A more expensive iPhone SE might be on the way, and it could even support Apple Intelligence

A new iPhone SE could give you Apple's AI on the cheap

News By Jamie Richards published 23 September 2024

The iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max are here, but one member of Apple’s smartphone lineup is still waiting for an upgrade. 

The iPhone SE is by many estimations overdue for an upgrade, but new leaks suggest that a refresh could bring a substantial price hike with it. PhoneArena reports that “renowned leaker” Revegnus1 has suggested that the rumored fourth-generation iPhone SE could cost $499 in the US, a $70 increase from the current price of $429 (£429 / AU$719). 

However, when you look at the list of possible upgrades coming with the rumored refresh, this price hike starts to make a little more sense. 

Chief amongst these upgrades is support for Apple Intelligence, as posited by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in August. Even with the price hike suggested by Revegnus1, the iPhone SE 4 would be the cheapest entry point for Apple Intelligence in Apple’s entire product lineup.

The next-cheapest Apple Intelligence-enabled device would then be the 11-inch iPad Air at $599 / £599 / AU$999, and the next cheapest iPhone with Apple Intelligence would be this year’s iPhone 16 at $799 / £799 / AU$1,399.

A modernized iPhone SE priced at $499 would match Google’s Pixel 8a, also listed at $499 (£499 / AU$849), and would present a serious challenge to Samsung’s budget-ized flagship, the Galaxy S23 FE, listed at $599 (£599 / AU$899).

If Apple Intelligence is coming to the iPhone SE 4, we’d expect to see it ship with either the A17 Pro or A18 chipset and 8GB of RAM, closing the specs gap between the SE and base-model iPhone 16.

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