When Apple launched the iPhone 16 in September, it continued to sell the 14, 15 and SE 3 models at lower prices. As usual, this gave customers on tighter budgets the flexibility to choose between five main editions (including the Plus variants) with three different sizes and a mixed range of technical specifications.
But while none of these iPhones are bad phones, there couldn’t be a worse possible time to get one of them — even as a gift. And if you have one, you might want to take it back before the holiday return window closes. Because the iPhone SE 4 will be better than all of them.
Nothing special
The iPhone SE line has long been in need of an update due to its outdated design. While high-end iPhones have long moved on and taken on more modern looks, the SE continues to endure in a bygone era. That’s about to change in a few months.
Credible leaks have long indicated that the iPhone SE 4, due to arrive this spring, will finally ditch the classic chassis in favor of a modern look that adopts something similar to the iPhone 14. So, in just a few months, we could offer the prehistoric 4.7-inch LCD screen with thick frames and a physical Home button goodbye – once and for all. The front would instead use an edge-to-edge, 6.1-inch OLED panel with a notch. This would finally give iPhone SE users an immersive screen with a higher pixel resolution, true black levels and slimmer bezels. It could also offer a 48MO rear camera and a TrueDepth front camera with Face ID – all light years better than the current SE you just got.
Plus, it still has a Lightning port, just like the iPhone 14. So waiting for an iPhone SE 4 would save you lugging around a dedicated Lightning cable — assuming your other gadgets charge via USB-C.
The iPhone SE and iPhone 14 still have Lightning ports, which means you’ll need to carry an extra cable.
Foundry
Searching for Apple Intelligence
From a distance, the iPhone 14 and 15 may look more advanced than even the upcoming SE 4. After all, they pack dual rear camera systems, and the 2023 models boast the futuristic Dynamic Island. Meanwhile, 2025’s budget release is likely to miss out on both features. Despite that, a closer look at the budget phone suggests that it will surpass the aforementioned iPhones.
However, the iPhone SE 4 is likely to pack either the iPhone 16’s base A18 chipset or the iPhone 17 Pro, which features 6 CPU cores, 5 GPU cores, 16 Neural Engine cores and 8GB of RAM. This would enable it to run some of the demanding mobile games that run exclusively on newer devices. In addition to its smarter Safari, the iPhone SE 4 will most likely receive software updates for a longer period than the 14 and 15 models.
More importantly, though, it would unlock the extensive Apple Intelligence suite that isn’t available on the iPhone 14 or 15. Apple Intelligence is going to be a central part of Apple’s ecosystem for years to come, so you’ll want a phone that supports it.
Apple Intelligence may not be important now, but it will be at the forefront of Apple’s ecosystem for years to come.
Foundry
Flagship quality at a discount
The iPhone SE 4 doesn’t have all the features you get with your iPhone 15 or even 14. The most notable absence will potentially be the ultra-wide rear lens available on the iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 15 and 15 Plus. The iPhone SE 4 could similarly be limited to a single 6.1-inch option, while the 2022 and 2023 flagships offer larger 6.7-inch Plus editions. Otherwise, the last notable omission would be the Dynamic Island cutout available on the iPhone 15.
Despite these drawbacks, the iPhone SE 4 will still be a better budget choice. Sure, Dynamic Island is nice to have, but you’ll still be able to access Live Activities via the notification center and lock screen. And while the camera and size limitations may annoy some customers, the iPhone SE 4 will be a leap ahead of its predecessor.
Face ID is coming to iPhone SE at least, making it more secure and convenient.
Foundry
Switching from a 4.7-inch thick-edge LCD to a 6.1-inch edge-to-edge OLED will significantly upgrade the iPhone SE 4’s video playback and app scrolling experience. In comparison, upgrading the old rear camera from 12 MP to 48 MP will unlock sharper images and 2x zoom that doesn’t completely destroy the resolution of the output images.
iPhone SE 4 will be the first iPhone to offer both a design that fits our modern times and a flagship processor that supports all the relevant iOS features. And for the first time, iPhone users will get to experience Apple Intelligence — likely for less than $500. It’s even possible that Apple will discontinue the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus altogether, as paying $100 more for a similar iPhone that lacks Apple Intelligence and USB-C isn’t the best deal.
The iPhone SE 4 is shaping up to be a real threat to mid-range Android phones and Apple’s current lineup. Based on the leak, Apple seems to have fixed all the shortcomings of the current SE and built a phone that is perfect for any user on a budget. So if you just got one of Apple’s cheaper phones, wrap it up and return it, because something better is coming soon.