Apple Might Delay Budget iPhone SE Line as 2024–2025 Plans Evolve
The U.S. tech giant Apple appears to have reversed course on a strategy to roll out a sequence of inexpensive iPhone SE models over the next several years. This shift comes after input from a respected industry analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International, who suggested the plan is not part of Apple’s current timetable for 2024 and 2025. The updated forecast reflects a more cautious approach from Cupertino as it reevaluates product goals and market timing.
According to Kuo, the iPhone SE 4 is not included in Apple’s near-term roadmap for 2024 and 2025. An insider has adjusted expectations regarding a new budget-oriented iPhone, signaling a pause or possible reshaping of the line. The analyst’s revised outlook highlights how Apple is prioritizing other flagship initiatives while reassessing demand, supply chain considerations, and the overall strategy for affordable devices.
Historically, Apple flirted with launching a fresh SE model before the end of 2024, but the latest communication from Kuo indicates those plans have shifted. The reasons for the change remain unspecified, though the analyst previously cited factors such as market demand, component costs, and broader product ecosystem alignment as potential influences. The updated stance underscores how even a company known for tight release calendars can pivot rapidly in response to evolving conditions.
Initially, Kuo had speculated that the iPhone SE 4 would be a streamlined variant of the iPhone 14. Yet ongoing investigations and industry checks revealed that the model was intended more as a technical prototype to advance Apple’s own 5G modem technology rather than a mass-produced customer device. This distinction matters because it suggests the project’s aims were more experimental, aimed at future chipset development rather than immediate market entry.
In related reporting, Kuo has previously highlighted other high-profile releases, including insights into future iPhone iterations and their hardware features. The latest commentary reinforces the notion that Apple weighs several competing priorities—design innovation, chipset independence, network capabilities, and user experience—before committing to a broader SE lineup. Between the lines, observers can sense a strategic tilt toward longer planning horizons and a careful balance between price-sensitive segments and premium offerings.