I'm currently in the market for a new iPhone. But which one should I choose? Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 are attractive options, and there are some great deals available right now. Still… it won’t be cheap.
If money is the problem, what about Apple's budget-focused iPhone SE? The current model is two and a half years old and received poor reviews when it was new. But a new 4th generation model is expected to hit the market next spring, with updated components and design, and a price tag below $500. Considering the high price of the flagship models, this offer is attractive. Surely a new iPhone SE can only be a good buy?
This raises a new question. Should I postpone purchasing the iPhone 16 and wait for the 4th generation iPhone SE? You know what? I don't think so. Because the more I hear about the next SE, the more I think we're going to be very disappointed.
What we know so far
Rumors tell us, quite consistently, that the next SE will have the dimensions of an iPhone 14. The SE has always been a compact handset, but the era of such phones seems to be over. They had their fans, but Apple was never satisfied with the sales figures of the iPhone 12 mini and 13 mini.
For most buyers, a screen measuring at least six inches is a barrier. This is understandable, as many apps and websites simply aren't fun to use with anything smaller. Many web apps have been optimized for larger screens and are barely usable with a device the size of the iPhone SE 2022.
So we can expect the 2025 SE to feature a 6.1-inch OLED display, albeit a slightly cheaper panel than the iPhone 14. And of course it will have a notch, which will make it obsolete and old. And Apple will compromise in other areas as well. The Action button on the left edge, which Apple introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro, will be missing. The new Camera Control on the right edge will also remain exclusive to the iPhone 16.
Foundry
As the leaks seem to prove, the budget model will also only have one camera, just like the iPhone XR, one of the few 2025 phones to have just one camera. And while the iPhone 16 comes in a variety of colors, the new SE will likely stick to the same three options: black, white, and red.
Finally, the current iPhone SE is quite affordable at $429, but a price hike is expected for the new model. I guess it's $499 for the entry-level version with 128GB. That's cheaper than the $799 iPhone 16 for sure, but not as attractive as the original $399 iPhone SE.
What's old is new
With its small screen and old-fashioned Touch ID button, the current iPhone SE serves as a warning: Apple isn't afraid to rely on very old technology for this line of phones. The 2020 2nd generation SE, for example, was heavily based on the iPhone 8, released three years earlier.
The reason for this? Apple wanna these phones feel older. The iPhone SE is intended to deter Apple's more thrifty customers from upgrading to a cheap Android device without cannibalizing purchases of other iPhones. The more expensive an iPhone is, the more profitable it is for Apple, so the company doesn't want to sell too many SEs. This is a budget iPhone that looks like a budget iPhone, not a status symbol.
IDG
There is of course still a market for the SE. It is not only ideal for price-conscious private customers. Many budget buyers don't want a used device, put off by battery problems and the fact that the device has had a previous owner. For those who want a new iPhone even if it lacks the latest features and best design, the SE is the right choice for them.
But what they won't get is enthusiasm. They are more likely to experience a sense of déjà vu with a notch, a single camera and thick bezels.
The curious case of Apple Intelligence
The 4th generation iPhone SE has a really cool feature up its sleeve, something that could make it a success after all: support for Apple Intelligence. If Apple's new AI platform is something you're desperate to try, the next SE could be a real option.
Several reports predicted that the next OS would support Apple Intelligence, but there was no need to say so; It's a feature that the affordable iPhone simply has to offer. Even Apple, the stingiest, wouldn't launch a new iPhone in 2025 without supporting its own AI. And that, in turn, means that the new SE will have 8GB of RAM and will likely be equipped with the A18 processor, the same as the iPhone 16.
The iPhone SE will surely support Apple Intelligence, but what about the iPhone 14 and 15?
Apple
Even if you're not interested in AI, the fact that the 4th Gen SE is built for AI means it will deliver the stellar overall performance of an iPhone 16 and outperform the iPhone 15, which costs $699. But this phone has a better camera and features despite lacking Apple's flagship AI.
This is all very confusing for buyers, so perhaps Apple will stop selling the iPhone 14 and 15 before things return to normal when the iPhone 17 arrives later in the year.
Love the good, live with the bad
The next iPhone SE will not be a real alternative to the iPhone 16; after all, it's not in Apple's best interest. It will have its merits and a lower price, but if the new SE really gets anyone excited, Apple won't have done its job properly.
The 4th generation SE will certainly have its fans, but the vast majority of iPhone buyers will opt for a “better” model. And that's exactly how Apple likes it.
Michael Simon contributed to this article.
This article was originally published on our sister publication Macwelt and has been translated and localized from German.
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