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Get ready for new iPhones!
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We’re going to wind things down for the evening, but check back bright and early for all the latest updates on what to expect from this week’s Apple event!
Also, make sure to subscribe to the Tom’s Guide Tiktok channel for the latest updates and rundowns of all the latest Apple news!
Is this the week we meet the MacBook Air M4?
The iPhone 4 SE is almost guaranteed to be unveiled by Apple on February 19, but it might not be the only new product out of Cupertino we’re introduced to this week.
Some rumors suggest we’ll also be introduced to new iPads and even a new MacBook Air M4, which could take Apple’s ultra-slim ultraportable to new heights of power and battery life. We’ll have to wait and see!
Finally, a better camera on the new iPhone SE
One of the most common reports we’ve heard so far started when well-known leaker Ice Universe indicated the iPhone SE 4 would be upgraded to a 48MP camera, up from 12MP on the iPhone SE 2022.
Just don’t expect more than a single rear camera. So no ultrawide and no telephoto zoom. Although you’ll be able to crop in on the main camera because there’s more pixels to play with.
If that proves true it’s going to be a huge improvement for the budget iPhone line, one that brings it closer in line with the more premium iPhone models. We’ll have to wait a bit more to find out-check out our full rundown of all the latest iPhone SE 4 rumors!
Could we be about to meet the iPhone 16E?
Remember, when we’re talking about the iPhone SE 4 we’re talking about a phone that we expect Apple to unveil this week as a successor to the iPhone SE (2022).
But it could be called anything, even iPhone 16E, as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently reported Apple is considering a possible name change. And if Apple makes the name more similar to its mainline iPhone 16, maybe that means the phone will be a bit more premium too?
Are you ready to say goodbye to TouchID?
@tomsguide
♬ Lo-fi hip hop – NAO-K
Because I don’t know if my parents are, and they’re the ones who buy the iPhone SE. But as we get into over on our TikTok channel, one of the most common rumors we’ve heard about the iPhone 4 SE is that Apple is finally ditching the Home button.
Ads could come to Apple Maps one day
Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter suggests we’re going to meet a revamped iPhone 4 SE on February 19, but that’s not the only change the veteran Apple reporter hears brewing inside the company.
According to Gurman, Apple’s Maps team is reportedly considering whether to allow businesses to pay for preferential placement in Apple Maps. It’s too early for us to hear anything about it at this week’s event, but it could change the way we use our iPhones in the years ahead.
Fingers crossed for OLED
What rumored feature would you most like to see on an iPhone 4 SE?
For me it’s gotta be an OLED display, and there have been a few rumors that Apple will finally add it to the SE line this year. Way back in 2023 we heard rumors that the next iPhone SE will feature a 6.1-inch OLED display, for example, and since then we’ve heard that the iPhone SE 4 will look a lot like the iPhone 14—which is great news for me since I’m still on an iPhone 13, and I’d love to switch to the “cheap” iPhone SE and still feel like I’m getting an upgrade.
Apple’s iPhone Lightning port — the end of an era
When Apple introduced the iPhone 15, it dropped one of the staple features in past iPhones — the Lightning port. That seemingly would extend to the upcoming iPhone SE 4, given how Apple’s embraced USB-C.
A leaked video shared by known tipster Majin Bu showed what’s reportedly the fourth generation iPhone SE, complete with a USB-C port instead of Lightning. Anyone who currently has an iPhone SE will have to accept this change. It’s actually a good thing, really, as the vast majority of devices have opted to use this standard.
iPhone SE 4 camera has a lot to prove — here’s why
Back last May, we put the Pixel 8a and iPhone SE 2022 through a 200 photo shootout to see which is the better camera phone. It was a landslide win for the Pixel, which benefits most from the 2.5-year gap that separate the release of both phones.
In nearly every category we tested the Pixel 8a easily proved why the iPhone SE 2022’s is dated at this point. Of course, this means more pressure for the iPhone SE 4 to improve and lessen the gap. Although it’s likely that the fourth gen iPhone SE will still be sporting a single rear camera, the rumored 48MP shooter could still get a boost.
Take a look at the side-by-side shot we captured from both phones in near pitch black conditions. The Pixel 8a’s shot is much more usable, whereas the iPhone SE 2022’s shot is dark and devoid of any detail. With a larger sensor and better image processing algorithms, the iPhone SE 4 could deliver just as bright of a picture.
A much-needed camera upgrade
One of the earliest iPhone SE 4 rumors to come out pertained to its camera, which known leaker Ice Universe indicated would be upgraded to a 48MP camera. That’s a big improvement over the previous 12MP one in the iPhone SE 2022.
Yet, there’s something unsatisfying about that. In an era where most of the best cheap phones have dual-cameras, this single one tipped for the iPhone SE 4 feels inadequate for a modern phone. In fact, it’s very rare nowadays to find any phone with just a single camera.
However, Apple could amplify this camera with the help of newer image processing algorithms and pixel binning. We’ve seen how Apple has leaned on the latter to give phones like the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 optical-like quality, despite lacking dedicated telephoto cameras.
AirTag 2 could be a surprise reveal
All eyes might be on the iPhone SE 4, but we could be in store for a special treat with Apple’s expected announcement this Wednesday, February 19. Apple has a history of causing everyone to guess what the company could be showing based on past invites, but when you look closer at Tim Cook’s post on X, it does remind us of another product.
Introduced back in 2021, Apple’s AirTag has seemingly become one of the most useful accessories of all time. Based on the animated image shared by Cook, it does sort of look like Apple’s logo morphs into a circular shape, hinting at a possible AirTag 2.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman explained that Apple will use the next-generation Ultra Wideband chip (UWB) from the iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 for the AirTag’s successor. We’ll just have to wait and see if this one turns out to be true.
