These iPhone SE rumors hint at a major redesign that will frustrate iPhone 15 owners

Apple is rumored to be launching a new iPhone SE model in 2025. The one currently available in the Apple Store was launched in 2022, with an aging design that sports a physical home button with Touch ID, thick bezels, and a single camera at the rear. An update is long overdue.

Also: We’ve used every iPhone 16 model and here’s our best buying advice for 2024

I’ve refrained from recommending the iPhone SE for purchase for a while now, and after a recent report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, you should definitely stay away from the most affordable yet incapable iPhone model. That’s because the next iPhone SE is expected to be a total revamp, from hardware to software.

Goodbye, Home button. Hello again, notch!

According to Bloomberg, Apple is finally saying goodbye to the Home button as it brings the next-gen iPhone SE to more current standards. However, it won’t feature a Dynamic Island like the iPhone 15 and 16. Instead, the 2025 iPhone SE is said to have an iPhone 14-like layout with a small notch at the top. Beyond aesthetics, that means you’ll miss out on features like Live Activities.

Also: Why I’m recommending the standard iPhone 16 over the Pro this year (and I’m not alone)

There’s another revelation that might cause some dissatisfaction among iPhone 15 users specifically. The next iPhone SE will supposedly support Apple Intelligence. This is a surprise because the currently on-sale iPhone 14 and last year’s iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus do not support Apple’s latest (and upcoming) AI features. That list includes improved Siri, image-generation tools, and more. Yet, all three of the older devices sit above the iPhone SE in price. 

There is no word on camera upgrades yet, but my guess is that Apple might limit the SE to a single-lens system again in order to give users more reason to spring for the higher-end models. Then again, if the company is repurposing the iPhone 14 design for the SE, it wouldn’t be a far cry to expect both a main wide lens and an ultrawide to be present.

A processor for the AI age

In the last two years, Apple has limited the regular iPhones to the previous year’s chipsets, which is why the A16 processor powers the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. Even if the company doesn’t admit it, this handicapping is the reason why the now one-year-old iPhones don’t support Apple Intelligence. 

Apple’s AI is currently only supported by three processors, namely, A18 Pro (iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max), A18 Bionic (iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus), and A17 Pro (iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max). The 2025 iPhone SE is unlikely to field the same chipsets as the current iPhones. However, it’s rumored to be powered by a toned-down version of the A17 Pro chipset — possibly named the A17 Bionic — in order to help run the latest AI tools. This would effectively make the iPhone 15 duo even more outdated in the process. 

Also: iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 16: Should you upgrade to Apple’s latest model?

There is no word on whether Apple will replace the Silent Switch with the Action button or include Camera Control on the upcoming iPhone SE. According to Gurman, “The SE overhaul will help Apple compete in the low-end smartphone market, where it faces tough competition from Android devices — especially in China.” With the surge of high-performing mid-range phones in the U.S. market, a revamped iPhone SE would help Apple stay even more competitive. 

The new model would compete with the Google Pixel 8a and OnePlus 12R, both of which sport flagship processors and features — a recipe Apple is aiming to follow with the 2025 iPhone SE.