iPhone SE 4 release date predictions, price, specs, and must-know features
What we know so far
Unlike the standard iPhones, which get annual updates like clockwork, the SE series follows a more unpredictable release schedule. Many fans were hoping to catch a glimpse of the iPhone SE 4 at Apple’s recent “It’s Glowtime” event during the unveiling of the iPhone 16 series, but Tim Cook and the team stayed tight-lipped about it.
So, as of now, Apple's plans for the iPhone SE 4 remain unclear, but there is a strong possibility it could make its debut in March 2025. All in all, if you are eager for the iPhone SE 4, it looks like you will have to hold on a bit longer.
With smartphone prices on the rise, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to come with a higher price tag than its predecessor. However, that bump might be worth it. We are expecting upgrades like a better camera system, a design that aligns more with the sleek iPhone 14 and improved display specs.
The iPhone SE 4 is also rumored to get a major battery boost, with a capacity that could be nearly double what its predecessor has. This upgrade would likely result in significantly longer usage times, giving users more power throughout the day.
We have gathered all the available information about the iPhone SE 4 here in one place. However, keep in mind that these details are still preliminary and could change. We won't have the complete picture until the iPhone SE 4 officially launches.
Jump to section:
iPhone SE 4 release date
The iPhone SE doesn’t follow the typical iPhone release schedule. So far, we have seen only three versions, making its launch pattern a bit of a mystery. Historically, the time between each generation has varied from 2 to 4 years. What we do know for sure is that the iPhone SE 4 won’t drop at the same time as the regular iPhone lineup.
Generally, Apple's budget smartphone is released in Spring, at the company's first event for the year. A report from the Korean media outlet The Elec says that the production of the new iPhone SE would be pushed to 2025. Another leak, supposedly revealing Apple's product roadmap, backs up the claim of a 2025 release.
And that’s not all. A recent leak also suggests that the next-generation iPhone SE could be launching sometime between March and May 2025. Adding more weight to the early 2025 launch rumors, well-known Apple insider Mark Gurman recently revealed that Apple is getting close to starting production of the new iPhone SE, codenamed V59.
Overall, a March 2025 release seems to be the most likely option. A recent leak again pointed to March as the month Apple will unveil the next-gen iPhone SE model and another one also backed up the same prediction.
| Model | Release Date |
|---|---|
| iPhone SE (1st generation) | March 31, 2016 |
| iPhone SE (2nd generation) | April 24, 2020 |
| iPhone SE (3rd generation) | March 18, 2022 |
| iPhone SE (4th generation) | March, 2025* |
* - probable dates
iPhone SE 4 price
The starting price of the iPhone SE, and standard iPhones, in general, has been gradually increasing over the years. Given this trend, we anticipate a similar situation with the iPhone SE 4.
Looking at previous releases, consumers can anticipate the iPhone SE 4 to start at approximately $450-500. Given the expected significant upgrades, it wouldn't be surprising if the price tag goes even higher. And actually, well-known tipster Ice Universe suggests the price point for the next iPhone SE will likely fall between $499 and $549.
Another recent leak hints at a similar price, suggesting the iPhone SE 4 could come in at around $499. So, now, with several leaks pointing to a price increase, it is looking more likely that the new model will indeed have a higher price tag.
However, to remain competitive in the mid-range segment, Apple should avoid increasing the price too much.
| Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|
| iPhone SE (1st. generation) | $399 |
| iPhone SE (2nd. generation) | $399 |
| iPhone SE (3rd. generation) | $429 |
| iPhone SE (4th. generation) | $499* |
* - anticipated prices
Meanwhile, another rumor suggests that the iPhone SE 4 will hit the shelves with a $429 price tag, the same as its predecessor at launch. It would be fantastic to see Apple release its budget-friendly smartphone at this price point, but it's wise to take the rumor with a grain of salt.
While the exact price of the iPhone SE 4 is still unknown, you can bet there will be deals once it hits the market. If the offers for the iPhone SE 3 are anything to go by, Apple, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile will likely offer similar promotions and discounts when the new model launches.
- Apple: The company has a trade-in program where you can save anywhere from $40 to $650, depending on what device you're trading in. If you have an Apple Card, you can also take advantage of 0% APR monthly payments and earn 3% Daily Cash back on the purchase of a new phone.
