'iPhone SE 4' Rumored to Be Named 'iPhone 16E'

[MacRumors]

Apple is expected to release a fourth-generation iPhone SE in March, but it has been rumored that the device will have a different name.

The device succeeding the third-generation iPhone SE will be named the iPhone 16E, according to a December 13 post from Fixed Focus Digital, an account with over two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. On December 31, another leaker known as Majin Bu on X also cited a source who said the device's name will be iPhone 16E.

It is unclear if the name would use a capital E, or if the name would end up being iPhone 16e, or iPhone 16 with an E inside a square. Or perhaps iPhone 16 SE? Or, this rumor is simply wrong and Apple sticks with iPhone SE branding.

"Fixed Focus Digital" doesn't have a very established track record with Apple rumors yet. The account accurately claimed the iPhone 16 Pro models would be available in a new bronze finish, which ended up being Desert Titanium, but the color had already been rumored at the time. On the other hand, the account was wrong about the number of iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus color options that would be available. The account's make-or-break moment will mostly come down to whether its claims about the iPhone SE's successor using the same chassis as the iPhone 16 and being named iPhone 16E prove to be accurate.

In any case, the device is said to have a similar design as the base iPhone 14, which is similar to the base iPhone 16. Rumored features include a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a USB-C port, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, a newer A-series chip and 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence, and the first Apple-designed 5G modem. It is not clear if the device will have an Action button, which debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro models.

Apple announced the current iPhone SE during an online event in March 2022. The device looks similar to the iPhone 8, with outdated features such as a Touch ID button, Lightning port, and thick bezels around the display. In the U.S., the iPhone SE currently starts at $429, but at least a slight price increase seems likely for the next model.

Article Link: 'iPhone SE 4' Rumored to Be Named 'iPhone 16E'

 

[saulinpa]

Regardless of what it is called it is going in the wrong direction. It needs to be smaller, not bigger.

 

[Aoligei]

Regardless of what it is called it is going in the wrong direction. It needs to be smaller, not bigger.

Wow… I expect this comment shows up, but not this fast.

 

[ngextreme]

Wow… I expect this comment shows up, but not this fast.

They're right though.

 

[Aoligei]

They're right though.

I respectfully disagree.

 

[Apple$]

Regardless of what it is called it is going in the wrong direction. It needs to be smaller, not bigger.

Apple gave you two chances to make the form factor successful, and spoiler alert, it wasn’t a successful product!

 

[Paddle1]

As I said in another post it at least makes sense from a naming perspective as Apple has been moving away from the "generation" naming, so I'd expect some sort of numbers in the name. Both iPhone SE 4 or 16E would make sense in that regard.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Most of these leakers get their information through the supply chain.
It is very unlikely that they would know what the final marketing name is.
Also, given that the “Apple Watch SE” exists, plus the fact that the SE only gets an update around once every four years or so, I think this is complete bogus.
So what, in two years, we will be looking at an iPhone lineup that looks like the 19 Air, the 19 Pro and Pro Max, and all the way at the bottom the… 16E?
Yeah, not likely at all, unless they plan on updating it every year from now on with a 17E and an 18E.
That also seems very unlikely.

 

[L23]

I respectfully disagree. I want iPhone go bigger.

Regular iPhone should be Pro Max size, Pro Max needs to be at least 7.2 inch. iPhone Pro Ultra should be 7.5 inch and iPad mini need to gain phone functionality

They have the iPad for that.

 

[Rychiar]

se was always a dumb name

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Regardless of what it is called it is going in the wrong direction. It needs to be smaller, not bigger.

You’re referring to the price, right?

 

[sublunar]

Naming the product would be a marketing function but I think the only way this leaks is if someone has seen a box or other packaging on the assembly line because the marketing guys directly don't leak at Apple.

Hopefully this means the phone itself is coming sooner rather than later.

Either way it leaves the 15 increasingly behind the curve (A16 CPU, less capable multitasking with 6Gb RAM vs 8Gb in the A18 CPU which will also have access to 8Gb RAM and Apple Intelligence) if Apple are going to further point out that the SE is a cost reduced 16 regardless of whether it's a 16e 16E or 16 SE.

Calling it 16 SE probably makes more sense but placing it where the 14 is/was in the lineup (below a 15) could make it confusing unless Apple are going to pull a swift one and replace the 15 with a 15 SE secretly and the entire iPhone lineup goes A18.

