The New iPhone SE Explained: Why Apple Is Finally Killing the Home Button

Honestly, it feels like we’ve been waiting a decade for this. The old iPhone SE design was starting to look like a museum piece with its chunky forehead, massive chin, and that physical home button that feels like a relic from 2017. But things just changed. Apple is finally moving the "budget" iPhone into the modern era, and the shift is a lot bigger than just a screen upgrade.

The new iPhone SE—which many are calling the iPhone SE 4 or even the iPhone 16e depending on which leak you believe—is basically an iPhone 14 body with the brain of a flagship. If you've been holding onto your SE 3 because you hate the notch or love Touch ID, you're officially the last of a dying breed.

The Death of the Bezel

Basically, the era of the 4.7-inch screen is over.

Apple has ditched the vintage look in favor of a 6.1-inch OLED display. This isn't just a size bump; it’s a total technology swap. Moving from LCD to OLED means blacks are actually black, not just dark gray. Contrast is sharper. Colors pop. It’s the same tech you see on the high-end Pro models, though don't expect the buttery smooth 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate here. Apple is sticking to 60Hz to keep the price down and to make sure you still have a reason to want the more expensive phones.

You've probably noticed the notch. Yeah, it's back. While the iPhone 16 and 17 series have moved on to the Dynamic Island, the new iPhone SE uses the classic notch to house Face ID. Touch ID is gone. No more fingerprint sensor on the front. No more clicking a physical button to go home. It’s all gestures and facial recognition from here on out.

Why the A18 Chip Matters (Apple Intelligence)

You might wonder why Apple would put their newest A18 chip in their cheapest phone. It’s not just for gaming or making your scrolling feel faster.

It’s about AI.

Apple is betting the farm on "Apple Intelligence." To run these on-device AI models—things like Writing Tools, the overhauled Siri, and the "Clean Up" tool in Photos—the phone needs a massive amount of power and at least 8GB of RAM. The previous SE models just couldn't hack it. By putting the A18 inside the new iPhone SE, Apple is making sure their entry-level customers aren't locked out of the next five years of software features.

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What can this "budget" AI actually do?

• Siri with On-Screen Awareness: Siri can finally understand what you’re looking at in a text or an email.
• Writing Tools: It'll proofread your angry emails and make them sound professional. Or poetic. Your call.
• Image Playground: You can generate weird little cartoon versions of your friends for Messages.
• Priority Notifications: The AI sorts through your 50 daily pings and bubbles up the ones that actually matter.

The One-Camera Gamble

Here is where Apple gets stingy. You aren't getting three cameras. You aren't even getting two.

The new iPhone SE sticks with a single rear lens. However, it’s a massive upgrade to a 48MP sensor. This is likely the same glass found in the base iPhone 15 or 16. Even though there's only one lens, the high resolution allows for "virtual" optical zoom. Basically, the phone crops into the middle of the 48MP sensor to give you a 2x zoom that doesn't look like a blurry mess.

It’s a smart compromise. Most people just want a photo that looks good on Instagram or a clear shot of a receipt. The A18 chip handles the heavy lifting for Night Mode and Deep Fusion, so the photos will likely punch way above their weight class.

USB-C and the End of Lightning

It’s finally happening across the whole board. The new iPhone SE has officially swapped the Lightning port for USB-C.

If you have a drawer full of old Apple cables, they’re officially useless for your new gear. But on the bright side, you can now charge your iPhone, your MacBook, and your iPad with the same cord. It also means slightly faster data transfer speeds, though let’s be real, most of us just use iCloud for that anyway.

Battery life is another area seeing a stealthy win. Because the body is now modeled after the iPhone 14, there is physically more room for a bigger battery. We’re looking at a 3,279 mAh cell compared to the measly 2,018 mAh battery in the old SE 3. Combine that extra capacity with the efficiency of the A18 chip, and this thing should easily last a full day.

The Price of "Budget" Luxury

Now, for the reality check. The $399 iPhone is probably dead.

Leaks and industry analysts suggest the price is creeping up. Expect to see this landing somewhere between $499 and $599. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for the "SE" branding, but considering you're getting a modern OLED screen, a flagship processor, and Face ID, it’s still the cheapest way into the Apple ecosystem for a brand-new device.

Comparing this to the Android world, it’s a direct shot at the Google Pixel "A" series. Apple is trying to prove that you don't have to buy a three-year-old refurbished phone to get modern features.

What Most People Get Wrong

A lot of people think the "SE" stands for "Small Edition." It doesn't. It never did. It stands for Special Edition.

This new version is not a small phone. It’s a 6.1-inch device. If you were hoping for a tiny, one-handed "Mini" replacement, this isn't it. The iPhone 13 Mini was the last true small phone Apple made, and they aren't looking back. This phone is designed for the masses—people who want a big, clear screen for TikTok and Netflix but don't want to pay $1,000 for a "Pro" badge they don't need.

Is It Worth It?

If you’re on an iPhone 11 or 12, this is the upgrade you’ve been waiting for. You get the new chip, the better screen, and most importantly, you get to keep using your phone for another five or six years before it loses software support.

If you’re currently using an iPhone 15 or 16? Obviously, stay away. This isn't for you. This is for the person who treats their phone like an appliance—it just needs to work, it needs to be fast, and it shouldn't cost as much as a used car.

To get the most out of the transition, start backing up your photos to iCloud now and grab a 20W USB-C power brick if you don't already have one, because Apple definitely isn't putting one in the box. Check your carrier for trade-in deals too, as they usually use the SE launch to lure in people on old contracts with "free" upgrades.