iPhone 16 has been released. As you would expect from a company that has been making smartphones for 17 years, Apple has once again produced a great smartphone.
But waiting in the wings is cheaper and potentially less weak. Apple hasn’t revamped the iPhone SE series since 2022, but we expect it to make major changes in 2025 that will push it all the way up to the budget range.
So, should I wait? Here’s how we expect the iPhone 16 and iPhone SE 4 to compare.
iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 16: price and release date
iPhone 16 is already available for purchase and will be on sale from September 2024. It starts at $799 if you’re happy with 128GB of storage, while 256GB and 512GB versions are available for $899 and $1,099, respectively.
If you want something physically larger, there’s also the iPhone 16 Plus. Other than a larger 6.7-inch display (and therefore a heavier battery), the specs are the same. Prices range from $899 to $1,199 for the same storage capacity.
The iPhone SE 4’s price and release date are still undecided, but rumors strongly suggest a release date of “early 2025,” which would likely be spring if past releases are any guide.
The 2022 iPhone SE started at $429, but the 2025 version is likely to increase in price, with the manufacturer’s suggested retail price starting at $499. Considering the upgrades you’re about to read, this could still prove to be optimistic, but we’ll have to wait and see.
iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 16: Design
Many people would have shied away from the last iPhone SE due to its somewhat outdated design. In a world of phones with edge-to-edge displays, the SE is still a throwback to the 2010s, with thick bars surrounding the top and bottom of the screen. It is the only iPhone that does not use Face ID and has a fingerprint reader.
That all changes with the iPhone SE 4, which is clearly based on the iPhone 14’s design. That means a 6.1-inch edge-to-edge display with minimal bezels (a significant upgrade over the previous model’s 4.7-inch panel) and, yes, finally Face ID.
That means the iPhone SE 4 will look a lot like the iPhone 16, but the iPhone 16 itself isn’t a million miles away from the iPhone 14 in terms of looks.
However, iPhone 16 still has advantages. The most immediately noticeable is the dynamic island, which moves the Face ID camera array away from the bezel and treats it as part of the UI in a neat way. Meanwhile, the SE is expected to bring back the notch in its camera array.
It also appears that the iPhone SE will bring back the mute switch, rather than introducing a programmable action button. There’s also no suggestion that the cheaper version will come with dedicated camera controls.
iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 16: Specifications
Not only does the new SE look similar to modern iPhones, but its key internal specs may also rival the iPhone 16.
Until now, the iPhone SE has been comparable to its more expensive siblings in terms of the processor used, with the latest 2022 model featuring the same A15 chipset as the iPhone 14. If that happens again in 2025, the iPhone SE 4 will be the same A18 silicon used in the iPhone 16. Not only is this ridiculously fast, but it opens the door to all the AI tricks Apple Intelligence brings.
It may seem unlikely, given that most current iPhones are unable to run Apple Intelligence due to RAM limitations, but Mark Gurman of Bloomberg has confirmed that the next iPhone SE may actually have some form of It says it supports Apple Intelligence. This suggests that the iPhone SE 4 will have at least 8GB RAM. This is twice the current SE’s 4GB.
But perhaps the most exciting improvement is the screen technology introduced. Previous SE devices have continued to be equipped with LCD panels, but 2025 appears to be the year Apple will adopt OLED in its cheapest iPhones. That means more accurate colors, deeper blacks, and perfect contrast.
But don’t expect 120Hz ProMotion support. For now, this remains a Pro-only feature. But even without that, internally it looks like the iPhone 16 and iPhone SE 4 could be a perfect match.
But there is one big exception to this…
iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 16: Camera
iPhone 16 has two cameras: a 48MP main camera and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens. Although there is no telephoto lens, good 2x zoom results can be achieved through pixel binning, and an improved 12MP ultra-wide-angle lens also allows for macro photography for the first time.
The SE, on the other hand, has stuck to a single camera lens for all three previous iterations, and it looks like that will continue for the 2025 model.
However, the good news is that this is also expected to be a 48MP lens, which should allow for 2x zoom without a dedicated telephoto lens. Nevertheless, those who really value the flexibility of multiple cameras should look for something more expensive.
iPhone SE 4 and iPhone 16: Outlook
We led our review of the iPhone 16 with the tagline, “No more Pro envy,” as Apple narrowed the feature gap between the regular iPhone and its Pro sibling.
If all the rumors we’re hearing about the iPhone SE 4 come true, the cheapest model could also come with a similar tagline. No more outdated designs, OLED screens, and internal specs that rival the best phones you can buy.
Assuming all of these rumors are true, there’s only one potential problem. It’s the price. There’s also talk of $499 ($71 price increase for the 2022 model), which sounds optimistic given all the upgrades we’re considering.
But if Apple can hit that price point, or something close to it, it looks like we’ll have a new champion at the top of the list of best budget phones in 2025.
