You Might Want to Wait Until Next Year to Buy an IPhone
Thinking about buying a new iPhone? You certainly have options: Apple’s latest generation of smartphones, the iPhone 16 series , offers four different models, each with their own pros and cons. If you’re not in the mood for the latest and greatest, you might want to consider last year’s iPhone 15 or even the 2022 iPhone 14 . They’re all great.
However, there is one iPhone that stands out from the rest: the iPhone SE. Unlike every other iPhone Apple currently sells, this one has a Home button. In fact, the phone looks almost identical to the iPhone 8 that Apple released back in 2017, which itself borrowed its design from the 2014 iPhone 6. It’s not as efficient as newer iPhones and has poor battery life for its size. In short, the current SE is kind of a black sheep, and it’s probably not the iPhone I’d recommend you buy in 2024, even if it only costs $429.
This price is a major selling point for the SE brand, especially when this particular model was released back in 2022 . Apple takes a last-gen design (in this case, the iPhone 8 style), puts a modern chip inside, and lowers the suggested retail price. Essentially, you’re getting an iPhone that can match the performance of Apple’s flagship phones, but for half the price, if not more. Sure, the cameras aren’t that great and the device looks a little dated, but again, you’re getting a lot of iPhone for the price.
Honestly, if you’re looking for a mid-range device at a good price, I wouldn’t recommend buying an iPhone right now at all. If you can wait until spring, Apple may have exactly what you’re looking for in the new SE.
2025 could be the year of SE
As reported by MacRumors , analysts have confirmed that Apple is working on a fourth-generation iPhone SE. The only “confirmed” spec in this report is a 5G modem made by Apple. If true, this would be the first iPhone to feature a non-Qualcomm 5G modem, but it’s unclear whether that would mean any performance gains or other positive changes for customers. Analysts say the SE is scheduled to launch late in the first quarter of 2025, which could coincide with the rumored March announcement. Apple introduced SE 3 in March 2022, so everything will be consistent.
According to rumors, we will see an iPhone SE 4 with decent specifications. MacRumors claims the SE could have a 6.1-inch OLED display with Face ID, an updated A-series chip (though it’s unclear which chip Apple will use), USB-C, a 48MP rear camera, 8GB of RAM, and much more. new 5G modem. This extra RAM will allow the SE 4 to run Apple Intelligence , which is obviously important to Apple, but perhaps not to those who have already disabled it .
If these features are implemented, it will be a significant upgrade over the current iPhone SE. The SE 3 features a 4.7-inch 750p LCD display, which is much smaller and lower resolution than rumored. It uses the A15 Bionic chip, which is still quite powerful in 2024 (the same chip used in the iPhone 14), has a Lightning port, a 12MP rear camera, 4GB of RAM and, of course, a Qualcomm 5G modem. .
The SE always borrows from the previous generation of iPhone, and right now it’s most likely the iPhone 14. You probably won’t be able to tell the SE from the 14 at first glance, but based on these rumors, the new SE will have some advantage over the iPhone 14: iPhone 14 has a 12MP rear camera, 6GB of RAM , a Lightning port, and doesn’t support Apple Intelligence, all of which the SE is rumored to improve upon. And while the A15 Bionic chip in the 14 is powerful enough for iOS 18 , the SE 4 will undoubtedly feature a newer A-series chip. The A15 was the newest iPhone chip when the SE 3 launched: if Apple continues this trend, the SE 4 could get the A18 chip from the iPhone 16. Even the A17 chip in the 15 Pro would be a real upgrade.
Will Apple be able to keep its price low?
Of course, the SE is rumored to vary depending on price. Ideally, Apple would like to keep the same $429 price for the SE 4, which itself was an increase from the $399 starting price for past SE models. These rumors point to a superior all-around iPhone that lacks some modern or “pro” features such as a camera button , action button , zoom lens, titanium body, 120Hz ProMotion display, Always-On display, Dynamic Island , and maximum brightness 2000 nits. Hopefully, eliminating these features that most users don’t want or need might encourage Apple to price the SE accordingly. As of this writing, rumors don’t suggest that Apple will do one way or the other.
After all, most people looking to buy an iPhone want something that can handle iMessage and FaceTime, run their favorite apps, and take great photos and videos. The SE has traditionally handled these tasks without issue, so if the fourth-generation iPhone SE actually lives up to these rumors and is priced accordingly, it could be the best iPhone for most of us.