- Verizon: The carrier might offer the iPhone SE 4 for free with certain plans. Of course, you'll still need to pay for the required plan. For example, right now, you can get the current iPhone SE at no cost if you sign up for an Unlimited plan over 36 months.
- T-Mobile: It will likely roll out a similar deal as with the current iPhone SE model. Using the T-Mobile Equipment Installment Plan, existing customers can bundle the cost of the iPhone and their rate plan into one monthly bill. Plus, the new iPhone will come unlocked, meaning you can switch to any carrier that supports iPhones.
- AT&T:AT&T has similar deals to other carriers, where both new and existing customers can pay for an iPhone and their rate plan on one monthly bill. It also offers up to $214 in bill credits when you buy an iPhone SE, and if you trade in a device with Apple, you'll receive an instant trade-in credit.
iPhone SE 4 camera
The iPhone SE has traditionally lacked a standout camera. As a budget-friendly option, one of its main drawbacks has consistently been its inferior camera quality. Reports suggest that this time around it will again feature a single rear camera, similar to previous iPhone SE models.
Rumors circulating online suggest that the iPhone SE 4 could potentially include a single 48MP rear camera. If true, this would mark a significant enhancement over the 12MP rear camera found in its predecessor. However, it's advisable not to get too excited until official details are confirmed.
If the rumor indeed turns out to be true, and the upcoming iPhone SE 4 features a 48MP camera, similar to the one found in the iPhone 15, it sure will pose a potential challenge to the Pixel 7a's claim as the best mid-range camera.
If you want to explore all the rumored camera details in depth, be sure to check out our dedicated article on the iPhone SE 4 camera.
iPhone SE 4 storage
Storage options always pose a challenge with Apple. Considering the company's Pro iPhones still start with a modest 128GB of internal storage, the base configuration of the iPhone SE 4 might offer no more than half of that (i.e., 64GB).
However, a recent rumor suggests that the iPhone SE 4 will boast 6GB of RAM and offer two storage options: a base option of 128GB and a higher-tier one of 512GB.
Once again, given the fact that the device is in its very early stages of production, there is simply no concrete information at this time. So, let's put it that way, for the time being, we expect to see:
- 64GB
- 128GB
- 512GB
iPhone SE 4 design
This is where things start to become interesting. According to Jon Prosser, the next iPhone SE will be recycling the iPhone XR's design. This means that the iPhone SE 4 will be bigger and will come with a notch for the first time in the lineup's history.
Given that the standard iPhones, both Pro and non-Pro versions, transitioned to the Dynamic Island design with the iPhone 15, the SE can now freely adopt the notched design, first introduced with the iPhone X.
However, a leak from Ming-Chi Kuo claims that the iPhone SE will have an even more modern look and will essentially be a "minor modification of the 6.1-inch iPhone 14".
Rumors by tipster @URedditor, aka Unknownz21 support the claim, saying that the iPhone SE 4 will be based on the iPhone 14. What is more, recently leaked CAD renders show the resemblance between the iPhone SE 4 and the iPhone 14.
And yet, a leak surfaced from the tipster Majin Bu, suggesting that the upcoming iPhone SE might resemble the next-generation iPhone 16. Yes, you read that right!
According to the tipster, the iPhone SE 4 is indeed expected to feature Dynamic Island and a single camera on the back. While it may have the aesthetics of the iPhone 16, its dimensions are anticipated to be similar to those of the iPhone XR.
The same tipster, however, later shared a supposed iPhone SE 4 case design, indicating that the potential design could differ from their previous description. It appears there might indeed be a notch after all.
I understand that design speculations can be confusing right now. However, it seems unlikely that Apple will use the iPhone 16 as the foundation for the iPhone SE. It's more likely that the iPhone SE 4 will be based on the iPhone 14 instead and renowned Apple insider Mark Gurman recently backed this up as well.
Plus, a recent rumor has surfaced, again suggesting the iPhone SE 4 could adopt a design similar to the iPhone 14. However, this one also suggests a potential iPhone SE 4 Plus model boasting a larger 6.5-inch display. While this concept seems a bit far-fetched, you can still check out the dummy units for both the iPhone SE 4 and the Plus model.
