It’s been a while since we heard anything about the iPhone SE 4, the follow-up to 2022’s iPhone SE 3, but a new rumor suggests it will share some design similarities with the upcoming iPhone 16.
According to tipster Fixed Focus Digital on Chinese social media site Weibo (via MacRumors), Apple's most affordable phone will use the same rear chassis manufacturing process as Apple's 2024 flagship phone.
That doesn't mean the two phones are identical, but there may be some similarities in terms of dimensions and styling. It means the iPhone SE 4 could also adopt the vertical dual-lens rear camera setup that's been rumored for the iPhone 16.
Previous leaks had suggested that the iPhone SE 4 could be based on 2022's iPhone 14, but now it looks like Apple could be opting for a more modern look – and of course, it will save Apple some money if parts of the iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 16 manufacturing process are shared as production ramps up.
What we expect
We'll most likely see the iPhone 16 launch first – it's expected to launch in September, alongside the iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – and we think there will be some design tweaks on display.
Dummy models of all four phones have appeared, with a new camera bump around the rear camera lenses on the standard and Plus models, and a slight increase in height on the Pro and Pro Max phones. We could also see some new colors this year.
As for the iPhone SE 4, that might not arrive until early next year. This should be the model where the iPhone SE finally ditches the old iPhone design, with the Touch ID home button, and adopts a more modern look.
In addition to an OLED display, the iPhone SE 4 could feature Dynamic Island, just like the higher-end iPhones. It will be interesting to see if the changes affect the price of the cheapest iPhone (remember, the iPhone SE 3 started at $429/£419/AU$719 when it launched).
