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The iPhone SE 4 is probably a long way off – after all, the iPhone SE 3 (aka the iPhone SE 2022) only launched in March 2022, and these aren’t even annual releases most of the time.
But having used the iPhone SE 2022 extensively, we have a very good idea of what we want from the iPhone SE 4, as the current model is far from perfect. We want to see more entries on our list of the best iPhone, so we need upgrades. So with that in mind, we’ve made a wish list below of what we want from the next version.
But before that you will find information about the possible release date and price, along with other news and rumors. We don’t know much at this point – although we’ve heard a few things – but as information flows in, we’ll be updating this article, so check back soon.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? The next affordable iPhone
- When is it out? Probably not until 2024 or later
- How much is it? Expect a mid-range price
iPhone SE 4 release date and price
It’s hard to say when the iPhone SE 4 will land since, unlike most phones, we don’t get a new one every year. The iPhone SE 3 came out in March 2022, but the iPhone SE 2 was unveiled in April 2020 and the original model came out in March 2016.
So a March or April launch is likely, but the actual year we’ll see is more up in the air. That said, there are some rumours, with Ross Young (a leaker with a solid track record) claiming so we could see it as early as 2023 (opens in new tab)although he had previously pointed to 2024.
That seems like an optimistic estimate, as more recently Ming-Chi Kuo – who has a good track record for Apple information – claimed that the iPhone SE 4 was likely to be delayed past 2024, so we may not see it until 2025 or later. They even claimed it could be canceled entirely, so there’s a chance it won’t land at all.
As for the price, there’s no news on that front, but we expect it to be similar to the iPhone SE 2022, which starts at $429 / £419 / AU$719. That said, rumors point to some significant improvements, which could mean that the price will rise slightly.
News and leaks
The iPhone SE 4 could be a big change for the line like Ross Young (a leaker) (opens in new tab) claims the screen will be 5.7-6.1 inches. That’s more than just 4.7 inches on the current model, though apparently sticking with LCD.
They’ve since gotten more specific, saying a 6.1-inch screen will likely be used, and the iPhone SE 4 will have a notch instead of the current wide-bezel design.
That would potentially mean Face ID would also be added, but it’s also possible that Apple will stick with Touch ID and simply house the sensor in a side button instead of the front.
We’ve now seen unofficial renders surface showing the supposed design of the phone, and they match the details above – and look essentially identical to the iPhone XR. You can view some of these images below.
Along with these renders, the source claims that the iPhone SE 4 will have a 6.1-inch screen and will be available in Midnight (black), Starlight (white) and Product RED colors.
A previously leak from the same source (opens in new tab) suggested the iPhone SE 4 might have a hole punch instead of a notch, but while the iPhone 14 Pro has this change, we’d be surprised if the next SE did.
Young also previously suggested that the most likely size was 5.7 inches (opens in new tab), so they haven’t been very consistent with their iPhone SE 4 leaks. As such, we would take all of these claims with a grain of salt.
The next SE model is rumored to be called SE+ 5G and will feature a 4.7-inch LCD screen. It was previously said that the next SE model, SE3, would have a 5.7-inch or a 6.1-inch screen. It now looks like it will be 5.7-inches. May launch in 2023 instead of 2024.January 17, 2022
Elsewhere, Ming-Chi Kuo (an analyst with a great track record for Apple information) has also said – via a note seen by MacRumors (opens in new tab) – expect a bigger screen, and that the iPhone SE 4 will have 4GB of RAM (which is the same as the iPhone SE 3 – although Kuo predicted 3GB for the current model at the time, so take this with a pinch of salt).
The iPhone SE 4 will certainly also support 5G (since the SE 3 does), and it will most likely have a new chipset, but which will depend on when it launches.
What we want to see
We don’t know much for sure about the iPhone SE 4 yet, but we know what we want from it, including the following things.
1. A new design
The design of the iPhone SE (2022) is more than old – it is old, and even the cheapest cheap phones show it in many ways.
So we’d really like to see a design refresh for the iPhone SE 4. This shouldn’t be difficult for Apple – it’s got plenty of phones with a more modern design that can copy it anyway. The good news is that signs indicate that Apple could actually do this.
2. More starting storage
The iPhone SE 3 has a starting capacity of just 64GB, which frankly isn’t enough in 2022, especially given its mid-range price and lack of a microSD card slot.
So for the iPhone SE 4, we want 128GB to be the starting size – and that’s without a price hike.
3. A lower price
Speaking of pricing, the iPhone SE (2022) already costs more than the iPhone SE (2020), so not only is a price hike an unwelcome prospect, but we ideally want a lower starting cost so that this really is another affordable iPhone.
Given rumors of a bigger screen and possibly a new design, it probably won’t happen, but we’re living in hope.
4. A bigger screen
The iPhone SE 3 is definitely small with its 4.7-inch screen, and it’s probably too small even for most fans of compact phones, so we’d like to see the iPhone SE 4 get bigger.
The good news is that rumors point to a 5.7-6.1-inch screen, which would be a notable increase while still being just about compact, especially when using the smaller of those sizes. Combined with a new design and smaller bezels, the overall footprint doesn’t need to be much larger.
5. More camera lenses
The iPhone SE 3 has only one camera lens on the back, which is not enough even for a mid-range phone. Sure, it’s a quality camera, but it’s also limited, just giving you a wide field of view. So for the iPhone SE 4, we want to add a second lens, offering ultra wide angle or telephoto functionality.