Apple could launch a new budget iPhone SE this year with some rumours suggesting it may arrive as soon as this month.
It’s been rumoured for a while, but it seems Apple fans may soon get exactly what they’ve been wanting. The popular iPhone SE looks like it’s about to get a big refresh, and that means users who don’t want to splash out on an expensive £799 iPhone 16 will be able to a shiny upgrade for less.
The current iPhone SE launched, which launched all the way back in 2022, costs around half the price of Apple’s flagship devices. With that model almost three years old, it appears Apple is ready to unleash something new and it could arrive as soon as this month.
That’s according to the team at MacRumors who have spotted a private X (formerly Twitter ) account that says two devices – codenamed V59’ and ‘J481’ – will be launched in January. Macrumurs says it won’t confirm more details about the leak but it has come from a ‘reliable source’.
It’s thought that these updates will include the new iPhone SE alongside an update to the entry-level iPad.
Of course, Apple hasn’t announced or confirmed any upcoming launches, but speculation is rife that the iPhone SE could be in line for a major reboot. If the whispers are correct, this budget call maker may get a new all-screen design and finally ditch the Touch ID fingerprint scanner in favour of more advanced Face ID technology.
A boost to the processor also looks likely although it’s unlcear if the iPhone SE will be powerful enough to run Apple Intelligence – that’s a feature currently reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models.
Other upgrades coming to the SE could include a new camera, longer battery life, faster charging and extra colours.
Apple always stays silent about its upcoming products but watch this space if you need a new iPhone and don’t want to sound a fortune.
It could be a busy month for new smartphones. Samsung has just announced that it will be holding one of its famous Unpacked events on January 22, and we expect it to be all about the launch of the Galaxy S25.