I recently wrote that the iPhone 13 is a great phone to buy if you can’t afford an iPhone 15, and I stand by that. I still feel like we’re missing a solid budget phone option from Apple.
Sure, we have the 2022 iPhone SE, but it was a bit disappointing. It has a design that’s decidedly old in phone terms, a 60Hz display, a single rear camera, and lacks a wide range of features. Compare the iPhone SE to some of the best cheap phones from Google, Samsung and OnePlus, and it almost seems like Apple is taking a chance on promoting old leftover technology that’s simply warmed up in a microwave before being offered to consumers.
The problem here is that there’s no other option for a budget iPhone unless you go the second-hand route.
The rumors so far point to an iPhone SE 4 on the way, and they seem to promise a fresher design that borrows from the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15. That’s good news, as both phones have a nice look and aesthetic . language that harks back to the Jony Ive era of Apple’s industrial design.
However, when it comes to the release date, things are unclear: we don’t know if we can expect an iPhone SE this year or in 2025. For what it’s worth, I hope Apple releases a new SE this year.
Cheaper, cheerful
We live in a time where the cost of living has skyrocketed and smartphones show no signs of being cheaper. At the same time, phones don’t offer as much value for money as they used to, especially if you’re stuck in the Apple ecosystem.
As an iPhone 15 Pro Max user, I’m a big believer in Apple’s Pro iPhones, with the current models offering a range of upgrades over their predecessors that make them some of the best phones overall. But you need a good chunk of change to buy them; even with a carrier contract, Apple’s flagship phones are hardly cheap.
The cheaper iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are both very good phones, but at their respective prices (with a 60Hz screen and cameras that, while impressive, don’t push the boundaries) the phones are uninspiring. For comparison, for the same money you get a Samsung Galaxy S24 with its three rear cameras, 120 Hz screen and a whole host of generative AI features.
Judging from the iPhone 16 rumors so far – and admittedly, it’s just a start on that front – Apple’s next generation of smartphones won’t be a huge evolution from their predecessors. You can expect a performance boost, which is almost unmentionable considering the past few generations of iPhones have more than enough power.
We can also expect a dose of generative AI features for at least the iPhone 16 Pro models. Otherwise, I doubt there will be much distinction between the next generation of iPhones and the current models. I also don’t expect prices to drop.
With that in mind, I want a new budget iPhone with a modern design and features that will be very welcome as we’ll likely wait until the iPhone 17 actually brings new upgrades.
Some say Apple fans will swallow whatever is presented to them. That may have been true in the past, especially when phones could make quite a leap in terms of performance, cameras, and features each generation.
Today, consumers are more tech-savvy and the best Android phones are so well-equipped that you don’t have to stay stuck in Apple’s ecosystem anymore. As such, high prices and a ‘meh’ budget option may drive people into the Android camp.
Of course, Apple phones are still selling like crazy, with several data showing that the iPhone 15 models have outsold their predecessors. So it’s not like Apple’s fortunes will suddenly decline.
But I think there’s an opportunity in budget phones that Apple could tap. A capable but affordable iPhone could lead to more people signing up for services like Apple Arcade, Apple Music Plus and Apple News Plus, potentially feeding the money saved on phone hardware into Apple’s growing suite of services.
Apple is also a mover and a shaker when it comes to phone technology, so it could help shake up the status quo with affordable phones and help set a standard for others to follow (though the Google Pixel a-series does a good job of that) or inject some renewed non-Android competition into the market.
Maybe this is all wishful thinking on my part as Apple tends to do what Apple wants and end up causing problems for the general consumer. But I’m still going to cross metaphorical fingers this year for a new iPhone SE that embraces Apple’s latest design language and doesn’t skimp on features. If that doesn’t happen, I’ll be looking into the rumors that the Google Pixel 8a will be the budget phone of 2024.