After a three-year hiatus, the budget-friendly iPhone SE might finally be making a comeback.
Apple is poised to make a major announcement later today, which could see it unveil the brand new iPhone along with some exciting surprises.
Rumors are swirling about what else could be in store, with whispers of upgraded AirTag trackers and even a HomePod with a built-in screen. But the star of the show is expected to be the iPhone SE 4 (aka the iPhone 16E).
Apple’s wallet-friendly handset is set to go head-to-head with the Google Pixel 8A and Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, potentially landing at around the £500 mark.That would make it the most affordable new iPhone on the market, undercutting the iPhone 16 by a hefty £300.
Will it live up to the hype? Stay tuned to our live blog for all the latest as the big announcements roll in.
iPhone SE 4 price rise on the cards
12:38With talk that the iPhone SE 4 could be rebranded as the iPhone 16E, attention has turned to what the name change means for its price.
Apple has traditionally kept the SE range distinct from its flagship line-up, both in terms of design and cost.
Take the current iPhone SE (2022), for example. It starts at £429 for the 64GB model, climbing to £479 for 128GB and £579 for 256GB.
But if the new iPhone SE leans closer to the iPhone 16 in terms of hardware — thanks to its rumoured 6.1-inch OLED screen, A18 chip, 8GB of RAM, and Apple Intelligence — then we might see a price bump.
All that’s missing are the Action and Camera Control buttons from the flagship models, along with all the additional cameras.
The design, on the other hand, looks like a cross between the iPhone 14 and previous SE, mainly due to that display notch and single camera on the back.
Given the upgraded specs and features, we wouldn’t be shocked if Apple ups the price to £500 or more - maybe even pushing it to £599. That would still make it at least £200 cheaper than the base iPhone 16, putting it more in line with the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE (£549) than the Google Pixel 8a (£499).
The notch is back!
12:05 , Saqib Shah
Apple may be ditching the SE’s outdated home button, only to reintroduce another relic. We’re talking about the display notch (that little cutout at the top of the screen), which could be revived on the SE 4.
When it was first introduced on the iPhone X in 2017, the notch elicited mixed emotions. Some found it intrusive, especially when watching videos or playing games in landscape mode, but most users got used to it eventually.
Fast forward to 2022, and Apple swapped the notch for the Dynamic Island (a more refined, pill-shaped cutout that showed live app alerts) with the iPhone 14 Pro - and later expanded it to the entire lineup.
So, why bring back the notch, which was like marmite for iPhone users. Well, it could be a cost-cutting move: The notch has a simpler, more straightforward design that's easier to implement. In contrast, the Dynamic Island relies on extra software to make that space at the top of the screen more functional than just a housing for the camera.
Plus, the notch still allows Apple to offer a bigger screen that looks modern, even if the SE 4 lacks the bells and whistles of the pricier models. So, while it may feel like a step back in terms of innovation, it could actually be a strategic move to balance affordability with contemporary design.
iPhone SE 4 expected to be a monster hit
11:27Apple has weathered slowing iPhone sales in recent years, thanks to the rapid growth of its services business, which spans the App Store, Apple Music, iCloud, and more. However, the upcoming release of the iPhone SE 4 could provide a much-needed boost to its main money-spinner.
The new handset is expected to shift 22 million units this year, topping previous SE models, according to Apple analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo. In particular, it could help to boost Apple’s sales in China, where the iPhone has faced stiff competition from homegrown rivals like Huawei and Xiaomi. With Apple’s plans to open more stores in India and the UAE, the new iPhone SE could further drive sales in those regions, too.
iPhone SE4 is expected to ship around 12M/10M units in 1H25/2H25, performing slightly better than previous SE models (typically shipped near 20M units annually after launch). Not only does this help smooth out the usual seasonal dip in shipments, but it also boosts the adoption…
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) February 14, 2025
Apple clearly needs a hit, and the SE 4 could also put Apple Intelligence in the hands of more people, helping to spread the word about Apple’s AI features as users generate emojis and spruce up emails (and maybe even chat to Siri, now that it works with ChatGPT).
What else could Apple announce along with iPhone SE 4?
10:51 , Saqib ShahAs usual, Apple has a packed lineup of releases for 2025. Aside from today’s rumoured iPhone SE 4 launch, the tech giant is expected to refresh its 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the latest M4 chip in the first half of the year.
Apple first introduced the M4 chip in the iPad Pro last May before rolling out the beefier M4 Pro and M4 Max in the latest MacBook Pro range last autumn.
New versions of the iPad Air and the 11th-generation iPad are also on the horizon, along with a Mac Studio desktop powered by the M4 Max and M4 Ultra chips.
