Table of ContentsTable of ContentsiPhone SE 4: possible release date and priceWill the iPhone SE 4 actually be the iPhone 16E?iPhone SE 4: designiPhone SE 4: displayiPhone SE 4: specsiPhone SE 4: camerasiPhone SE 4: battery lifeThe iPhone SE 4 launch is almost certainly happening today, February 19. Last week Apple CEO, Tim Cook, teased that wed see a new member of the family today, and the wave of rumors and leaks over the past months point towards the new iPhone SE being the device in line for a reveal.While the spotlight always seems to be on Apples mainline iPhones, the iPhone SE is a great pick for those who are on a budget. If you want an iPhone that doesnt break the bank, the SE is the way to go.Recommended VideosThe original iPhone SE came out in 2016, and then Apple revamped it in 2020 and 2022 by giving it some more modern hardware. The iPhone SE tends to get updated every two or so years rather than annually like the traditional iPhone. This means that we should see a new iPhone SE 4 in 2025.Please enable Javascript to view this contentHeres everything we know so far about the iPhone SE 4.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsApple CEO, Tim Cook, has teased that a new member of the family will land on February 19. Outlets such as Bloomberg have hinted that the February launch event is most likely about the fourth-gen iPhone SE, which also aligns with previous rumors and analyst predictions.Pre-orders should go live soon after the official announcement, and given Apples history with shipment gaps for new products, late February or early March should see public sales. As far as pricing goes, the analyst and industry watcher consensus seems to agree on a $450-500 starting price.When the iPhone SE first came out in 2016, it seemed like a one-and-done deal. We did not see another iPhone SE until 2020, and then we got a third iteration in 2022. Based on that, 2025 is a good time for a refresh.Apple announced the iPhone SE 3 in March 2022, so a March 2025 release would be almost three years to the day, depending on the actual release date. Despite featuring numerous upgrades, the iPhone SE 4 isnt expected to cost more than $500.The current iPhone SE starts at $429, so the next generation will likely fall around that same price but with a potential increase. Even if the iPhone SE 4s price increases slightly, it will still be comfortably lower than the mainline iPhone 16.To date, the majority of rumors surrounding Apples next SE smartphone suggest it will be called the iPhone SE 4th generation (iPhone SE 4 for short).However, there have been a couple of tipsters claiming Apple will bring the new devices name in line with its current range of handsets. If this rings true, we may be about to welcome in the iPhone 16E.The 16E moniker would make sense as Cook refers to a new member of the family in his teaser tweet, and this could be a direct nod to the fact the new phone will be part of the iPhone 16 family. Well find out for sure later today.Leak-based iPhone SE 4 mockups. Majin BuIt seems the iPhone SE 4 will be a familiar aesthetic affair. A accessory brand recently listed alleged product renders of the upcoming phone, revealing a design modeled after the iPhone 14. The only major difference is the imaging hardware at the back.Apples next budget-focused phone will reportedly come equipped with a single rear camera, and will ditch the physical Touch ID button in favor of Face ID. There are a few other purported CAD-based renders floating around social media platforms, which also back up the single rear camera theory and a modern design makeover.SpigenThe original iPhone SE in 2016 was modeled after the iPhone 5s, and the iPhone SE 2 and iPhone SE 3 had the same design as the iPhone 8. However, a potential iPhone SE 4 seems ripe for a change in chassis design.Rumors have indicated that the iPhone SE 4 will feature a 6.1-inch display, similar to what Apple currently offers on the mainline iPhones. That makes the new iPhone SE 4 much larger than the current 4.7-inch display on the 2022 model.Going with a 6.1-inch design will also eliminate the home button for Touch ID, bringing the iPhone SE in line with the other models with Face ID.However, its unlikely that we will see the Dynamic Island, as the notch will almost certainly return.The iPhone SE 4 may also get an Action button, which initially debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro and replaces the silent/ring toggle. And to make it more like the mainline iPhones, it will also transition to USB-C rather than Lightning.In October 2024, there was a report that we may see a big change with the iPhone SE 4, in that it may have a Plus-sized variant. Originally, it appears that the iPhone SE 4 was designed in a 6.7-inch model like the iPhone 14 Plus, but then it was decided later to have a 6.1-inch model like the iPhone 14. This would be the first time that Apple offered the iPhone SE in two sizes.The reason for the possibility of an iPhone SE Plus is likely that Apple is considering replacing the Plus models with a new Slim variant. Those who would still want an iPhone Plus could consider the iPhone SE Plus, which would also mean a lower price point than the flagship series.Joe Maring / Digital