Dummy models for the iPhone SE 4 and the iPhone SE 4 Plus. | Image credit – Macotakara
We will have to hold tight and see which flagship iPhone Apple decides to draw inspiration from and whether the notch sticks around or not. But regardless of that, you are probably wondering about the color choices, too and here is what we are expecting for the iPhone SE 4:
- Blue
- Purple/Pink
- Green/Yellow
- Starlight/White
- Midnight/Black
- Product RED
If you are looking for more details on the expected color options for the upcoming iPhone SE 4, feel free to check out our full article dedicated to the iPhone SE 4 colors.
iPhone SE 4 display
With the new design, could also come a new screen size. According to Ross Young, a well-known and trusted display analyst, the iPhone SE 4 could sport a 6.1-inch display, similar to the one found on the iPhone XR.
Additionally, a more recent report indicates that the iPhone SE could use the panel of the iPhone 13, which could make the former the first device in the lineup's history to feature an OLED screen.
Recent rumors also hint that the iPhone SE 4 will feature an OLED screen. Backing this up, a report from early September claimed that the iPhone SE 4 could be the last model in Apple's transition to OLED displays for its iPhones. So, it looks like an OLED display could very well be on the horizon.
However, regardless of which display technology Apple finally opts for, the iPhone SE 4 will almost certainly not be featuring ProMotion (i.e. adaptive 120Hz refresh rate).
iPhone SE 4 battery
The iPhone SE 4 is rumored to adopt the same battery as the base model iPhone 14, with leaked prototypes featuring lithium-ion batteries (A2863) used in previous Apple models. Internal documents have confirmed this change, showing an increase in capacity from 2018mAh in the iPhone SE 3 to 3279mAh in the upcoming iPhone SE 4.
This A2863 battery brings a substantial boost of over 1250mAh compared to the third-gen iPhone SE, potentially delivering longer battery life. This move (using the same battery as ones found in older devices) aligns with Apple's pattern, as the second-gen iPhone SE also shared its battery with the older iPhone 8.
Recent rumors suggest that the iPhone SE 4 will come with a USB-C port instead of the Lightning port. This change is more likely to happen than not, especially considering that the iPhone 15 series supports USB-C.
If you are interested in diving deeper into all the rumored battery details, check out our dedicated article on the iPhone SE 4 battery and charging.
iPhone SE 4 features and software
The iPhone SE 4 might mark the definitive end of the Home button era. This suggests that Apple may need to explore alternative methods for implementing biometric authentication in its new budget smartphone.
With the "notch" Apple could give the iPhone SE 4 Face ID, which is actually supported by the latest rumors. And not only but it is also rumored that Apple would add an Action button, which replaced the ring/silent switch on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
The iPhone SE 4 will certainly ship with the latest iOS version upon its release. Currently, iOS 17 is the publicly available version, with iOS 18 already announced and expected to launch later this fall. Therefore, even if the iPhone SE 4 doesn't debut this year, it will come pre-installed with iOS 18 at the very least.
iPhone SE 4 hardware
There is a big question mark over the chipset that will be powering the iPhone SE 4. The current iPhone SE (2022) features an A15 processor. If Apple wants to increase the raw performance of the SE, it will have to make the jump to A16 (which is reportedly very costly) or an even newer SoC, such as the A17.
Recently, rumors have surfaced suggesting that the iPhone SE 4 might come equipped with an A18 processor just like the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. If true, this would make the SE 4 potentially as fast as the regular iPhone 16. However, keep in mind that this info should be taken with a pinch of salt.
On top of that, there is buzz that the iPhone SE 4 might be the first to feature Apple's own 5G modem chip. This would be a significant leap toward the company's goal of achieving greater technological independence.
Should you wait for the iPhone SE 4?
- You should wait for the iPhone SE 4 if you are not in a rush and are looking for an Apple smartphone on a budget. After all, if the price rumors are accurate and there are indeed design upgrades and improved camera, the wait could definitely pay off.
- You should not wait for the iPhone SE 4 if you are currently in the market for a smartphone. No matter how substantial the upgrade turns out to be, the release of the new iPhone SE 4 is still months away.
Latest iPhone SE 4 news
Apple iPhone SE 4 release date set for March with LG Innotek camera module
iPhone 17 to get Apple's in-house modem rumored to debut with iPhone SE 4
iPhone SE 4 camera: The rumors so far
iPhone SE 4 battery and charging: Rumored specs and upgrades
iPhone SE 4 colors: what to expect
All of iPhone SE 4 specs leak along with price and launch month
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless