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The current iPhone SE looks similar to the iPhone 8, with outdated features such as a Touch ID button, Lightning port, and thick bezels around the display.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

Apple Intelligence General Feature 2

Google Gemini Could Be the Ceiling on Apple's AI Ambitions

Monday June 8, 2026 5:31 am PDT by
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says the real test of today's WWDC keynote is whether Apple can deliver better AI experiences than Google using the same Gemini models. Apple is using Google's Gemini to underpin the revamped version of Siri and new Apple Intelligence features. The key takeaway from WWDC, Kuo argues in a new post on X, will not be the short-term market reaction after the event. It...
iCloud iPhone 17 Pro

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Get Two New Perks on iOS 27

Thursday July 2, 2026 6:10 am PDT by
If you pay for certain iCloud+ storage plans beyond the 5GB that Apple offers for free, you will receive two more perks on iOS 27 at no additional cost. A summary of the two new iCloud+ perks on iOS 27:Increased daily usage limits for some new Apple Intelligence features, including image generation in the revamped Image Playground app. HomeKit Secure Video cameras receive generated video...
American Express Gold Apple Pay Feature

American Express Announces New Apple Pay Feature

Tuesday June 30, 2026 10:27 am PDT by
American Express today announced that you can now redeem Membership Rewards points when checking out with Apple Pay on the web and in apps on the iPhone and iPad. When checking out with Apple Pay on iOS 18 or iPadOS 18 or later, tap on your eligible American Express card (Platinum, Gold, Green, and others) and select the Membership Rewards points option. You can use points to cover all or...

Top Rated Comments

19 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.

MacRumors content 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
19 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)
19 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)
19 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
19 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)
19 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)