Apple may be developing an updated version of the low-cost iPhone SE, with the device slated to include some major changes to bring it in line with the flagship iPhone lineup, but information about the iPhone SE 4 is mixed and it is unclear if it will come out at all.
This guide highlights the rumors that we've heard about the iPhone SE 4 so far, and this is what can be expected if an 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 in at 4.7 inches, and it is the only iPhone that includes thick bezels and a Touch ID Home button. That's rumored to be changing with the next iPhone SE update, with rumors indicating that Apple has a new design planned. The fourth-generation iPhone SE will feature an all-display design like Apple's flagship iPhone lineup, with Apple eliminating the Touch ID Home button in favor of Face ID. The display is said to measure in at 6.06 inches, so it will be significantly larger than the current iPhone SE.
The next iPhone SE is expected to look similar to the iPhone 14, featuring a notch with Face ID biometric authentication instead of a Touch ID Home button. With the iPhone 15 lineup, Apple transitioned to USB-C instead of Lightning, and the iPhone SE 4 is also expected to include a USB-C port. While the iPhone 14 has a dual-lens camera, the iPhone SE 4 will include a single-lens camera to keep costs down, but it could have the 48-megapixel Main lens used in the iPhone 15.
Though rumors have suggested that the iPhone SE 4 will have a design modeled after the iPhone 14, Apple is expected to use the same rear chassis manufacturing process for the SE 4 that it used for the iPhone 16.
Apple may also add a multi-function Action button to the iPhone SE, replacing the mute switch. An Action button first came to the iPhone 15 Pro models, but by the time the iPhone SE 4 is ready to launch, it is a feature that will be available on all of Apple's flagship devices.
Display Size
If the iPhone SE is modeled after the iPhone 14 as rumored, then it will include a 6.1-inch display.
Display Material
The iPhone SE is the last remaining iPhone that has an LCD display, and other iPhones in Apple's lineup are equipped with OLED. Apple has used all OLED technology for flagship iPhones since the iPhone 12, in fact, and it looks like the next-generation iPhone SE will also use OLED technology.
Notch
With an all-display design, Apple is expected to adopt a notch for the iPhone SE, which is the design that Apple has used for flagship iPhones since the 2017 iPhone XR.
A notched display will give Apple a place to put the front-facing camera, but it is not yet clear if the iPhone SE will support Face ID and the TrueDepth camera system given the cost of the hardware. Apple has transitioned to the Dynamic Island for the flagship iPhone lineup, so the older notch design will set the iPhone SE apart.
One sketchy rumor has suggested the next iPhone SE will feature a Dynamic Island instead of a notch, but that is not in line with other rumors that have indicated an iPhone 14-style design.
Camera
The iPhone SE 4 is expected to include a single-lens rear camera, but it will reportedly be upgraded to a 48-megapixel camera. The current iPhone SE has a 12-megapixel camera.
Renders
CAD renders said to feature the iPhone SE confirm rumors of an iPhone 14-style design. The device in the renders features a 6.1-inch display with a standard Face ID notch, plus the chassis has flat edges and a USB-C port. There is a single-lens camera at the back.
A-Series Chip
The current iPhone SE is equipped with the same A15 chip that was in the iPhone 13 models, so the iPhone SE could get a prior-generation chip when it launches.
5G and Modem
The iPhone SE 4 will be the first device that is equipped with an Apple-designed 5G chip. Apple has been working on its own modem chip for several years in an effort to lessen its reliance on Qualcomm.
Battery
The iPhone SE 4 will use the same 3279 mAh battery as the iPhone 14, so it should have similar battery life to that device.
Cost
Though the iPhone SE 4 will be upgraded from Touch ID to Face ID, the new device is expected to continue to have a lower price tag than other models. It could be priced starting at $429, the same as the current iPhone SE, or it could see an increase of around 10 percent. Apple plans to keep the pricing below $500, even if the price does go up slightly.
Release Date
Rumors right now suggest that we could see the iPhone SE 4 in 2025, with no refresh to the iPhone SE lineup expected in 2024. Recent rumors suggest that production on the iPhone SE could begin as soon as October, with a launch possibly planned for early 2025.