TrendsAll previous iPhone SE models used LCD technology for the display. However, with the iPhone SE 4, Apple could switch to OLED.To recall, sources like Bloomberg have reported that the iPhone SE borrows inspiration from the iPhone 14, so it wont be surprising to see Apple digging into the parts bin and surprise us with an OLED screen in the next SE iPhone.Apple has been using OLED panels for iPhones since the iPhone 12. Switching to OLED would make the iPhone SE 4 more akin to the flagship models but still at a lower price. OLED displays have deeper, richer blacks and better contrast compared to LCD. If the switch is happening, it would be a big upgrade for the budget iPhone. However, given Apples history of serving LCD panels for years on the mainline iPhones, it wont be surprising to see the next iPhone SE stick with an LCD stack.Apples history with cost-cutting and a maximum profit approach are no secret. And given the target price bracket for the iPhone SE, we are neither too hopeful about an OLED panel upgrade, nor a 120Hz refresh rate.iPhone 14 Plus (left) and iPhone SE (2022) Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsTraditionally, the iPhone SE has used a prior-generation chip to make it more budget-friendly, but rumors now suggest the iPhone SE 4 will run the same A18 chip as the iPhone 16. This will enable Apple Intelligence features, although probably on a more limited scale than the flagship models.If the iPhone SE 4 does support Apple Intelligence, it will have at least 8GB of RAM, which is currently the baseline requirement for any Apple device running its AI stack.There have also been rumors that Apple has been working on an in-house 5G chip, which could appear in the iPhone SE 4. This would result from Apple acquiring Intels modem business in 2019, leading the company to build and use its modems in future devices rather than relying on Qualcomm.Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, a reliable Apple tipster, has claimed that Apple will begin a three-year transition to its own in-house modems, similar to the M-series transition from Intel. This transition will begin in 2025, and the first device to adopt an in-house modem will reportedly be the iPhone SE 4.As far as the storage goes, we are not sure if Apple will finally end the streak of 64GB storage options. But given the phones target audience, it is likely that Apple will stick with offering a low-storage option so that the sticker price remains alluring.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsAll models of the iPhone SE thus far have only had a single-lens camera, and the iPhone SE 4 will likely follow that trend. After all, the base model iPhones have dual camera setups, while the Pro models have triple lenses.Keeping the SE at a single lens would prevent it from potentially cannibalizing the other models. A report in December has given us a sneak peek at what to expect with the rear and front-facing cameras on the iPhone SE 4. To keep it modern, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to get a single 48-megapixel rear camera and a 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera on the front, according to recent supply reports from Korea.The TrueDepth camera would align with Face ID coming to the iPhone SE, finally eliminating the home button once and for all. Jumping to a 48-megapixel camera tagging alongside a faster silicon with an advanced image signal processor is also a sign that there will be new camera features to play with, as well.Majin BuApple has marketed its 48-megapixel snapper as the Fusion Camera, which is a huge leap compared to the 12-megapixel sensor on the existing iPhone SE. The high resolution not only allows binned 12-megapixel capture, but also lets users capture more detailed 24-megapixel as well as full-res 48-megapixel shots.Thanks to the sensor upgrade, Apple has also enabled 2x zoom output in 12-megapixel telephoto mode atop the same sensor. If the primary sensor + processing stack on the iPhone 16 is taken as a template, the iPhone SE 4 might also deliver updates such as Smart HDR 5, improved portraits, photographic styles, and more advanced video recording facilities.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsOne of the iPhone SEs most significant weaknesses is its battery life, which is due to its small size. The iPhone SE 3 currently only has a 2,018mAh battery, which doesnt last as long as those in flagship iPhone models. However, if Apple were to move to an iPhone 14 design, there would be more room for a larger battery.The iPhone 14 currently has around 3,279mAh, which is much better than the iPhone SE. However, that might not be enough; with Apple Intelligence and potentially an OLED panel coming into the picture, the iPhone 4 SE may not exactly deliver a battery endurance revolution because of increased power demands.For now, thats all we know. Take these rumors with a healthy dose of salt; Apple has a way of surprising its customer base, so we wont know the official specs until much closer to launch. Regardless, the iPhone SE 4 looks much better on paper than its predecessors and more like a proper phone than a highly stripped-down version of last years model.Editors Recommendations