We’ve been hearing a lot of rumors about the next generation iPhone SE, which is expected to be announced sometime next year with a major redesign compared to the current model. Of course, one of the main selling points of the iPhone SE is the more affordable price – and there’s some news about that.
Apple rumored to increase iPhone SE price
According to leaker @Revegnus1, the iPhone SE could be around 10% more expensive in the US following the launch of its next generation next year. Currently, Apple sells the iPhone SE 3 for prices starting at $429 for the 64GB version. A 10% increase would take the starting price to around $469.
At the same time, the leaker also claims that Apple wants to keep the price of the new iPhone SE below the $500 mark. There’s also a chance that the company will keep the same $429 price as the current generation.
For comparison, these are the starting prices for iPhones that Apple currently sells:
iPhone SE 3: $429
iPhone 13: $599
iPhone 14: $699
iPhone 14 Plus: $799
iPhone 15: $799
iPhone 15 Plus: $899
iPhone 15 Pro: $999
iPhone 15 Pro Max: $1199
Apple has a history of increasing the price of products when they receive a major redesign. This happened with the entry-level iPad in its 10th generation, which went from $329 to $449. More recently, the company brought the price back to $349.
Verdict
According to the latest rumors, the iPhone SE 4 will have the same design as the iPhone 14, with a 6.1-inch OLED display, flat edges, and Face ID. The current SE model is still based on the iPhone 8 design with a 4.7-inch LCD display and Home Button with Touch ID.
A price increase for the iPhone SE 4 to $469 or even $499 won’t come as a surprise. However, how Apple will differentiate the new SE from the iPhone 14 (which is expected to cost $599 when Apple launches the iPhone 16 later this year) remains unclear. The company could phase out the iPhone 14, for example.
Recent reports have revealed that Apple is working on a new ultra-slim iPhone for 2025 that would cost even more than the current Pro Max model. If that’s the case, we might see higher prices for the entire iPhone lineup next year.
The Information says Apple plans to introduce iPhone SE 4 in spring 2025.
In 2020, after a four-year wait, Apple finally updated the iPhone SE to… the iPhone SE 2020. Hanging on to the same name is a little confusing—Apple differentiates the new model when necessary by calling it the 2nd-generation iPhone SE, but most people either call it the iPhone SE (2020) or iPhone SE 2.
Whatever you call it, it’s not very likely to be updated in 2021. It’s also not very likely that Apple will wait another four years to update its most affordable iPhone. We currently expect the new iPhone SE (which may be called the iPhone SE (2022), iPhone SE (3rd-generation), or iPhone SE 3) to be released in the first half of 2022. Here’s a summary of all the latest rumors, leaks, and other information we’ve been able to gather about the next revision of Apple’s most affordable iPhone. All of this is subject to change until Apple officially announces it.
2022 iPhone SE: The latest rumors
In a note to investors seen by MacRumors, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple will position the 3rd-generation iPhone SE as the “cheapest 5G iPhone ever.” (Apple will undoubtedly not use the word “cheapest.”)
2022 iPhone SE: Design and display
Currently, the most reliable analysts expect the next iPhone SE to physically resemble the current model. That’s perhaps a little disappointing—the iPhone SE is based on the body of the iPhone 8, which is now discontinued. However, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple plans to move ahead with another SE model to feature the 4.7-inch LCD display, a Home button with Touch ID, and no Face ID. In other words, the next iPhone SE is once again rumored to be based on the iPhone 8’s shell, with select new components.
Apple is also said to be working on an updated version of the iPhone 11, which features a 6.1-inch LCD and Face ID. If this were to release in 2022, the iPhone 11 would be more than two years old, which fits in with Apple’s pattern of the iPhone SE using old iPhone bodies and screen technology with some new internal components. This potential phone may launch as the iPhone SE Plus that was originally rumored to release in the second half of 2021, but more recent rumors suggest a 2022 or 2023 release date.
2022 iPhone SE: 5G
The big selling point of the next iPhone SE is said to be that it is the most affordable 5G iPhone ever. The iPhone 12 mini is currently the least expensive 5G iPhone at $699, so you can expect the iPhone SE to cost less than that, though it may not retain the $399 price of the current iPhone SE.
It’s unknown if the iPhone SE will support mmWave 5G in addition to sub-6GHz frequencies. The iPhone 8’s body was never designed for antenna modules necessary for good mmWave reception, though it’s not clear to what degree that would be a problem, or if Apple could easily modify it.
