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Apple is set to launch a new “member of the family” next week, Wednesday, Feb. 19. What could it possibly be? Since there wasn’t an iPhone SE 4 announcement this week, we expect Apple to showcase its new mid-range phone update. We still have questions.
Cook posted his short message to Twitter along with the classic Apple teaser image of an Apple logo swirling with a chrome-like finish. This could point to the colorway of the upcoming iPhone SE refresh. Multiple major Apple leakers promised the Cupertino company’s $500 device would launch this week. Instead, Apple came out and shared how Apple TV+ is coming to Android devices for the first time. That’s certainly one way to surprise us, Mr. Cook.
© Screenshot: Tim Cook / X Apple launched its last iPhone SE in 2022. That device was the last time the iPhone had a physical Touch ID button and wide bezels. Multiple iPhone SE 4 leaks indicate the new, cheaper iPhone model will have a wall-to-wall screen, though the jury is still out on whether it will have a notch or the iPhone 14’s Dynamic Island. Either way, the next phone should support FaceID.
We also expect the next iPhone SE to sport the A18 chip featured in the iPhone 16. The other big rumor is that the next phone could develop a modem in-house rather than relying on Qualcomm. If the iPhone maker’s next device will support Apple Intelligence, it must include at least 8 GB of RAM. With that in mind, the next “special edition” model could cost closer to $500, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The last iPhone SE launched for $430.
It will still be Apple’s cheapest mobile offering. All the conjecture about Apple Intelligence adds to rumors that the next iPhone could drop the “SE” and instead be renamed “iPhone 16E.” Apple usually doesn’t devote as much time and attention to its cheaper phones as its usual flagships. This year could be different. Apple has said it will unleash the revised, AI-capable Siri by April.
Samsung just got done with its Galaxy S25 launch, including the much-touted cross-app AI capabilities. In our tests, we found the AI could be occasionally useful, though only when given relatively simple tasks working across two apps. Anything more than that, and the AI could start making mistakes. Apple has promised very similar features for its AI offerings, and perhaps the iPhone SE will show us some features that finally beat Google’s Gemini to the punch. To be completely honest, we’re not holding our breath.
