Apple’s more wallet-friendly iPhone SE made a comeback in the last couple of years, inheriting the same fresh processors found inside the company’s latest high-end phones. But there have been conflicting rumors and reports about whether Apple will release an iPhone SE 4, with some predictions from well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggesting the device may have been canceled.
Apple hasn’t mentioned whether it plans to release new iPhone SE models moving forward since it rarely speaks about future products. But now that Apple has seemingly moved away from the iPhone Mini, the iPhone SE has an important role to play as the smaller and more affordable iPhone in Apple’s lineup.
There’s plenty of room for Apple to further improve its pint-size iPhone. While my colleague Patrick Holland praised the 2022 iPhone SE for its accessible price and familiar home button, he criticized it for its lack of night mode photos and dated design. Android competitors like Samsung and Google have also improved their similarly priced budget phones in recent years. The Google Pixel 7A and Samsung Galaxy A54 5G both offer features that were once reserved for premium devices, like high refresh rates and multiple cameras.
It’s impossible to know exactly what to expect from Apple until the company makes an announcement. But based on predictions from the often-accurate Kuo, along with other leaks and Apple’s product launch history, here’s what we’d expect from Apple’s next budget iPhone.
Apple didn’t immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment regarding a future iPhone SE.
The iPhone XR (left) compared to the iPhone 8 Plus (right)
If the company is working on another iPhone SE, there’s a chance it could have a 6.1-inch screen similar to Apple’s modern flagship phones. The current iPhone SE, by comparison, has a 4.7-inch screen with thick black bars at the top and chin, much like the iPhone 8.
Other than Kuo’s 2019 report, serial leaker Jon Prosser and analyst Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, have also suggested that the next iPhone SE could include a larger screen and a design that resembles the iPhone XR.
Kuo’s February 2023 post also suggested the iPhone SE 4 could have an OLED screen instead of an LCD display, which would mark a notable step up for Apple’s cheaper phone. OLED screens typically show deeper blacks and better contrast compared to LCD, and Apple previously kept this display technology exclusive to its Pro series. But Kuo’s follow-up in April mentioned that the device he thought might have been a future SE could just be an engineering prototype.
It may keep Touch ID instead of Face ID
Fans of Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor may be in luck. Kuo’s report from 2019 indicated that the larger iPhone SE would have a smaller notch area without Face ID and have Touch ID embedded in the power button. That sounds similar to Apple’s approach with its 10th-generation iPad, fifth-generation iPad Air and sixth-generation iPad Mini, which have Touch ID in the top button.
It will likely get USB-C charging
Apple’s newest mobile processor is the A16 Bionic, which powers the iPhone 14 Pro series.
The iPhone SE typically has the same processor as Apple’s most recent flagship iPhone. For example, the 2022 iPhone SE has the same chip as the iPhone 13, which launched in September 2021. Since having Apple’s newest mobile chip is usually the iPhone SE’s standout feature, it’s hard to imagine Apple straying from that pattern.
But Kuo also suggested the next iPhone SE could have an Apple-made 5G chip. Still, it’s hard to know if that prediction still applies since he later revised his estimate to say this device was likely an engineering prototype to test that 5G chip.
Apple acquired Intel’s modem business in 2019, leading to speculation that it will eventually build its own 5G modems rather than rely on Qualcomm as a supplier. Making its own chips allows Apple to maintain greater control over launch timelines and product features, an approach that has been a key part of its strategy across its major product lines. Although Apple hasn’t disclosed its future plans, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon told CNBC in March that he’s expecting Apple to start using homegrown modems in 2024.
The fourth-generation iPhone SE could end up becoming one of the most exciting iPhone updates in years, simply because we don’t know what to expect. But if the leaks, rumors and reports turn out to be accurate, Apple’s budget iPhone may be set to take a big leap forward in terms of design and screen size either next year or in 2025.
