iPhone SE 4: Release date, price and other rumors

iPhone SE is Apple’s most affordable smartphone, offering advanced performance at half the price of high-end models. The problem is that the iPhone SE 3 has the same design and display as the iPhone 8 released in 2017.

So it looks a little dated compared to Android, but rumors suggest that all might change with the next-gen SE, which is expected to launch in 2023 or 2024.

From speculations about its release date and price to its potential features, here’s everything you need to know about it.

When will the iPhone SE 4 be released?

Apple doesn’t update the iPhone SE every year. Almost four years passed between the launch of the first and second generation SE, and less than two years between the 2020 SE 2 and 2022 SE 3. Therefore, we should expect the release of iPhone SE 4 in early 2024.

The original source for speculation about its release comes from Ross Young. He already predicted in January 2022 that the launch of the device will happen in 2023 or 2024.

As for Ming-Chi Kuo, he claimed in January 2023 that the iPhone SE 3 will never see the light of day. According to the analyst, the company needs to rethink its strategy and pricing, as the upgrade to full-screen will result in higher production costs and hence a higher price.

Of course, this is not final yet, and Apple has plenty of time to rethink its strategy.

How much will the iPhone SE 4 cost?

The iPhone SE is intended to be Apple’s budget and affordable smartphone, so while there may be a slight price change compared to the current one, we don’t imagine the price hike will be too big.

So despite the advertised screen and design improvements, we expect the iPhone SE 4 to be roughly the same price as the 3.

For reference, here is the price of the current iPhone SE series:

64GB: €559
128GB: €629
256 GB: €759

What to expect from the iPhone SE 4

While we’re still two years away from the release of the next iPhone SE, rumors give us an idea of what to expect.

Updated design

The next iPhone SE could eventually go all-screen between 5.7 and 6.1 inches, anyway, analyst Ross Young said in a tweet from October 2021.

Finally, after the discussion about the next smartphone MacRumors In October 2022, he claimed that the brand will opt for a 6.1-inch display with a notch. It may have the same chassis as the iPhone XR, a full-screen display, and all the other benefits that this type of display offers.

Jon Prosser also shared his thoughts on the upcoming iPhone SE, noting that it could have a similar form factor to the iPhone XR. He even worked with designer Ian Zelbo to create a rendering:

More pictures with the next generation iPhone SE @jon_prosser! pic.twitter.com/k26a4kNnYs

— Ian Zelbo (@ianzelbo)
October 19, 2022

Even without specific changes, the update would be a significant step forward for Apple’s budget iPhone lineup, especially considering that most of the complaints about the 2022 iPhone SE have to do with its outdated aesthetics.

Face ID

Assuming that Apple adopts the same setup as the iPhone 11 for the next iPhone SE, there is hope that it will finally release the Home button with Touch ID for the full screen with Face ID.

Ross Young speculates that the iPhone SE 4 will have a notch, but he didn’t go so far as to publicly confirm the inclusion of Face ID. It’s always possible that it just has a front-facing camera and the firm opts for a Touch ID reader built into the power button like the iPad Air and Mini.

If logic dictates that it’s the big notch associated with the iPhone 11, then you should also consider the smaller Face ID notch present on the iPhone 13 line and the Dynamic Island technology present on the iPhone 14 Pro.

Apple will probably introduce the latter in all its smartphones by 2024…

New updated chip

In recent years, the iPhone SE has matched the flagship iPhone line when it comes to processing power. This is one of the main selling points of the affordable iPhone over Android.

So, if the iPhone SE 4 were to be released in early 2024, it could feature the yet-to-be-announced A17 Bionic processor, which is expected to be the chipset for the 2023 iPhone lineup, possibly with less RAM.

Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that it will increase to 4GB, which is 25% more than the current model’s 3GB.