When to Expect the iPhone SE 4 or So-Called 'iPhone 16E' to Launch - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

When to Expect the iPhone SE 4 or So-Called 'iPhone 16E' to Launch

Apple is widely rumored to be planning a new iPhone SE, and multiple sources lately have commented on the device's launch timing.

se 4 for 2025
The latest word comes from Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a blog post today, he said the device will be released around the middle of the first half of 2025. In other words, around the quarter mark of 2025. That means the next iPhone SE will likely be released this March or April, just like all previous models of the device.

Kuo did not reveal any other details about the next iPhone SE, which apparently might end up being named "iPhone 16E" or similar.

One leaker recently claimed that the device will launch with iOS 18.3, which is expected to be released in late January. However, that rumor was quickly shot down by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who said Apple is aiming to release the device "by April." Kuo's timeframe also suggests that a March or April release is more likely than January.

The new iPhone SE is said to have a similar design as the base iPhone 14. Rumored features for the device include a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a USB-C port, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, a newer A-series chip and 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence support, and the first Apple-designed 5G modem. It is not entirely clear if the device will have an Action button, which debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro models.

The current iPhone SE looks similar to the iPhone 8, with outdated features such as a Touch ID button, Lightning port, and thick bezels around the display. Pricing starts at $429, but at least a slight price increase seems probable for the next model.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone 18 Pro Rumored Colors

Apple Cutting Back 2026 Hardware Shipments Due to Memory Shortage

Monday August 10, 2026 11:38 am PDT by
Apple is scaling back its hardware shipment plans in 2026 due to DRAM shortages, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today. Kuo made the comment in a longer piece disputing a recent report suggesting TSMC has $1 billion of unpackaged processors waiting on memory chips that Apple has been unable to secure. Kuo said Apple plans processor production at least three months in advance based on the...
Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium

New Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 Features Revealed

Sunday August 30, 2026 7:54 am PDT by
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today further outlined what to expect from the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 set to be unveiled on September 9. While it was initially rumored that Touch ID may be coming to the Apple Watch this year, Gurman reiterated that he does not expect the Series 12 or Ultra 4 to have any major design changes compared to the current Series 11 and Ultra 3 models. ...
Mac mini vs Studio Feature Sans Text 1

Apple Caught Off Guard by AI Demand for Mac Mini and Mac Studio

Sunday August 30, 2026 8:52 am PDT by
Apple's unusually timed announcement of new Mac mini and Mac Studio models this week was driven by unexpectedly strong enterprise appetite for AI hardware, according to The Information. Apple normally releases new Mac models in the autumn, closer to October or November, making this week's announcement unusually early, falling just before the anticipated arrival of new iPhone models. The...

Top Rated Comments

22 months ago

Apple is widely rumored to be planning a new iPhone SE ('https://www.macrumors.com/guide/iphone-se-4/'), and multiple sources lately have commented on the device's launch timing.

when to expect new iphone se image

The latest word comes from Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. In a blog post today ('https://medium.com/@mingchikuo/apple%E5%9C%A82025%E5%B9%B4%E5%8F%AF%E8%83%BD%E5%B0%87%E9%9D%A2%E8%87%A8%E6%9B%B4%E7%82%BA%E5%9A%B4%E5%B3%BB%E7%9A%84%E6%8C%91%E6%88%B0-%E9%A0%88%E8%AC%B9%E6%85%8E%E9%9D%A2%E5%B0%8D%E5%B8%82%E5%A0%B4%E5%85%88%E5%89%8D%E9%81%8E%E5%BA%A6%E6%A8%82%E8%A7%80%E5%B0%8E%E8%87%B4%E7%9A%84%E6%BD%9B%E5%9C%A8%E4%B8%8B%E8%A1%8C%E9%A2%A8%E9%9A%AA-6256c091f06d'), he said the device will be released around the middle of the first half of 2025. In other words, around the quarter mark of 2025. That means the next iPhone SE will likely be released this March or April, just like all previous models of the device.

Kuo did not reveal any other details about the next iPhone SE, which apparently might end up being named "iPhone 16E" ('https://www.macrumors.com/2025/01/01/iphone-se-4-rumored-to-be-named-iphone-16e/') or similar.

