It’s been almost three years since Apple last launched a budget smartphone. While those with deeper pockets have been able to fork out upwards of £800 for the latest flagship iPhone 16, those looking for a more affordable option have been left waiting.
The iPhone SE 3 hit shelves in 2022 but, while affordable, it always felt like a relic from the past. With chunky bezels, a honking home button, and a recycled design lifted straight from the iPhone 8 blueprint, it was already lagging behind Apple’s more modern handsets – and it’s even more out of step with the times in 2025.
But that could soon change. Rumours suggest Apple is finally ready to give its budget phone a long-overdue refresh. If the leaks are to be believed, the iPhone SE 4 could finally feature a larger display, Face ID and a switch to USB-C.
Potentially launching this week, it might even get a new name. Here’s everything we know so far about the upcoming handset.
While nothing’s official, trusted Apple insider Mark Gurman claimed last week in a Bloomberg article that the iPhone SE 4 would be released this week, doubling down on his prediction in his Power On newsletter over the weekend.
According to Gurman’s sources, the iPhone SE 4 could be announced via a press release rather than a flashy event – something that seems likely, given that no events have been scheduled in Apple’s calendar. Apple usually drops new device press releases at around 2pm GMT, so we’ll be keeping an eye out this week.
While the iPhone SE has always been Apple’s cheapest iPhone – and we don’t expect that to change with the SE 4 – it’s likely to see a price increase. When it launched in 2022, the iPhone SE 3 started at £419 for the 64GB model, but with iPhone prices creeping up in recent years, the next iteration could follow suit.
For context, the iPhone 14 launched at £779 in 2022, while the iPhone 16 now costs £799 – a £20 increase. The iPhone 16 Pro has jumped by £50 compared to the iPhone 14 Pro, while the Pro Max has seen the steepest rise – £150 more expensive than its 2022 counterpart. If Apple follows a similar pricing trend with the SE 4, the budget iPhone could creep closer to the £450-£500 mark.
That would also put it more in line with the competition. Google’s budget handset – the Pixel 8a – launched at £499, while the Samsung Galaxy A55 debuted at £439.
According to a Japanese carrier leak, the iPhone SE 4 could see a $70 price increase in the US, bringing it to $499 – the same price as the Google Pixel 8a. If the UK gets a similar price hike, the iPhone SE 4 could cost £489.
Rumours about the iPhone SE 4’s design have been circulating since 2023, with most suggesting that the new budget smartphone will resemble the iPhone 14. At the end of 2023, sources told MacRumors that the next iPhone SE will have the body and display of the base iPhone 14, with a few distinct changes.
According to the publication, the iPhone SE 4 will feature a 6.1in OLED display and a near bezel-less design, similar to the iPhone 14. It will also ditch the home button (and Touch ID) in favour of Face ID. This would be a big upgrade for the smartphone, which has always used a cheaper LCD panel.
The phone could also have a USB-C port, like the iPhone 15 and later models, as well as an action button on the side in place of the mute switch. However, it reportedly won’t have a Dynamic Island, instead sticking with the notch. Last month, a video of a dummy unit surfaced online, showing the rumoured iPhone SE 4 with a notch, action button, USB-C port and a single rear camera.
Interestingly, several leakers have also claimed that the iPhone SE 4 will be renamed the iPhone 16E, suggesting it could be a more budget-friendly version of the current lineup, potentially supporting Apple Intelligence and featuring the same chipset.
That name change seems even more likely when you look at the potential specs of the upcoming handset. New iPhone SE models always come equipped with the latest chipset from the previous year – meaning it could get the iPhone 16’s powerful A18 chipset, enabling it to take advantage of Apple Intelligence features. According to Mark Gurman, these features will be available on the iPhone SE 4.
Last year, Gurman also claimed that the iPhone SE 4 will be the first iPhone to use a 5G modem manufactured entirely by Apple instead of one from Qualcomm. He says this modem will be more efficient, consume less power, and provide better support for network connections.
While the upcoming iPhone SE 4 is rumoured to feature a significant camera upgrade over the iPhone SE 3, it’s still expected to stick with a single-camera system on the rear.
One report suggests it will be equipped with a single 48MP rear camera, the same as the main camera on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16. The iPhone SE 3, by comparison, only has a 12MP rear camera.
The front-facing camera is also expected to see an upgrade, reportedly increasing from a 7MP selfie camera to a 12MP lens.
Of course, everything here should be taken with a pinch of salt – until we hear it from Apple itself, nothing is official. But we’re certainly intrigued.
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