Apple's iPhone SE 4 rumored to launch early in 2025

iPhone SE 4 could look like iPhone 14

If all rumors are to be believed, Apple's fourth lower-cost iPhone SE has had a peculiar run of delays and bad luck. It's been on, then cancelled, then on again, and then halfway between the two as an iPhone that would only be made for internal testing at Apple. Now a new industry report claims that multiple display vendors have pitched to Apple to supply screens for the device.

According to The Elec, Apple has been in discussions with Samsung Display, BOE, and the smaller, lesser-known Tianma. Each vendor is said to have now told Apple their price for the iPhone SE 4 screen.

That price is low enough for an iPhone SE because of the expectation, repeated by The Elec that the model will closely resemble the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14. The firms can therefore use existing production lines and, the publication says, recycled parts.

This is not the first time that suppliers have been reportedly vying for the iPhone SE 4 contract. Back in August 2023, it was claimed that Apple had chosen its primary supplier, but was considering placing orders with smaller, secondary ones.

Tianma was reported as one of these smaller firms, but The Elec says it is currently far enough behind Samsung and BOE in its technology that it is not a serious contender.

If Apple does release the iPhone SE 4 in 2025, previous launches would suggest that March or April are the likely months. The first iPhone SE came out in March 2016, and was followed by a second generation in April 2020, then the current one in March 2022.

Separately, it's been reported that Tianma will provide displays for the rumored HomePod with 7-inch screen.