The iPhone SE 4 could launch this week – here's everything we know
It's been almost three years since Apple last launched a budget smartphone. While those with deeper pockets have been able to fork out upwards of £800 for the latest flagship iPhone 16, those looking for a more affordable option have been left waiting.
The iPhone SE 3 hit shelves in 2022, but while affordable, it always felt like a relic from the past. Boasting chunky bezels, a honking home button and a recycled design pinched straight from the iPhone 8 blueprint, it was already lagging behind Apple's more modern handsets – it's even more out of step with the times in 2025.
But that could soon change. Rumours suggest Apple is finally ready to give its budget phone a long-overdue refresh. If leaks are to be believed, the iPhone SE 4 could finally bring onboard a larger display, Face ID and a switch to USB-C.
Potentially launching this week, it might even get a new name. Here's everything we know so far about the upcoming handset.
Apple iPhone SE 4 release date
While nothing's official, last week, trusted Apple insider Mark Gurman claimed that the iPhone SE 4 would be releasing this week in an article for Bloomberg, doubling down on his prediction in his Power On newsletter over the weekend.
According to Gurman's sources, the iPhone SE4 could be announced via a press release, rather than through a flashy event – something that looks very likely given there's been no events scheduled in Apple's calendar. Apple usually drops new device press releases at around 2pm GMT – so we'll be keeping an eye out this week.
Apple iPhone SE 4 price: How much could the handset cost?
While the iPhone SE has always been Apple's cheapest iPhone – and we don't expect that to change with the SE 4 – it's likely to see a price increase. When it launched in 2022, the iPhone SE 3 started at £419 for the 64GB model, but with iPhone prices creeping up in recent years, the next iteration could follow suit.
For context, the iPhone 14 launched at £779 in 2022, while the iPhone 16 now costs £799 – a £20 increase. The iPhone 16 Pro has jumped by £50 compared to the iPhone 14 Pro, while the Pro Max has seen the steepest rise – £150 more expensive than its 2022 counterpart. If Apple applies similar pricing trends to the SE 4, we could see the budget iPhone creep closer to the £450-£500 mark.
That would put it more in line with the competition as well. Google's budget handset – the Pixel 8a cost £499 at launch, while the Samsung Galaxy A55 cost £439 at launch.
According to a Japanese carrier leak, the iPhone SE 4 could receive a $70 price hike in the US, taking it up to $499 – the same price as the Google Pixel 8a. If the UK gets the same or a similar price hike, then the iPhone SE 4 could cost £489 in the UK.
Apple iPhone SE 4 design, display and name
Rumours about the iPhone SE 4's design have been circulating since 2023, and much of it has suggested that the new budget smartphone will look a lot like the iPhone 14. At the end of 2023, sources told MacRumors that the next iPhone SE will have the body and display of the base iPhone 14, with a few distinct changes.
According to the publication, the iPhone SE 4 will feature a 6.1in OLED display and a near bezel-less design, similar to the iPhone 14. It will also ditch the home button (and Touch ID) in favour of Face ID. This would be a big upgrade for the smartphone, which has always rocked a cheaper LCD panel.
The phone could also have a USB-C port, like the iPhone 15 and beyond, as well as an action button on the side in place of the mute switch. It reportedly won't, however, have a Dynamic Island – instead sticking with the notch. Last month, a video of a dummy unit surfaced online, showing the rumoured iPhone SE 4 with a notch, action button, USB-C port and one rear camera.
Interestingly, several leakers have also claimed that the iPhone SE 4 will be renamed and called the iPhone 16E, suggesting that it could be a more budget version of the current line-up, potentially supporting Apple Intelligence and boasting the same chipset.
Apple iPhone SE 4 specs and features
That name change becomes more likely when you look at the potential specs of the upcoming handset. New iPhone SE handsets always come kitted out with the latest chipset from the previous year – that means it could get the iPhone 16's powerful A18 chipset, letting it take advantage of Apple Intelligence features – something that Mark Gurman says will come to the iPhone SE 4.
Last year, Gurman also claimed that the iPhone SE 4 will be the first iPhone to use a 5G modem manufactured entirely by Apple instead of one from Qualcomm. Gurman says this modem will be more efficient, use less power and provide better support for network connections.
Apple iPhone SE 4 camera
While the upcoming iPhone SE 4 is rumoured to feature a significant camera upgrade over the iPhone SE 3, it's still expected to stick with the single-camera system on the rear.
One report suggests it will be equipped with a single 48MP rear camera, which is the same as the main camera on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16. The iPhone SE 3 only has a 12MP rear camera.
That's the same for the front-facing camera, which will reportedly be upgraded from a 7MP selfie camera to a 12MP lens.
Of course, you should take everything here with a pinch of salt – until we hear it from Apple itself, nothing is official, but we're very intrigued indeed.
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