The fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to be announced soon
With the iPhone SE 4 launch imminent, one analyst predicts that the upcoming model should outsell its previous iterations — and could cause drama between Apple and Qualcomm.
On Friday, Ming-Chi Kuo posted on X, saying he believes the fourth-generation iPhone SE move more units than previous budget models. He estimates that Apple will ship 12 million units in the first half of the year and 10 million units in the second half. Previously, the iPhone SE lineup was believed to ship 20 million annually, though Apple does not publicly share sales numbers.
He also anticipates that this could help offset the usual post-holiday slump in sales. It would also help boost the adoption of Apple Intelligence, as the iPhone SE 4 will be compatible with Apple’s collection of AI-driven features.
iPhone SE4 is expected to ship around 12M/10M units in 1H25/2H25, performing slightly better than previous SE models (typically shipped near 20M units annually after launch). Not only does this help smooth out the usual seasonal dip in shipments, but it also boosts the adoption
— (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) February 14, 2025
Because the iPhone SE 4 will feature Apple’s in-house modem, Kuo believes that Qualcomm may examine its modem patents, hoping to collect licensing fees to make up for lost orders.
The iPhone SE 4 is due to be released any time now. Initially, it was predicted that the budget-friendly smartphone would be released before Valentine’s day, but it seems that Apple didn’t think it was the right time.
However, it still stands an excellent chance of being announced in the next week or two. The second-generation iPhone SE debuted in April 2020, while the third-generation showed up in March 2022.
While it’s hard to know exactly what the yet-unannounced model will bring to the table in terms of features, a plethora of rumors have surfaced to give us some idea. The 2025 iPhone SE will likely mimic the all-display design of the iPhone 14, feature a notch instead of the Dynamic Island, and a single rear camera that has been bumped up to 48 MP.