2022 iPhone SE: Processor
Apple has historically outfitted the iPhone SE with the very latest Apple A-series processor; the one used in the most recent high-end iPhone models. That means a 3rd-generation iPhone SE launching in the spring of 2022 would have the same processor as the iPhone 13 launching later this year, which we expect to be the A15. That will make it fast, a great value, and eligible for iOS updates for a very long time, as was the case with the prior iPhone SE models. Apple’s cost-cutting comes from the body, display, cameras, and other such features (don’t expect MagSafe, for example).
2022 iPhone SE: Camera
When the iPhone SE 3 lands, it is expected to carry the same single 12MP wide-angle rear camera as the current model, along with a lone front-facing camera. The current model has a 7MP front-facing camera, which we would like to see upgraded to 12MP, but we’ve heard no rumors about it one way or the other.
Don’t expect huge improvements in camera quality from fancy new sensors, though. Apple is likely to tout the improved camera quality of the new iPhone SE, but it will come mostly from improved visual processing of the A15 relative to the A13 in the current 2nd-gen iPhone SE.
2022 iPhone SE: Price and release
We don’t know what the iPhone SE will cost, only that it should be less expensive than any other iPhone. The iPhone 12 mini currently retails for $699, and the iPhone SE for $399, each offering 64GB of storage. With the inclusion of 5G and the associated licensing costs, it’s quite possible that the iPhone SE gets a price hike to something like $449 or $499, but we don’t expect it to cost more than that.
Apple has released the last two iPhone SE models in the spring, and that tracks with the current rumors for the 3rd-generation model, which pegs it as coming in the first half of 2022. The rumored iPhone SE Plus, based on the iPhone 11 with Face ID, would definitely carry a price premium of at least $100 (placing it in the $499-599 range) and may be released in 2022 alongside the next iPhone SE, though some rumors say it may not be released until 2023.
We help you determine which iPhone model is best for you.
Apple sells eight different models of the iPhone, ranging from the iPhone SE all the way up to the most premium iPhone X.
As CNBC’s gadget reviewer, I’m frequently asked: “Todd, which iPhone should I buy?” It’s a tough question to answer, since it really depends on how much you want to spend and what you expect out of your iPhone.
Do you need the very best? Do you prefer smaller screens? Don’t worry, I got you covered. Here’s how to decide which iPhone is best for you, starting from the cheapest up to the most grand.
The iPhone SE is starting to show its age, and rumors suggest Apple will refresh it in the coming months. I recommend most people hold off on buying it unless you reallydon’t care about having an outdated smartphone. It’s compelling for folks who like small screens, since it has a 4-inch display that’s the smallest Apple offers. It’s also the most affordable, starting at $349.
These are still decent iPhones and are best for anyone who wants an iPhone and access to iMessage but doesn’t want to spend too much. You get a choice between the 4.7-inch model, which starts at $449, and the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6s Plus that starts at $549. Those are great prices for phones that still offer excellent cameras and features, but which are starting to show their age, but most folks should consider one step up.
These are perfect mid-range iPhones for most people. In fact, anyone who owns an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus probably doesn’t need to upgrade to the newer iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus just yet — the features are relatively similar. You should buy them if you can spend a bit more than the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, since they’re newer and will be updated longer than those phones. Plus, the iPhone 7 starts at the same price as the iPhone 6s Plus ($549) while the iPhone 7 Plus starts at $669. Want most of the latest features without splurging? These are for you.
Apple launched three new phones this year, including the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and the iPhone X. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus don’t have the fancy new colorful OLED screen on the iPhone X, or face recognition, but they offer the same processor and wireless charging found in the iPhone X. These phones are best for folks who like Apple’s older design language but still want most of the latest parts and who don’t care for the iPhone X. iPhone 8 Plus owners should also expect some of the best battery life of any iPhone out there, even better than the iPhone X. They’re priced at a premium, starting at $699 for the iPhone 8 and $799 for the iPhone 8 Plus, but are still at least $200 cheaper than the top-of-the-line iPhone.
That brings us to the iPhone X. This is for the folks who want it all and who don’t flinch at the $999 starting price. You’ll get a brand new OLED display that runs edge-to-edge, Apple’s new Face ID recognition technology that replaces the home button and fingerprint reader, the best cameras Apple has ever crammed into a smartphone (better on the front and back), wireless charging, Apple’s fun new animoji and a phone that’ll turn heads. It’s my current favorite smartphone, though I miss the battery life of the iPhone 8 Plus I also purchased. If that’s a concern, maybe consider the 8 Plus instead.
