In Photos: iPhone SE 4 Design Leaks: Check Evolution From 2016 to 2025; All You Wanted To Know
We're merely hours away from Apple iPhone SE 4 event, which may happen at around 11:30 PM IST (10AM PST). Apple is slated to majorly update its low-cost iPhone SE, giving it a more contemporary look, a bigger size and possibly even change its moniker. Along with some advanced new features, the iPhone SE 4 design is anticipated to abandon its outdated style and embrace the iconic and lovable iPhone 14 design. And that brings us to the design makeover over the years, between 2016 to 2025 that the SE series has undergone over the years and how the iPhone SE 4 leaks suggest the upcoming iPhone will look like.
Here's a look back at how the iPhone SE design has evolved since its first generation launched in 2016, and how a modern iPhone SE 4 design could look like, based on analysts' reports and rumours alike.
The Stunning iPhone SEÂ (2016)
The iPhone SE (2016) came in four metallic finishes: silver, gold, space gray, and rose gold. (Source: Apple)
The iPhone SE (2016) was a powerful iPhone in a light, compact form. In essence, the first-generation iPhone SE was an iPhone 6s in terms of features, with the design of an iPhone 5s. It featured a satin-like aluminium make with matte-chamfered edges and a four-inch Retina display, with a colour-matched Apple branding embedded in stainless steel. The device came in four stunning metallic finishes: silver, gold, space gray, and rose gold.
The Exciting iPhone SE (2020)
The iPhone SE 2020 was built with aerospace-grade aluminium and durable glass with an all-black front, along with rear glass finish and centred Apple logo.
The iPhone SE 2020 came in black, white and red shades (Source: Apple)
The 2020 iPhone SE was essentially an iPhone 11 housed in an iPhone 8 body. It had a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, a steel ring to detect a user's fingerprint for Touch ID, and the Home button designed with sapphire crystal. It was built with aerospace-grade aluminium and durable glass with an all-black front, along with rear glass finish and centred Apple logo. The device came in black, white and red shades.
iPhone SE (2022)
Feature-wise, the iPhone SE 3 was the iPhone 13 housed in the iPhone 8 shell. (Source: Apple)
The iPhone SE 3 came in three hues: midnight, starlight, and red.
The iPhone SE 3 was feature-wise the iPhone 13 housed once more in the iPhone 8 shell. So yes, the design looks quite dated now in its fifth year running. It featured the same aerospace-grade aluminium with toughened glass design on the front and back (as in the iPhone 13 series), along with the now familiar Home button with Touch ID. It came in three hues: midnight, starlight, and red.
iPhone SE 4 (2025)
According to reports, including from tech expert and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the iPhone SE 4 is expected to forgo the aged iPhone 8 design and instead look a lot like an iPhone 14. Not just that, it will borrow major specs, including chip, RAM and storage, from the iPhone 16 to really boost performance to next level and even span Apple Intelligence. The SE will likely receive its first OLED display, but only one camera as opposed to two in the iPhone 14, as reported by 91mobiles in CAD renders below.
iPhone SE 4 CAD renders show one camera on the iPhone SE 4. (Source: 91mobiles)
A 6.1-inch screen is also rumoured for the upcoming iPhone SE. Tipster Sonny Dickson's revelation of mock models of the upcoming iPhone (below) supported this.
First look at the iPhone SE 4 Dummy pic.twitter.com/qL0COgmPPA
January 16, 2025Another iPhone SE 4 leak by Majin Bu, including images and video, that appear to show either real phones or dummy models, support this design.
Here's what the iPhone SE 4 looks like pic.twitter.com/pEyIAJ34VR
January 25, 2025Yet another leak from case manufacturer Spigen showed the new iPhone SE 4 model will not have the home button or thick bezels found on earlier SEs. Like the iPhone 14, the SE 4 will have a notch and thinner bezels.
The new iPhone SE 4 will likely have thinner bezels and a notch like the iPhone 14. (Source: Spigen website)
All of the above leaks and claims combined, the upcoming iPhone SE 4 might resemble the iPhone 14 series (below).
The iPhone SE 4 might resemble the iPhone 14 series. (Source: Apple)
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