Earlier this week, some sources began claiming that the next generation of iPhone SE, expected to debut this spring, would not be called “iPhone SE” at all. We’re now starting to hear that it will be called “iPhone 16E” instead. This may be a weird rumor, but I think it makes a lot of sense, given what we know so far about the iPhone SE 4.
iPhone SE 4 Rumors
To quickly recap, here’s everything we expect from the iPhone SE 4:
This would definitely be the biggest upgrade in iPhone SE history. Apple did not make a form factor upgrade with the iPhone SE since the 2nd generation model in 2020. When the iPhone SE 3 was released in 2022, it kept the same form factor, just with an A15 Bionic chip and 5G support. The iPhone SE 4 will be the first major update to the iPhone SE in 5 years.
Too good to be true?
While I have no skepticism about the actual iPhone SE 4 rumors, I’ve always been skeptical about the price. A lot of people have talked about a potential price of around $499 for the iPhone SE 4, but it never made much sense in my head. Apple currently sells the iPhone 14 for $599 and the iPhone 15 for $699.
Yet somehow a newer phone with components from both (plus an even newer chipset) is apparently supposed to cost a lot less?
There are two things that could lower Apple’s costs for the iPhone SE 4:
- The new internal modems, allowing them to abandon Qualcomm’s more expensive modems
- Not using Samsung OLEDs and instead relying on BOE and LG screens for more affordable panels
These two components are among the most expensive components of the iPhone. It is very possible that Apple could Sell the iPhone SE 4 for $499 and still have decent margins. However, the bigger question is: would they?
“iPhone 16E” in the iPhone range
If the iPhone SE 4 cost $499, that would be $300 less than the $799 iPhone 16. Between these two phones, you’d pay an extra $300 for Dynamic Island, the Action Button, and an ultra-wide camera. I don’t know about you, but to me it seems like the iPhone SE 4 would be way too good a deal compared to the iPhone 16.
This is why the name iPhone 16E makes sense to me. If they drop the SE branding, they could sell the phone for $599 without much backlash. Additionally, the iPhone 15 will likely still be sold after the iPhone SE 4/16E is released. With the next SE being called the 16E instead, it would be a great way to highlight that the iPhone 15 is an older phone without Apple Intelligence support, despite a higher price.
The iPhone SE is also historically known as the smallest phone, and with a 6.1-inch screen, it’s hard to call it small.
The iPhone 16E would also be a clearer name for consumers, meaning the phone is part of the current lineup. This would probably help sales to some extent. With the current SE brand, you can’t really get a good idea of its age unless you do your research. However, Apple could alleviate this problem by switching to years rather than generation numbers.
Conclude
Personally, I just like the “iPhone 16E” branding. “iPhone SE” has always carried a somewhat cheaper stigma that I think has turned some people away from it. With the first redesign of the iPhone SE in five years, this could be the perfect time to reshape the way people perceive the product.
What do you think of the “iPhone 16E” rumor? Let us know in the comments.
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