone SE 3 being our favourite affordable iPhone at the moment. The iPhone SE 2 and 3 were both priced at £419 in the UK at launch, with the phone seeing a minor price hike from $399 to $429 in the US.
We would expect it to remain in a similar price range so as not to be undercut by the iPhone 16 when it launches. However, one (now deleted) tweet by Revegnus on X has suggested that the phone could see a 10% price hike to $469 in the US, while another claim from @JukanIosreve suggests that the new model could start at as much as $499 or even $549 – though neither claim has been verified just yet.
As far as a release date goes, early 2025 is looking most likely. One leak by tipster Ice Universe on the Chinese social media site Weibo points toward March to May 2025 specifically, while the most recent predictions place the release squarely in March 2025. Given Apple’s previous March releases and the fact the iPhone SE 3 launched in March 2022, this makes a lot of sense.
iPhone SE 4 design and screen rumors
With previous iPhone SE models, Apple has made use of older designs. The iPhone SE (2016) appeared identical to the iPhone 5 (2012), while the iPhone SE 2 (2020) and the iPhone SE 3 (2022) looked more like the iPhone 6 (2014).
The iPhone SE 4 is expected to receive a much-needed design update this time around, dropping the Touch ID/home button in favour of Face ID and extending the display to minimise the bezels in line with the iPhone X (2017) onwards.
The aforementioned Ice Universe leak points to Apple increasing the size of the display from 4.7 inches to 6.06 inches, again bringing the screen close in line with Apple’s recent releases, including last year’s 6.1-inch iPhone 15. Whether this is good or bad news will depend on whether you prefer a more spacious screen or a more compact phone that slips easily into your pocket. Apple discontinued its Mini line after the iPhone 13 Mini, which could make the iPhone SE 3 the last truly small iPhone.
The leak also states that the iPhone SE 4 will be the first OLED iPhone in the SE series, meaning we can expect a major display upgrade with deeper blacks, better contrast and perhaps even improved battery life.
No surprises, the phone will reportedly be built from aluminium the same as the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, as opposed to the titanium iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. The iPhone SE 4 is also expected to include the same USB-C charging port that made its Apple debut across the iPhone 15 range as opposed to the previous Lightning port.
Another rumour by freelance coder Nguyen Phi Hung (@negativeonehero) on X gets even more specific about the design. According to the thread, the iPhone SE 4 will measure 148.5 x 71.2 x 7.8mm and weigh 166g.
The tweet states that the front of the phone will resemble 2021’s iPhone 13, while the rear will look more like 2018’s iPhone XR with its single camera module. The display will reportedly be a 6.1-inch LTPS OLED screen with a standard 60Hz refresh rate and the 3279 mAh battery will support 20W wired charging and 12W MagSafe charging.
iPhone SE 4 camera rumors
@negativeonehero’s tweet also provides some insight into the rear camera.
According to the tipster, the phone will be kitted with a Sony IMX503 1/2.55-inch, f/1.8 sensor with 1080p Cinematic Mode support. The camera will also feature Apple’s Deep Fusion technology, Smart HDR, a portrait mode and AI photography features, though there will not be a night mode onboard. This was a major omission we noted on the iPhone SE 3, so we’ll be disappointed if the feature remains absent on the SE 4.
The Ice Universe leak, meanwhile, points toward a single 48-megapixel rear camera, which would be a major upgrade compared to the 12-megapixel shooter in the current iPhone SE model. Separate rumors also point towards a single 48MP sensor on the rear, lending more weight to the possibility.
As far as the front camera goes, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to feature the same notch design that debuted on the iPhone XR and lasted through to the iPhone 14 before the Dynamic Island came to the standard iPhone in 2023.
We don’t know much about the hardware here, aside from the rumor that the camera will now support Face ID following the departure of Touch ID on the SE 4.
iPhone SE 4 performance and software rumors
When it comes to performance, the iPhone SE 2 (2020) was powered by the same A13 Bionic chipset found in the iPhone 11 (2019), while the iPhone SE 3 (2022) packed the same A15 Bionic present across the iPhone 13 series (2021).
If Apple is to continue to follow this pattern, we’d expect the iPhone SE 4 to be powered by the iPhone 15’s A16 Bionic or, at a stretch, the A17 Pro chipset found in the iPhone 15 Pro.
The @negativeonehero thread points toward the Apple A16 Bionic with the Snapdragon X70 modem and Apple U1 UWB chip. This would apparently be paired with 6GB of RAM and 128GB/512GB of storage.
Ice Universe, meanwhile, believes that the iPhone SE 4 will launch in 2025 with the A18 chip rumoured to appear in the iPhone 16 later this year. This would come with 6GB/8GB of RAM.
The A18 rumor was backed up by notable X leaker @JukanIosreve, claiming that the iPhone SE 4 will have the same A18 chipset and even the same 8GB of RAM as the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, representing a massive step up from the 4GB currently found in Apple’s budget iPhone. If true, it could suggest that the new iPhone SE 4 will also support Apple Intelligence, though this is yet to be confirmed.
Either way, we’d expect the iPhone SE 4 to be kitted with a fairly recent chip we’ve already seen on a prior release.
Battery life is also expected to improve with the new model, with an alleged 3,279mAh cell within the iPhone SE 4 that’s quite a step up from the 2,018mAh cell within the current SE.
Trusted Take: What we think the iPhone SE 4 needs
When it came to the iPhone SE 3, some of our biggest complaints centered around a tired design and small screen. Thankfully, it seems Apple heard our prayers and is rumoured to be bringing a fresh design (at least for the SE series…) and a more spacious display no longer weighed down by chunky bezels and an outdated home button.
As long as Apple keeps up its trend of packing the SE with a recent chipset and decent camera with no major price hikes, the incoming design update should make the SE 4 an easy upgrade over the SE 3 that came before it.
It’s disappointing to hear there still might not be a night mode on the camera and some are bound to be unhappy with the increased size of the smartphone. However, if your priority is picking up a fantastic value iPhone, the SE 4 sounds set to be a winner.
