New iPhone SE Leak Reveals Apple’s Design Decision – Forbes
Various iPhone models, including the iPhone SE (l) Photo by Monika Skolimowska/picture alliance via … [+] Getty Images)How do you make an iPhone SE look and feel like an iPhone? The latest leaked images of the next iPhone illustrate how Tim Cook and his team will ensure the new iOS-powered smartphone fits into its portfolioThere has been a question about how advanced the iPhone SE screen would be. The cardinal-numbered iPhone line has moved from the iconic notch debuting on the iPhone X to a dynamic island. This saw a pill-shaped cutout for the selfie camera, FaceID camera, and other sensors. It was masked by a black widget area generated on the display, which could change size dynamically to offer contextual information and controls.The latest leaked images of 2025’s iPhone SE show that the SE will introduce the notch to Apple’s mid-range smartphone for the first time but will not go as far as the dynamic island. This decision will impact several factors.The first is cost. The notched screen is based on older technology, and with a smartphone screen being one of the most expensive lines in the bill of materials, keeping the cost of the screen as low as possible will have a significant bearing on the cost of manufacturing the iPhone SE models.It’s also why I’d expect to see a screen that does not feature a variable refresh rate.Then, you need separation in Apple’s portfolio. The iPhone SE will bring as much of the Apple ecosystem (including the awkwardly backronymed Apple intelligence AI suite), but it can’t get everything otherwise there would be no temptation for consumers to upgrade to the iPhone 16. Keeping the latest screen technology—including the Dynamic Island—will play into that discussion.Finally, the move to the notch ensures that the iPhone SE is seen as “an iPhone.” The current iPhone SE model continues to use TouchID, and the bezels are highly visible. 2025’s iPhone SE will throw that out the window, with an almost edge-to-edge display and a notch that popular culture regards as belonging only to the iPhone.Apple is expected to launch the iPhone SE in late-March to early-April.One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site’s Terms of Service. We’ve summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:So, how can you be a power user?Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site’s Terms of Service.
