Apple iPhone SE 4: What we know

While there’s often a lot of excitement about Apple’s flagship iPhones — this year, the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro — those are unaffordable for a lot of shoppers. Even the people who do have the money don’t always need the best possible specs. Along those lines, Apple is finally preparing a fourth-generation iPhone SE. Here’s what we know about the device so far, including its release date, projected price, and key design features.

iPhone SE 4 release date and price

Soon, but not that soon

• Likely spring 2025 launch
• Price between $429 and $499

Release date rumors from The Information suggest that the SE 4 will ship in spring 2025. That would be consistent with the timeframes for every previous SE, distancing them from the launches of flagship iPhones. Specifically we’re expecting Apple to announce the device in March or April, possibly via a press release rather than a live event unless the company has other products it wants to debut at the same time.

As for pricing, that remains uncertain. A Revegnus leak on X — now deleted — claimed that the SE 4 will match the current model’s $429 US, or at most slot in about 10% higher. Apple is supposedly invested in keeping the phone under $500, which makes sense given that the iPhone 14 is now $599. Various analysts have projected a cost between $459 and $499.

Design

A fresh look, finally

• Face ID
• No home button
• 6.1-inch OLED screen
• Possible Action button
• USB-C

This is the biggest news with the iPhone SE 4. Even the SE 3 is modeled after 2017’s iPhone 8, making it look and feel antiquated, mostly due to a 4.7-inch LCD with thick bezels and a home button. It’s also the only iPhone that still uses Touch ID instead of Face ID.

According to The Information and other sources, the SE 4 is being modeled after the iPhone 14, meaning it will finally adopt Face ID and an all-touchscreen front interface. It won’t have a Dynamic Island, according to 9to5Mac, but buyers should at least get a 6.1-inch, 1170×2532 OLED panel, offering not just extra screen space but far improved colors, contrast, and brightness. The switch to OLED is backed up by Nikkei Asia, which says that Apple is ordering panels from BOE and LG Display.

A Weibo leaker, Fixed Focus Digital, suggests that the backplate could resemble the iPhone 16. That implies a similar camera bump.

Moving to a 6.1-inch screen will probably prove controversial. While 6-inch phones are now de facto in the industry, some people prefer smaller designs, since they’re easier to use with one hand. The SE 4 will likely mark the death of Apple displays under 6 inches, at least outside of refurbished phones.

Another rumored design feature is an Action button. The concept first debuted on the Apple Watch Ultra, then made its way to the iPhone 15 Pro and the IPhone 16 lineup. Adding an Action button to the SE would keep interface options consistent, and may not even be a big deal, since it defaults to replacing the mute switch.

Something absolutely guaranteed is a switch from Lightning to USB-C, as with the iPhone 15 and 16. Apple has no choice — it has to make the leap if it wants to comply with European Union regulations. We’re not sure what USB speeds Apple intends to use, but to keep costs down it might use the slower USB 2.0-level connector found in the base Phone 16.

Specs

A blazing fast processor

• A18 processor
• 8GB of RAM
• 48-megapixel main camera
• Apple-designed 5G modem
• More storage
• Apple Intelligence

The core attraction of the SE line has always been the chance to get one of Apple’s latest processors without paying for other frills. With the SE 4, Apple is reportedly making the leap to an A18 processor with 8GB of RAM, mostly to support Apple Intelligence. That would mirror the specs of the iPhone 16.

MacRumors and 9to5Mac say the SE 4 will get a 48-megapixel rear camera, a huge leap over the 12-megapixel one in the SE 3. This will allow 2x “optical-quality” zoom, as on the iPhone 16, but don’t expect any ultra-wide or genuine telephoto options.

Apple may also be using the SE 4 as a testbed for an internally-designed 5G modem, codenamed “Centauri.” Over the years the company has been bringing more and more chip design in-house, aiming to both cut costs and deliver hyper-optimized technology. 9to5Mac claims that Centauri will combine cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS into a single component, dramatically reducing power consumption.

As for storage, Apple will presumably increase the default to 128GB. The 64GB in the entry-level SE 3 is unsustainable, given the growing size of iOS and its apps — forget about adding 48-megapixel photos into the mix. The real question is whether there will be storage options over 256GB, although we wouldn’t put any money on a 1TB configuration.

What else do we know about the iPhone SE 4?

More to come

Apple is expected to equip it with a 12-megapixel front camera like the iPhone 15. There’s not much else to say on that front, but that does mean SE owners will get features like autofocus, slow motion, and a wider aperture for better low-light selfies.

There’s a lot more under wraps, such as color options, and further details about Apple’s new wireless technologies. We’ll update this hub as more information rolls in.