Apple in 2020 debuted the iPhone SE, a new version of a 4-inch iPhone that first came out in 2016. The 2020 iPhone SE is basically an iPhone 8 clone with a 4.7-inch display and a Touch ID Home button, but rumors suggest a new version will be coming in early 2022.
Early rumors suggested that Apple would develop an iPhone SE "Plus" that's larger in size, but those rumors have since died down. It looks like the next-generation version of the iPhone SE will continue to have a 4.7-inch screen size, but a recent rumor has suggested that it could still be called the "iPhone SE Plus," perhaps due to Apple's plan to introduce 5G speeds.
Design
We are not expecting any design changes for the next version of the iPhone SE. It's going to continue to look like the current 2020 iPhone SE, which is modeled after the iPhone 8. The current iPhone SE is available in black, white, and (PRODUCT)RED, so we could see similar color options for the new model.
It will feature a 4.7-inch LCD display with thick bezels and a Touch ID Home button, making it Apple's most modern iPhone that still offers Touch ID. All other iPhones have transitioned to Face ID, and there are rumors that future versions of the low-cost iPhone will do so as well, but not at this time.
The back of the device will be made of glass to facilitate wireless charging, but it won't include MagSafe technology. Like old models, the new iPhone SE will feature IP67 water and dust resistance. We're also not expecting changes to the battery life given the lack of design updates, so battery life will likely be the same.
5G Connectivity
Apple's upcoming iPhone SE will include 5G connectivity, putting it on par with Apple's more expensive iPhone 13 and 13 Pro models. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says it will be the most affordable 5G iPhone available.
Upgraded Processor
Nikkei expects the next-generation iPhone SE will to use an upgraded A15 chip, which arrived first in the iPhone 13, along with Qualcomm's X60 modem for 5G. DigiTimes and Nikkei may disagree on the A-series chip that will be in the new device, but either the A14 or the A15 will be an upgrade.
iPhone SE Plus name?
Display analyst Ross Young has also claimed that the next-generation iPhone SE will feature a design similar to the current iPhone SE with a 4.7-inch display and 5G connectivity. Young says that the next-generation iPhone SE will be the "iPhone SE Plus," even though the display isn't going to be larger. In this case, if Apple does make that decision, the "Plus" could refer to the faster 5G connectivity, but it's not clear if this is going to happen.
Pricing
The 2022 iPhone SE is expected to have a starting price tag of $399, the same price as the current version.
Release Date
The 2022 iPhone SE is expected to come out at a spring event set to be held on Tuesday, March 8.
A Future iPhone SE
We've heard rumors of another low-cost iPhone possibly in the iPhone SE family that features an all-display design, and this iPhone SE with a larger display and no Home button is expected to come out in 2023 or 2024.
Display analyst Ross Young believes that Apple is working on a version of the iPhone SE with a larger 5.7 to 6.1-inch display and a hole-punch camera slated. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also said that a larger version of the iPhone SE will launch in 2023, featuring an updated, bigger display and 4GB RAM.
Back in 2019, Kuo said there would be an "iPhone SE Plus" with a full-screen design, no Face ID, and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor built into the power button on the side of the device, but such a device did not surface. It's possible Apple was working on this iPhone SE for an earlier launch, but pushed it back.
