Apple is expected to unveil the highly anticipated iPhone SE 4 in the coming days, marking a significant shift in the company’s budget iPhone strategy.
The fourth-generation iPhone SE will feature a number of notable upgrades, including a larger display, a more powerful chip, and a refreshed design, all aimed at giving users an affordable but modern iPhone experience.
According to multiple reports, the device could be announced as early as next week, with a potential release date of February 28, 2025. Pre-sales may begin shortly before that, possibly on February 21, 2025.
While an earlier announcement was speculated to be in February, Apple typically prefers to offer a window of time for customers to place pre-orders before the official release.
With this in mind, February 28 is widely regarded as the most likely date for the iPhone SE 4 to officially hit store shelves.
Bigger screen and enhanced performance
One of the most striking changes with the iPhone SE 4 will be its much larger 6.1-inch display, a significant upgrade from the 4.7-inch screen of its predecessor. This change brings the SE in line with Apple’s other recent iPhone models, such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 series, which also sport 6.1-inch screens. For users who have longed for a bigger screen without the hefty price tag of a flagship device, this is an exciting development.
The SE 4 will also feature Apple's A18 processor, the same chip that powers the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. The A18 chip introduces “Apple Intelligence,” a suite of AI-driven features that are currently only available in Apple’s more premium models. This is expected to deliver a notable performance boost over the previous generation SE, making the new device significantly more powerful while maintaining the affordability that the SE series is known for.
Design and camera updates
For the first time in the SE lineup, the iPhone SE 4 will feature an entirely new design. While it retains the familiar single rear camera, it will introduce an all-screen front, similar to the iPhone 14, although without the Dynamic Island found in more recent iPhones. Instead, the SE 4 will have a simple camera notch, which houses the front-facing camera and Face ID technology, replacing the previous model's Touch ID. This shift reflects Apple’s ongoing trend toward enhancing the user experience with more modern features.
In terms of camera, the SE 4 will continue to use a single rear camera, a design choice that helps keep the cost down while still offering good photographic performance. The camera is expected to be more powerful than the one found in the iPhone 14, though exact specifications are still unclear.
USB-C and pricing
Another important update for the iPhone SE 4 is the switch from Apple's proprietary Lightning port to USB-C. This change will make the SE 4 more compatible with European regulations, which now require smartphones to adopt a universal charging port. This move will also appeal to customers who already own USB-C accessories, making the transition smoother for those switching to the new device.
The iPhone SE 4 is expected to be priced around $500, making it an attractive option for users looking for a more budget-friendly iPhone that still offers modern features and performance. While the price could vary slightly, the $500 mark is in line with Apple's previous pricing strategy for the SE series, which has consistently offered a more affordable alternative to the flagship iPhones.
Pre-sales are expected to open around February 21, 2025, with reviews likely to be published shortly before the official release. As the iPhone SE 4 nears launch, all eyes will be on Apple to see if the device can live up to the hype surrounding its design, performance, and value proposition
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