iPhone SE Remains Safe Buy as New Model No Longer Expected to Launch Next Year

After speaking with supply chain companies in Asia, Barclays analysts Blayne Curtis and Tom O'Malley believe that Apple is no longer planning to launch a fourth-generation iPhone SE in 2024. In a research note today, the analysts said the device was expected to feature an Apple-designed 5G modem, but the plans appear to be delayed.

iphone se 4 modified flag edges
Apple has reportedly been planning its own modem since at least 2018, and acquired the majority of Intel's smartphone modem business in 2019 to bolster these efforts. However, the analysts said Qualcomm could remain Apple's modem supplier for both the iPhone SE and the iPhone 16 lineup through next year, as it appears Apple's modem is not ready yet.

In February, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that the next iPhone SE would have a similar design as the standard iPhone 14, suggesting that the device would have a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, and flat edges. However, since the new iPhone SE has reportedly been pushed back, Apple's plans for the device could change over time.

Kuo and multiple other sources do not expect the next iPhone SE to launch until 2025 at the earliest, so it would appear that the current model remains a safe buy for now. Released in March 2022, the third-generation iPhone SE features a 4.7-inch LCD display, Touch ID, 5G, a 12-megapixel rear camera, and the A15 Bionic chip. The device starts at $429 in the U.S., making it the most affordable iPhone model in Apple's lineup.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive These Five Perks

Wednesday July 9, 2025 9:20 am PDT by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, did you know that Apple offers you five perks beyond the extra storage space, at no additional cost? Here are the perks included with all iCloud+ plans:Private Relay keeps your Safari browsing history entirely private from network providers, websites, and even Apple. Hide My Email generates unique, random email addresses whenever needed. Hom...

Top Rated Comments

Lounge vibes 05 Avatar
26 months ago
I wouldn’t call it a safe buy, the 12 mini or 13 mini is going to be better than an SE for about the same price.
Unless you just absolutely need the home button, I don’t think the current SE is a good deal at all.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dantracht Avatar
26 months ago
Man have they gotten their money’s worth out of the iPhone 6 design. Going on 9 years!
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ApplesAreSweet&Sour Avatar
26 months ago

I wouldn’t call it a safe buy, the 12 mini or 13 mini is going to be better than an SE for about the same price.
Unless you just absolutely need the home button, I don’t think the current SE is a good deal at all.
Agree.

Besides the obvious huge steps down like display, cameras and Face ID, if you really go deep and compare every spec and component on SE 3rd Gen., you’ll quickly realize that it’s much much lower value/$ than a 12/12 mini or 13/13 mini.

Even iPhone 11 and 11 Pro are much better spec’d overall if you don’t mind the 2019 SoC.

And it fails miserably in the most important spec, battery life.

-Any usage that requires lots of SOT will kill it in a few hours.

It’s also huge and very heavy for how few cameras and how tiny the battery is. And no Face ID

It should be at least as small as a 12 mini or 13 mini.

Only 1st Gen. SE was a great value/$
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ikramerica Avatar
26 months ago

I’m not sure what more they can add other than updating it to support AT&T’s 3.45 GHz 5G spectrum.
SE+?

Would buy one yesterday. My 8+ went swimming and I am trying out a 13 mini but despite having the same resolution plus more than the 8+, it squishes websites and handles many things awkward due to the stupid notch often cutting into content in landscape mode.

The SE is just so low res it’s not worth it but an SE+ would be a thing of beauty
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Havalo Avatar
26 months ago
That phone in the picture is extremely teasing and tormenting! Release the the perfect size phone already, Apple...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
crsh1976 Avatar
26 months ago

I wouldn’t call it a safe buy, the 12 mini or 13 mini is going to be better than an SE for about the same price.
Unless you just absolutely need the home button, I don’t think the current SE is a good deal at all.
Agreed, it's weirdly phrased - it's a safe buy because it won't get updated soon, but overall it's still a less than ideal purchase (screen and battery wise at least).
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)