The ‘iPhone SE 4’ Could Launch This Month

iPhone SE 4 Concept 4RMD Credit: iPhone SE 4 Concept [4RMD]
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While Apple is naturally keeping quiet about its plans, as usual, it’s commonly accepted that the next-generation iPhone SE will launch in the first half of this year. However, if a new report from MacRumors is accurate, we could be seeing Apple’s new budget iPhone sooner than expected.

According to a known leaker who posted under a private account on X, Apple plans to release two new devices alongside iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, both of which are currently in beta. The leaker specifies the devices as “V59” and “J481,” matching codenames previously reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman for an iPhone SE and the next entry-level iPad, respectively.

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The information doesn’t specify a precise timeline other than to say that the new devices will accompany Apple’s next iOS and iPadOS point releases, but as MacRumors points out, the last three “.3” versions of iOS have all arrived in late January: iOS 15.3 came out on January 26, 2022, iOS 16.3 on January 23, 2023, and iOS 17.3 on January 22, 2024 — and those were quite a bit later than the “.3” versions that came before, which arrived in December.

Of course, this doesn’t guarantee that iOS 18.3 will land in January, but it seems likely, considering that the second beta was released today. There aren’t exactly a staggering number of new features that need testing here, either. To put this in context, iOS 18.2, which added Image Playground, Genmoji, and ChatGPT support (among a few other things), began its beta cycle on Oct 23, 2024, and saw its final release on Dec 11, 2024. iOS 18.3 beta 1 showed up less than a week later on Dec 16, 2024 — around the same time the betas for the prior “.3” versions appeared.

This all adds up to suggest that a high probability of a late January release of iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. What’s less certain is whether Apple plans to push out new products simultaneously.

While MacRumors has respected the leaker’s wish to remain anonymous, they’ve confirmed that the source has proven reliable over the past few years.

iPhone SE 4 concept 4RMD

This rumor carries more weight than it might otherwise, as Apple has an extra incentive to release the iPhone SE earlier than its usual March-April schedule. At the end of December, Apple was forced to pull all of its Lightning-equipped iPhones from sale in the European Union as the new USB-C requirement came into effect. This not only resulted in the 2022 iPhone SE disappearing from the shelves in EU member countries, but also the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.

In other words, there’s now a significant lower-end price vacuum for iPhones in the EU. The most affordable USB-C-equipped model is the iPhone 15, which still sells for between 849 and 879 Euros, depending on the country. By contrast, the iPhone SE was €529–549.

Three months is a long time to go without selling a budget iPhone in one of Apple’s largest markets. It’s not like Apple didn’t know this day was coming, so it’s had plenty of time to get the next iPhone SE ready to launch as early as possible.

The new iPhone SE will also likely help to fill the gap left by the iPhone 14, as it’s expected to have a nearly identical design, with the only significant difference being the dual camera system. Some have even suggested that Apple might discontinue the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus early in the rest of the world once the new iPhone SE launches, although that’s pure speculation at this point, as is a rather dubious rumor that Apple will name the new model the “iPhone 16E.” While we can’t rule that out, it seems like a long shot considering the typical refresh cycle of the iPhone SE and the fact that the design will be far more like the iPhone 14, lacking newer elements like the Action button and Dynamic Island.

Regardless of what it’s called, the new iPhone SE is still expected to have quite a bit going for it, including an OLED panel, Face ID, and Apple’s latest A18 chip with 8 GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence. Essentially, just like iPhone SE models before it, you’ll be getting most of the same design and capabilities of the 2.5-year-old model — an iPhone 14 in this case — with the latest Apple silicon inside.



[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]

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