 

[ttyRazor]

I’d find it odd if they named it this. The goal of the numberless SE label seems to be to not call attention to how old it is after not being updated for a few years. would they update this annually to to keep up with the numbering? Or would it just be more of a push to get people on Apple intelligence-capable hardware?

 

[ttyRazor]

Naming the product would be a marketing function but I think the only way this leaks is if someone has seen a box or other packaging on the assembly line because the marketing guys directly don't leak at Apple.

Hopefully this means the phone itself is coming sooner rather than later.

Either way it leaves the 15 increasingly behind the curve (A16 CPU, less capable multitasking with 6Gb RAM vs 8Gb in the A18 CPU which will also have access to 8Gb RAM and Apple Intelligence) if Apple are going to further point out that the SE is a cost reduced 16 regardless of whether it's a 16e 16E or 16 SE.

The boxes often just have iPhone on them, and the specific name is on a sticker on the back that gets printed last minute for just this reason

 

[sublunar]

The boxes often just have iPhone on them, and the specific name is on a sticker on the back that gets printed last minute for just this reason

I seem to remember names for previous iPhones being leaked due to these stickers too - maybe we'll see tweets in due course with stickers on them.

 

[Andres Cantu]

I could see that being the new name. The "SE" tag has meant the cheapest Apple device tier since inception, so by changing the name, they can more easily justify the higher price tag. Plus, it makes it easier for customers to identify its Apple Intelligence capabilities, since any iPhone 16 can handle them.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I respectfully disagree. I want iPhone go bigger.

Regular iPhone should be Pro Max size, Pro Max needs to be at least 7.2 inch. iPhone Pro Ultra should be 7.5 inch and iPad mini need to gain phone functionality

Just...get an iPad.

 

[JPack]

The name is too specific to be a random guess, so it’s probably accurate. The device packaging orders will have been submitted by now so the name will be known.

16E helps justify the expected price increase to $500 or even $599.

 

[CarAnalogy]

They have the iPad for that.

It's part of their historical naming tradition, starting with the Macintosh SE.

For that reason alone I kind of doubt this rumor. Also the name iPhone 16E is very clunky.

 

[swiftapplefan]

For some reason it sounds like a cheap phone. Even SE feels more premium

 

[CarAnalogy]

With regard to size and form factor: most of the people I see using the SE are older people who are using it by choice and like the form factor. They don't care about the bezels. They just want a basic, light iPhone that works like an iPhone. I don't think Apple needs to do much with the SE besides keep it updated.

Those bezels do need to go at some point very soon, but the rest of it is what its market wants.

 

[sublunar]

I’d find it odd if they named it this. The goal of the numberless SE label seems to be to not call attention to how old it is after not being updated for a few years. would they update this annually to to keep up with the numbering? Or would it just be more of a push to get people on Apple intelligence-capable hardware?

That's another good point. Putting the generation number on it will date it too if they keep it in the lineup for multiple years. It's odd enough now if you could buy a 16SE that's cheaper but more capable than the 15 which is just below a 16 and then the 16 Pro in June this year for example.

The other way to do this is to discontinue the 15 at the same time and the entire lineup is full of iPhone 16 variants, all running A18, and all capable of Apple Intelligence. But of course we've had precious few leaks for these so I'd guess that we're talking about a CPU exchange when replacing the 15.

16E, 16SE, 16, 16 Pro.

This naming convention could vary of course but replacing the 15 with a 15SE - same iPhone 15 parts but A18 CPU or even A17Pro if Apple had a deal for 2 years worth of those CPUs - would be a wild way to keep things secret.

 

[mattoruu]

What would the “E” stand for though?

The “SE” stands for Special Edition. (Although I don’t think it’s ever been marketed as “Special Edition”, that’s at least been confirmed by Apple execs.)

So… would the “E” just stand for “Edition”? The “iPhone 16 Edition”?

Maybe it would stand for “Entry”? (As in an entry model.)

 

[dannyyankou]

This would only make sense if they commit to updating it every year.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Wow… I expect this comment shows up, but not this fast.

Current Pro Max phone is still too small!

For someone, like me, who doesn't consume video (in any form) on their phone, play games, or use social media, there is no need for a bigger screen. I barely even use the web on my phone.

A smaller phone would be nice and my pro is on the high-end of what's comfortable. Considering I've had the SE issued to me twice as a company phone, I'm not what a big screen would be useful for, other than reusing iPhone 14 parts.