iPhone SE 4 Rumored to Feature Apple Intelligence, Challenging Flagship Models

Apple Prepares For iPhone SE 4 Launch As 'Little To No' Inventory Remains In Apple Stores For The 'SE 3,' Hinting At A Sooner-Than-Expected Arrival

Apple is expected to launch the iPhone SE 4 in the coming months, and the device is slated to bring significant improvements to the current model. While the company is gradually moving closer to announcing its new budget iPhone, the stock for the current iPhone SE 3 is running low, with a report stating that 'little to no' inventory remains in Apple Stores. If you are unfamiliar with how things work, whenever stock for a specific product decreases, it means that a new version is on the way. The news was shared by prominent industry analyst Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, highlighting that the inventory of the iPhone SE 3 is running low in Apple Stores. This is another indication that the company does not have plans to keep selling the iPhone SE 4 after its successor is announced. To be fair, the iPhone SE 3 does feature older hardware, and despite the fact that it is still perfectly usable, Apple is potentially letting it go due to the absence of Apple Intelligence. The company is working to make Apple Intelligence available on all devices. We have previously heard that the upcoming entry-level iPad will be upgraded with an A17 Pro chip coupled with 8GB of RAM, which is a clear sign that the company wants to bring Apple Intelligence to all of its products. It remains to be seen how the budget iPad will sit in the lineup, considering the iPad mini 7 also features the same hardware but a smaller display, all while featuring a higher price tag. As for the budget iPhone, Apple has already ramped down production of the iPhone SE 3 and even though it would have been the best option under $300 for new buyers, Apple will possibly end its tenure. The good news, on the flip side, is that the iPhone SE 4 will feature a sub-$500 price tag, possibly sitting below $450. It will be the cheapest iPhone sold by Apple with Apple Intelligence built-in. As for the rest, the iPhone SE 4 will feature a design similar to that of the iPhone 14, with a 6.1-inch OLED display, a single camera sensor, and an overall bigger form factor. However, the internals of the device is where things get interesting, as the budget variant is expected to be powered by the A18 or A17 Pro chip conjoined with 8GB of RAM for AI features. It would possibly the best device in its price range with top-of-the-line performance and support for the latest AI features. Do you think the iPhone SE 4 will have a price tag below the $400 mark?

iPhone SE 4 could cannibalize Apple's flagship sales with this rumored feature

The next-gen iPhone SE is rumored to launch before April for under $500. Last year, Apple Intelligence debuted exclusively on the company's flagship devices, providing eligible users with the ChatGPT integration, Genmoji, Writing Tools, and more. Consequently, most iOS users are still missing out on the AI perks, as they require an iPhone 16 or 15 Pro model. Fortunately for those on a budget, the upcoming iPhone SE 4 will reportedly support Apple Intelligence while sticking to an affordable price. According to a Bloomberg report, the iPhone SE 4 (or iPhone 16E) will be the first of its kind to support Apple Intelligence tools. This suggests Apple will equip it with an A17 Pro or A18 chip and at least 8GB of RAM. Some bundled perks include Writing Tools for on-device text manipulation, Clean Up in Photos, ChatGPT integration with Siri and other parts of the system, image generation capabilities, notification summaries, and more. Besides adopting the native AI solution, the report states that Apple Stores are starting to run out of iPhone SE 3 units. While the device is still available to order in the US for $429, the dwindling stock indicates an imminent refresh. Based on previous launches and leaks, a March announcement seems most plausible. For those unfamiliar, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to introduce some major upgrades -- beyond Apple Intelligence support. Some of the hardware boosts could include an edge-to-edge OLED panel, Face ID support, a 48MP rear camera, a new exterior shell, and more. As a result, the mid-range phone could see a slight price hike but is unlikely to exceed the $500 mark.

iPhone SE 4 tipped for Apple Intelligence and sub-$500 price -- this is big

A new report has seemingly confirmed that the iPhone SE 4 will feature Apple Intelligence. There have been statements and rumors both for and against the possiblity, but a new report from Bloomberg seemingly confirms that the phone will have access to Apple's AI. In the report, Mark Gurman states that the iPhone SE 4, (possibly actually named the iPhone 16 E), will be the first device of its kind to support Apple Intelligence tools. This would mean that the phone has access to features like Writing Tools, the improved Siri with ChatGPT integration, image generation and more. It would also mean that the iPhone SE 4 would come with one Apple's newer smartphone chips, likely the A17 Pro from the iPhone 15 Pro, and at least 8GB of RAM. It also seems that Apple is planning a full clearout of the existing iPhone SE, as the same report claims that Apple is running out of iPhone SE (2022) stock. Although it is still possible to order a current iPhone SE in the US for $429, there seem to be no plans to produce more. This would likely indicate that the official announcement for the iPhone SE 4 is on the horizon, with a March announcement appearing to be the most likely. Aside from the possibility of Apple Intelligence, we also recently saw two leaked dummy units for the device. If these are accurate then it seems that the iPhone SE 4 will most resemble the iPhone 14, including missing out on an Action button. However, one of the most important questions is how much the phone will cost, and a recent leak has given us our best idea so far. According to recent leaks, the iPhone SE 4 will remain under $500, which is cheap for an iPhone but still more than the prior model. The iPhone SE 4 will arguably be one of the most interesting Apple releases we've had in a while. However, as with any rumor, we can't take anything as a definite fact until the official announcement. However, if even half the rumors are true, then I do not doubt that the iPhone SE 4 will find a top place in our best cheap phones list.

If the iPhone SE 4 has this feature, I won't be able to recommend the iPhone 16 anymore

Apple could soon make Apple Intelligence much more accessible by equipping the rumored iPhone SE 4 with the company's full set of AI features. A report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests that the supposedly upcoming fourth-generation iPhone SE will indeed support Apple's AI toolkit, and as such come with at least 8GB of RAM and an A17 Pro or A18 chipset (all current Apple Intelligence-enabled devices come with some combination of these specs, or better). Gurman is a leading commentator on all things Apple and we have referred to his reports and predictions several times in the past, so there's certainly some weight in this latest rumor. If the refreshed iPhone SE launches with 8GB of RAM and the A18 under the hood, it'll match the flagship iPhone 16 for internal power. We'll likely see differences in battery capacity, and potentially cooling and heat dissipation, but otherwise, the internal hardware of each device could be remarkably similar. And with Apple Intelligence enabled, the software experience between the two phones could be close to identical, too. We don't expect the new iPhone SE to feature the Dynamic Island, but otherwise, iOS is likely to feel near-identical on either handset. The current-generation iPhone SE 3 retails for $429 / £429 / AU$719. We've heard rumors of a possible price hike for the iPhone SE 4, but we're still expecting it to come in below the $500 mark, which would still be substantially cheaper than the iPhone 16, which costs $799 / £799 / AU$1,399. For some, this value proposition would be hard to ignore. The iPhone SE 4 is expected to launch with a single-camera system, and we'd be surprised to see the Camera Control button make an appearance. But it stands to reason that, for some users, missing out on these features will be worth a couple of hundred dollars in savings. Personally, if the iPhone SE 4 is as close to the iPhone 16 as these rumors suggest, I think I'll have trouble recommending the latter - especially considering Apple's latest flagship is still holding on to an outdated 60Hz display and barely-useful ultra-wide camera. Android Authority notes that iPhone SE 3 stocks are running low with no sign of replenishment, so it may not be long before we see the rumored fourth-generation model take its place. If you can't wait until then, feel free to check out our list of the best iPhones.