The new iPhone SE expected to launch this week might not be called the iPhone SE 4, as reports have taken to calling it.
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman believes the newest version of the budget-friendly iPhone will be rebranded to fit with the iPhone 16 series, instead of continuing with the “SE” naming convention. This fits with leaker Majin Bu’s claim in late December, 2024 (via MacRumors) that it will be called the iPhone 16E, or some variation with “16” and “E” in the name.
Apple CEO Tim Cook may have hinted at this when he announced the Feb. 19 launch on X, saying, “get ready to meet the newest member of the family.” This suggests the new iPhone SE will be marketed as a lower-cost addition to the iPhone 16 lineup.
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Based on rumors from Apple insiders, the new device is equipped with the same A18 chip that powers the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. “Given how drastic the overhaul is to the iPhone SE, a new name makes complete sense,” said Gurman in his newsletter.
With the same chip as the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models, the new device (let’s call it the iPhone 16E) will have Apple Intelligence features. Exactly, which features are unclear at this point, but the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus have AI-summarized notifications, AI writing tools for generating and summarizing messages and emails, and the new Genmoji feature for creating your own emojis with AI. Apple Intelligence also has the new and improved Siri, and access to ChatGPT through a partnership with OpenAI. So, it’s safe to expect at least some, if not all of these features for what’s to come on Wednesday.
The iPhone 16E will also reportedly have a 6.1 inch display, up from the 2022 iPhone SE 3’s 4.7 inch display which was the last time this model was released. While it is rumored to have an updated design, the iPhone 16E will reportedly still have the camera notch instead of the Dynamic Island, and a single rear-facing camera. Gurman says it will costs around $500, compared to the iPhone 16 which starts at $799.
Whatever the name and specs end up being, we only have to wait until Wednesday for the official confirmation.
