A recent leak suggests that Apple may rebrand the upcoming toned-down version, the iPhone SE 4, as the iPhone 16e. There is speculation that the phone may be launched in March 2025. Weibo tipster Fixed Focus Digital has posted that the company may remove the SE branding altogether, and instead, it will add the SE 4 to the iPhone 16 line-up. The phone is rumored to have many iPhone 16 features, including camera and display specs. If this is true, the iPhone 16e makes a lot of sense. Let’s dive deeper into the details of the upcoming iPhone 16e.

iPhone SE 4 rebranding as iPhone 16e: What to expect

It looks like the iPhone SE 4 or 16e is shaping up to be a significant upgrade over its predecessors. A change from a design inspired by the iPhone 8 to a design more in line with the iPhone XR or iPhone 12 would provide a more modern and immersive user experience. The larger 6.06-inch OLED display, compared to the previous 4.7-inch LCD, will enhance the overall viewing quality, making it more comparable with high-end iPhones.

Another big change is the move away from the Touch ID home button in favor of Face ID, which makes the device more modern by reducing the bezels. This will bring the phone in line with Apple’s design language in their latest models. Additionally, the Weibo tipster has also revealed that the iPhone 16e will have the same screen size as the standard iPhone 16 and will have a full-screen design.

With the rumored A18 chipset, the 16e will get a substantial performance boost, bringing it closer to the iPhone 16 series in terms of processing power. The increase to 8GB of RAM (up from 4GB) is particularly notable, providing better multitasking capabilities and support for more demanding apps, including Apple’s latest AI and machine learning features. With 128GB of storage, it represents a significant upgrade in terms of performance and user experience.

This update suggests that the iPhone 16e will be positioned as a more affordable but still powerful option for users who want the latest hardware in a more compact and budget-friendly package.

The inclusion of a 48-megapixel rear camera on the iPhone 16e would be a major upgrade, aligning it with the capabilities of the iPhone 16. If the SE 4 or 16e indeed adopt the same camera setup, it would be a significant leap forward for Apple. The budget-friendly lineup offers the same level of photography performance as higher-end models.

The 48-megapixel “Fusion” lens, as seen on the iPhone 16, allows for both high-quality standard and 2x zoom photos without compromising detail, which will be a notable feature for the 16e. This camera system could enable sharper, more versatile photography, especially for users who are upgrading from older SE models that have more basic camera setups.

Additionally, the 12-megapixel TrueDepth front camera will enhance selfies and video calls, further enhancing the overall imaging capabilities of the device. This front camera is likely to bring better depth-sensing and portrait mode features thanks to its advanced technology.

iPhone 16e or SE 4: Price in India (expected)

Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has revealed that Apple will begin mass production of the fourth-generation iPhone SE in December. According to a recent blog post by Kuo, the company plans to produce about 8.6 million units of the new model during the first quarter of 2025, which could be launched in March or April.

The leak indicates that the iPhone SE 4 will be priced between $499 and $549, which marks an increase from the iPhone SE 3’s starting price of $429. In India, where the SE 3 was launched at Rs 43,900, the iPhone 16e or SE 4 is expected to be priced between Rs 51,000 and Rs 56,000.