Forget the iPhone 16 — could the iPhone SE 4 be the better buy?
Anyone looking to buy a phone might look at the iPhone 16, which to say is a best phone contender because of how it has rich features (including Apple Intelligence) at a modest price. It starts at $799 for the base model, a price that could still very much be too high for those on a tighter budget.
That’s why you’ll want to look at our iPhone SE 4 vs. iPhone 16 face-off to see how these models could compare against one another. While the fourth generation iPhone SE could have the upper hand with its rumored $499, there are many other factors that can influence your decision.
Could iPhone SE 4 be rebranded to iPhone 16E?
This would be an intriguing departure from the norm, as Apple has kept to the iPhone SE nomenclature since the first model’s release in 2016. However, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman recently alluded to a possible name change.
In his post, Gurman says that the wording of Tim Cook’s reference about “meeting the latest member of the family” could indicate that Apple is planning a rebrand for the SE series. There’s been a lot of talk around the name change to iPhone 16E, since it logically would make for a better fit as an extension of the iPhone 16 lineup that Apple released last fall.
Watch our last-minute iPhone SE 4 rumors
Tom’s Guide global editor-in-chief, Mark Spoonauer, goes over all the last-minute rumors about the iPhone SE 4. He goes into details about its price and release date, camera changes, its big design makeover, and what Apple Intelligence features that could be available to the budget iPhone model.
It won’t be long before we know more about the iPhone SE 4, as we expect an announcement on February 19 from Apple about meeting the “latest member of the family.”
Are we saying goodbye to these iconic iPhone SE features?
Big changes are in store for the fourth generation iPhone SE model, but with its release could mean the end for several iconic iPhone SE features. Due in part to how the iPhone SE 4 is expected to get a design makeover, one that could make it look more like the iPhone 14, Apple could finally retire features that the SE series has been known for.
Take for example Touch ID, which appears to be going away with the iPhone SE 4 because of how rumors hint at a notch on the display. Not only would it finally give a Dynamic Island to the series, but it would also add the components needed for Face ID. Other iconic iPhone SE features that could get the pink slip include the Lightning port and a smaller sized screen.
Leaked images give us our best look at the iPhone SE 4
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The Apple iPhone SE 4 is expected to have an upgraded design that would make it look more like the iPhone 14. Leaked images courtesy of Majin Bu give us our best look to date of what’s purportedly the iPhone SE 4.
Based on the images, it definitely shares a lot in common with the iPhone 14’s design. Those who were happy with the smaller sized of past iPhone SE models might be disappointed by how the iPhone SE 4 is expected to grow, but it does come with much-needed improvements. For example, the leaked images show what appears to be the Dynamic Island, which would be a first for the budget series.
This could be a dealbreaker for the iPhone SE 4
In the three years since Apple released the iPhone SE 2022, there’s no denying that there’s going to be a fair amount of upgrades in store for the iPhone SE 4. Yet, there’s could be one dealbreaker that could lead some to not buy it.
A Chinese retailer accidentally listed the phone in question, with a clear indication that it would be sporting 8GB of RAM and 64GB storage. Both are pitiful by today’s standards, with the 8GB of RAM being the bare minimum to run Apple Intelligence features, but the 64GB of storage would be laughable for a phone that’s likely to be $499.
Retailer accidentally posts new iPhone listing
More confirmation about a potential iPhone SE 4 release comes from an accidental listing from French retailer Boulanger. While the placeholder doesn’t explicitly mention the iPhone SE 4, it does translate to “Smartphone Apple new smartphone coming soon iPhone.”
Another tidbit from the accidental listing includes the price, which at €9,999.05 (~$10,395) appears to be yet just another placeholder until it’s confirmed. We expect the actual cost to be around $499, which would be an increase of $70 over the last iPhone SE 2022.
Biggest rumored iPhone SE 4 upgrades make for a satisfying return
Speaking of iPhone SE 4 rumors, there’s a lot for Apple to change since the iPhone SE 2022’s release three years ago. Apple’s going to need to make a lot of big changes if the iPhone SE 4 has a chance at beating some of our favorite best cheap phones.
We detail all the big upgrades that could come to the iPhone SE 4, like a new Apple A18 chip, improved camera, OLED screen, and much more. Based on all the leaks and rumors, it should adopt the iPhone 14’s design.
iPhone SE 4 could set a sales record
Even before it’s announced, there’s optimism about the fourth generation iPhone SE model as analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple could ship 10 million units in the first half of 2025. he goes on to say that it could be “performing slightly better than previous SE models.”
This record breaking mark isn’t a surprise given how it’s been years since the last model, with a span of three years. Paired with a much lower cost than the cheapest iPhone 16, consumers might be attracted to pick up the iPhone SE 4.
Of course, there are going to be tradeoffs going with a cheaper model, but it’ll be interesting to see what Apple Intelligence features that the company decides to roll out to it.
Next Apple announcement slated for February 19
Tim Cook shared the date for the next Apple event, February 19, with what appears to be a video of the Apple logo shimmering within a bubble. It’s hard to infer what this imagery could hint at, but Cook’s message does say that we should be ready to “meet the newest member of the family.”
So far, an iPhone SE 4 announcement is the leading candidate given how there have been a lot of rumors and leaks around it in the last several weeks. Given how the last one came out in 2022, the model is long overdue for an upgrade given how the iPhone SE 2022 has become laughably dated amongst the best cheap phones conversation.
In the last year alone, we’ve seen strong challengers from the Pixel 8a, Nothing Phone 2a, and OnePlus 12R, which all put to shame the iPhone SE 2022.