But today is mainly about the iPhone SE 4. Out of everything on Apple’s docket, we might also see an updated AirTag tracker and a new HomePod (possibly with an attached display), as part of its push to become a bigger force in the smart home space.
What's in a name? iPhone SE 4 vs iPhone 16E
10:34For months now, everyone has been referring to Apple’s rumoured new handset as the iPhone SE 4. But, could it get a new name to go with that rumoured new look? One clue could be in the announcement shared by Apple CEO Tim Cook, who pointed to the arrival of “the newest member of the family.”
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has taken that to mean that a rebrand could be on the cards, with rumours surfacing that it could be called the iPhone 16E. That in turn could suggest Apple is ditching the SE moniker for good and marketing the newcomer as the latest member of the iPhone 16 clan.
The name change is significant as it indicates the device could share more DNA with Apple’s flagship lineup, from design down to hardware. In case you were wondering, the SE in iPhone SE stands for “Special Edition” - so maybe this version is the iPhone 16 Edition?
Still, to avoid confusion, we’re sticking with iPhone SE 4 until we get confirmation from Apple.
A closer look at the rumoured iPhone SE 4
10:10Although Apple hasn’t confirmed the existence of the iPhone SE 4, tech leakers have shown off replicas of the device that offer a glimpse at its potential design.
Here are some of the juiciest leaks we’ve seen so far, including this video of a dummy unit showing the front and back of the rumoured iPhone:
Here's what the iPhone SE 4 looks like pic.twitter.com/pEyIAJ34VR
— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) January 25, 2025
Prolific Apple leaker Majin Bu has also shared pics comparing the iPhone SE 4 to other iPhones, including the iPhone 16:
iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 16 in comparison pic.twitter.com/tw3LiuFopG
— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) January 27, 2025
Here’s a look at the iPhone next to some of its biggest influences, including the iPhone 14:
iPhone SE 4, 12 Mini, 14 and 14 Pro in comparison pic.twitter.com/FmXZQO9cpp
— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) January 29, 2025
The images suggest the SE 4 will be significantly larger than its predecessors, slotting neatly into Apple’s iPhone 16 lineup with its curved corners and USB-C port — now mandatory under EU regulations. However, it stands apart from the rest of the range due to its single rear camera and a prominent display notch.
Notably, it seems to lack the Camera Control button found on the iPhone 16 Pro models, which could mean it won’t support Apple’s Visual Intelligence AI feature. Could this signal other compromises in Apple Intelligence capabilities as well? We’ll soon find out.
iPhone SE 4 reveal: What time is Apple's big announcement?
09:49Apple’s iPhone SE 4 is expected to be announced later today (Wednesday, February 19). This is the date Apple CEO Tim Cook himself has teased, so we know something is in the works.
“Get ready to meet the newest member of the family,” Mr Cook posted on X, with an animated image of what looks an awful lot like the Apple logo on the back of an iPhone.
Get ready to meet the newest member of the family.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 13, 2025
Wednesday, February 19. #AppleLaunch pic.twitter.com/0ML0NfMedu
For a phone loved by so many Apple fans, the new model is set to arrive with surprisingly little fanfare. Instead of a flashy launch event, Apple will reportedly drop the news quietly on its website.
Unlike the biggest of Apple launches, there has not been a time announced. Where the company’s flashiest events always kick off at 6pm UK time, new products that only get a debut over a press release often appear earlier in the day.
Mr Cook shared his release teaser at 4pm, UK time, so could that also be when the news is sent out?
iPhone SE 4 - a pared-back iPhone 16?
09:41iPhone SE 4 looks so beautiful pic.twitter.com/ezhNrrhyf8
— Majin Bu (@MajinBuOfficial) January 26, 2025
Apple is set to give the iPhone SE a major makeover, bringing it closer to the current generation of iPhones. As such, it could be the cheapest way to access Apple’s new AI software, known as Apple Intelligence, which is currently limited to the more expensive iPhone 16 and last year’s high-end Pro models.
Leaks suggest the SE 4 will be bigger, with a full-screen display that finally purges the outdated physical home button for Face ID. It’s also expected to borrow the iPhone 14’s divisive display notch but won’t feature the Dynamic Island, which remains exclusive to premium models. To make up for that cutback, the 6.1-inch OLED screen should offer similar resolution and pixel density to the iPhone 16.
Under the hood, the SE 4 is rumored to pack the same A18 chip as the iPhone 16, potentially doubling the RAM to support Apple Intelligence. It could also feature a single 48MP camera on the back and a 12MP selfie camera, both lifted from the iPhone 15. Plus, it might be the first iPhone to use Apple’s custom-built 5G modem, which could improve battery life.
All told, it’s primed to be a massive upgrade over the last SE from 2022.
