Apple iPhone SE

 Apple iPhone SE : Price and Design   

Apple has been reportedly working on a renewed iPhone SE model, which is based on the iPhone 14 structure and is expected to be released in 2025. Tim Cook’s Cupertino-based giant is likely to increase the cost of this next-generation iPhone SE over the current generation model, according to reports available. The price hike is expected to be up to 10% in the US. The supposed cost of the new iPhone SE is anticipated at $469. However, it is also entirely possible that Apple releases the next iPhone SE model at $429, which is the same as the current generation model. There's some good news floating around the internet if you like the idea of low-cost option remaining a part of Apple's line up of best iPhones. A report claims the iPhone SE 4 won't cost any more than $499, as Apple looks to undercut the midrange competition on price.  But there's another number that's more significant than the $499 iPhone SE pricing cap that's now floating around and it's "2025."

That's the earliest Apple watchers are expecting a new iPhone SE to appear. And barring a surprise appearance at WWDC 2024, this means there will be no iPhone SE 4 at any point this year. This lengthy pause between iPhone SE updates, the current model came out in 2022, undercuts whatever good pricing rumours are out there. And it makes the iPhone SE 4 a tough sell whenever the phone eventually decides to reveal itself. As old as the existing iPhone SE 2022 may be, it's still got the cheapest price of any phone in Apple's current line up at $429. A report claims that Apple is aiming to offer the iPhone SE 4 at the same price, or at the very least, only increase the price by 10% over the current model. This would mean a maximum cost of $499, which would still mean that the iPhone SE 4 could compete on price with the best cheap phones out there.

Design

As to other rumoured iPhone SE 4 changes, the biggest probably concerns the phone's design. The current model draws on the look of the iPhone 8 for inspiration, which means it's a pretty dated design at this point. Most observers expect the new SE to adopt the look of the iPhone 14, meaning smaller bezels than the current model; it would also mean the Face ID camera and sensors would be housed in a notch as opposed to the Dynamic Island cutout that's been available on all new iPhones since the iPhone 15's release last fall.

The next-generation iPhone SE is likely to have a 6.1-inch display with a notch design, as per the media reports. It will also incorporate the front facing camera and Face ID sensors just like iPhone 14. Interestingly, this will be a big shift from the current model which features a home button with TouchID and a 4.7-inch display. Just like the iPhone 15 series, the iPhone SE fourth generation model is anticipated to have a flat frame design and glossy back panel along with a single camera setup.

The iPhone SE typically adopts the Apple silicon that powered the flagships released the previous fall. Assuming a 2025 release for the iPhone SE 4, that could mean the A18 chipset tipped to power this year's iPhone 16 releases. If that doesn't pan out though, we could see at least an A16 Bionic or A17 Pro chipset inside the next iPhone SE, which would be represent a fairly significant upgrade for the budget phone.