The next iPhone SE is rumored to look like Apple’s iPhone 14. The current iPhone SE was introduced by Apple in early 2022 and resembles the seven-year-old iPhone 8. It features a small 4.7-inch display and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor beneath the screen, along with relatively up-to-date technology from the iPhone 13.
The next SE generation, expected in early 2025, will reportedly be larger, lose the Home button, and have a more modern display with AI features. For about two years, rumors have circulated about a successor to the budget smartphone. It was said that the next generation might drop the outdated design and look more like an iPhone XR, possibly including Face ID. However, it’s uncertain if this technology fits the SE model’s budget.
If the Home button is removed, there would be more space for the screen, which is expected to measure 6.1 inches instead of 4.7 inches, putting it on par with the iPhone 14, 15, and 16. The current LCD screen is expected to be replaced with an OLED display, marking the end of LCD screens for iPhones.
Photos of dummy models released by leaker Sonny Dickson suggest the new size, though only the back and side frames are visible. A mute switch is present instead of the action button introduced with the iPhone 15, assuming the dummies are authentic.
Apple is expected to source screens for the SE 4 from BOE and LG. The OLED panel might be the same used in the iPhone 14 and 13. Like the current base iPhones of the 16 series, a refresh rate of 60 Hertz is anticipated, while Pro models offer up to 120 Hertz for smoother operation. Apple might shift from the 16:9 format of the previous iPhone SE to the now-standard 19.5:9 ratio in current iPhones.
Rumors suggest a Dynamic Island notch, a space-saving screen cutout introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro, might be included, though this would bring the budget model too close to higher-end devices. Other rumors point to a design similar to the iPhone 14, confirmed by sources like The Information and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Another source speculates Apple might use the iPhone 16’s back design to cut costs.
It’s expected that Apple will continue using a single rear sensor, possibly a new 48-megapixel sensor instead of the previous 12-megapixel camera, potentially using the wide-angle sensor from the iPhone 15 Plus. The SE model will switch to a USB-C port due to EU regulations, likely with USB 2.0 transfer speeds.
Regarding the processor, Apple might use an A-series chip. The previous 2022 model used an A13 processor from the iPhone 13. It’s plausible that an A18 SoC or a slightly older processor might be used. For Apple Intelligence services, a fast processor with a strong NPU is needed, suggesting the A17 Pro from the iPhone 15 Pro or a similar chip from the base iPhone 16 might be used, with RAM increased to eight gigabytes.
The iPhone SE 4 is expected to be released by early 2025, potentially being the first with an in-house 5G modem. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests it might be a test for Apple’s 5G modem, developed in-house since acquiring Intel’s modem division in 2020, aiming for independence from Qualcomm.
We are curious about the next iPhone SE’s features, design, and price. The current model with older components starts at 529 euros. Modern features like the OLED display and possible Face ID might raise the price. The iPad 10th generation also became more expensive with new designs and components. Sources suggest the next SE model might cost 500 to 550 US dollars, similar to the 256-gigabyte iPad 10 model, which costs about 600 euros. Given the rising iPhone prices, a starting price in this range seems likely.