One leaker recently claimed that the device will launch with iOS 18.3 ('https://www.macrumors.com/2025/01/07/iphone-se-4-and-ipad-11-launch-timing/'), which is expected to be released in late January. However, that rumor was quickly shot down by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who said Apple is aiming to release the device "by April." ('https://www.macrumors.com/2025/01/07/iphone-se-4-and-ipad-11-by-april/') Kuo's timeframe also suggests that a March or April release is more likely than January.

The new iPhone SE is said to have a similar design as the base iPhone 14. Rumored features for the device include a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a USB-C port, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, a newer A-series chip and 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence support ('https://www.macrumors.com/2024/10/01/new-iphone-se-and-ipad-air-early-2025-rumor/'), and the first Apple-designed 5G modem ('https://www.macrumors.com/2024/12/06/apple-5g-modem-plans-report/'). It is not entirely clear if the device will have an Action button, which debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro models.

The current iPhone SE looks similar to the iPhone 8, with outdated features such as a Touch ID button, Lightning port, and thick bezels around the display. Pricing starts at $429, but at least a slight price increase seems probable for the next model.

Article Link: When to Expect the iPhone SE 4 or So-Called 'iPhone 16E' to Launch ('https://www.macrumors.com/2025/01/10/when-to-expect-new-iphone-se/')
"Outdated" features that some of us prefer, like TouchID/Home Button.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mashdots Avatar
22 months ago

Rumored features for the device include a 6.1-inch OLED display
Really wish apple would bring back the sub-6" screen phones.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
22 months ago
Whenever it comes, I will likely upgrade to one from a trusted 6s. Yeah. I know. It's about time.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
22 months ago

Just so. My personal anecdote along those lines involved floppy drives ('https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/macos-13-2-breaks-compatibility-with-pioneers-cd-dvd-drives-updated.2379431/?post=31935653#post-31935653').

Touch ID had a good run. It still lives on, for now, on some iPads which haven't yet migrated to Face ID... and those will likely be discontinued in the coming year or three. Even as much as some people still like it, it really is time to move on. After all, do you really want to be that guy, clinging white knuckled to your 5 1/4" floppy drive?
I suppose the modern successor to the 5 1/4" floppy is the USB flash drive, which can hold a jillion times more data, is a jillion times faster, is smaller, and is more durable. You'd have to be a complete idiot to prefer the former.

Can we honestly say that Face ID is much better than Touch ID? ... Actually, is it any better at all?

I've never owned a phone with Face ID but I'm constantly seeing people around me being forced to enter their PINs because Face ID has failed in whatever particular situation they were trying to use it in.

While I can go for weeks without having to enter my phone password with Touch ID...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jz0309 Avatar
22 months ago

Ming-Chi Kuo. In a blog post today ('https://medium.com/@mingchikuo/apple%E5%9C%A82025%E5%B9%B4%E5%8F%AF%E8%83%BD%E5%B0%87%E9%9D%A2%E8%87%A8%E6%9B%B4%E7%82%BA%E5%9A%B4%E5%B3%BB%E7%9A%84%E6%8C%91%E6%88%B0-%E9%A0%88%E8%AC%B9%E6%85%8E%E9%9D%A2%E5%B0%8D%E5%B8%82%E5%A0%B4%E5%85%88%E5%89%8D%E9%81%8E%E5%BA%A6%E6%A8%82%E8%A7%80%E5%B0%8E%E8%87%B4%E7%9A%84%E6%BD%9B%E5%9C%A8%E4%B8%8B%E8%A1%8C%E9%A2%A8%E9%9A%AA-6256c091f06d'), he said the device will be released around the middle of the first half of 2025. In other words, around the quarter mark of 2025. That means the next iPhone SE will likely be released this March or April, just like all previous models of the device.

Kuo did not reveal any other details
In other words - he doesn’t know.
LOL
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
21 months ago

These "phones" are huge COMPARED to a normal phone. Just because they're all big doesn't make them not big.
A normal phone like an AT&T rotary dial phone?

The iPhone 16 is MUCH smaller than one of those normal phones...
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors