iPhone SE 4 will be a ‘rebranded iPhone XR’ that could launch in 2023, new leak claims

Leaker Jon Prosser shared potential details about the fourth-generation iPhone SE, claiming Apple will be using the same form factor for the iPhone XR. This suggests a host of design changes for the iPhone maker's mid-range smartphone.

Prosser reportedly said in an episode of the “Geared Up” podcast (via AppleTrack) that the iPhone SE 4 “will essentially be a rebranded iPhone XR.” It signals the removal of the physical home button, which has been present in all iterations of the mid-range iPhone. The second and third generations of the device, released in 2020 and 2022, respectively, have used the same form factor as the iPhone 8.

If the leak is accurate, the iPhone SE 4 will sport a bigger display as well. The latest models have a 4.7-inch display area due to the home button and a thick bezel on top. But a shift to the iPhone XR design would mean the upcoming device will feature a notch, while Touch ID could be replaced with Face ID.

It is not entirely clear, though, what it means for the iPhone SE 4 to be a “rebranded” iPhone XR. In the case of Android brands, rebranded models often have the exact specifications of the original devices. While Apple has used older form factors for newer iPhone SE models, the company has implemented hardware upgrades to give the 2020 and 2022 iPhone SE newer specs.

Note that the iPhone XR was powered by the 7nm A12 Bionic chip with 3GB RAM. But Apple has since updated the 2022 iPhone SE with A15 Bionic (same chip as iPhone 13) and increased the RAM to 4GB. Meanwhile, using the same iPhone XR form factor could also mean the iPhone SE 4 will still have an LCD panel, 12MP rear-facing camera, and IP67 water and dust resistance.

Apple skipped a year in releasing the third iteration of the iPhone SE. But the same leak suggests the iPhone SE 4 could enter the market sometime in 2023.

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