New iPhone SE Inches Closer to Launch as Suppliers Begin Preparing for Shipments

Multiple component suppliers in Apple's supply chain are gearing up for shipments of a third-generation iPhone SE, slated for launch in the first half of 2022, according to industry sources cited by Taiwanese publication DigiTimes.

iPhone SE Cosmopolitan Clean
The full report has yet to be released, but a paywalled preview reads as follows:

VCM suppliers see no cutback in orders for new iPhones: VCM (voice coil motor) and other component suppliers have still seen no cutback in orders for the new iPhones, and are gearing up for shipments for the next generation of Apple's iPhone SE series slated for launch in the first half of 2022, according to industry sources.

Earlier this week, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the new iPhone SE will be equipped with the same 4.7-inch display size and 3GB of RAM as the current model, and the new model is also expected to retain a Touch ID home button and thicker bezels. Kuo previously said key features of the new iPhone SE will include 5G support and a faster processor — likely the A15 chip that debuted in iPhone 13 models and the latest iPad mini.

The new iPhone SE will be released in the first quarter of 2022 specifically, according to Taiwanese research firm TrendForce. If this timeframe proves to be accurate, we can expect the device to be released by the end of March.

Looking farther ahead, rumors suggest that a fourth-generation iPhone SE is slated for launch in 2023 with more significant changes, including a larger display and 4GB of RAM. It's possible this larger iPhone SE will feature a design based on the iPhone XR.

The current iPhone SE launched in April 2020, with pricing starting at $399 for 64GB of storage.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Adjusts Trade-In Values for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and More

Thursday November 6, 2025 11:12 am PST by
Apple today updated its trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models. Trade-ins can be completed on Apple's website, or at an Apple Store. The charts below provide an overview of Apple's current and previous trade-in values in the U.S., according to its website. Maximum values for most devices either decreased or saw no change, but the iPad Air received a slight bump. ...
Liquid Glass General Feature

Apple Shares Liquid Glass Design Gallery

Thursday November 6, 2025 2:45 pm PST by
Apple is promoting the new Liquid Glass design in iOS 26, showing off the ways that third-party developers are embracing the aesthetic in their apps. On its developer website, Apple is featuring a visual gallery that demonstrates how "teams of all sizes" are creating Liquid Glass experiences. The gallery features examples of Liquid Glass in apps for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac. Apple...
airtag purple

Apple's Website Lists AirTag 4-Pack at Shockingly Low Price [Updated]

Friday November 7, 2025 6:40 am PST by
Apple's online store in the U.S. is suddenly offering a pack of four AirTags for just $29, which is the same price as a single AirTag. This is likely a pricing error, and it is unclear if orders will be fulfilled. Apple has not discounted the AirTag four-pack in any other countries that we checked. Delivery estimates are already pushing into late November to early December, suggesting...
Early Black Friday Deals 1

The Best Early Black Friday Apple Deals on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, and More

Saturday November 8, 2025 6:16 am PST by
We're officially in the month of Black Friday, which will take place on Friday, November 28 in 2025. As always, this will be the best time of the year to shop for great deals, including popular Apple products like AirPods, iPad, Apple Watch, and more. In this article, the majority of the discounts will be found on Amazon. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday November 3, 2025 5:54 am PST by
Following more than a month of beta testing, Apple released iOS 26.1 on Monday, November 3. The update includes a handful of new features and changes, including the ability to adjust the look of Liquid Glass and more. Below, we outline iOS 26.1's key new features. Liquid Glass Toggle iOS 26.1 lets you choose your preferred look for Liquid Glass. In the Settings app, under Display...
ikea smart home devices

IKEA Debuts 21 HomeKit-Compatible Smart Bulbs, Sensors, and Controls

Thursday November 6, 2025 4:08 pm PST by
IKEA today announced the upcoming launch of 21 new Matter-compatible smart home products that will be able to interface with HomeKit and the Apple Home app. There are sensors, lights, and control options, all of which will be reasonably priced. Some of the products are new, while some are updates to existing lines that IKEA previously offered. There are a series of new smart bulbs that are...
Apple fitness plus feature

Future of Apple Fitness+ 'Under Review'

Sunday November 9, 2025 5:30 am PST by
The future of Apple Fitness+ is "under review" amid a reorganization of the service, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple Fitness+ remains one of the company's "weakest digital offerings." The service apparently suffers from high churn and little revenue. Nevertheless, Fitness+ has a small, loyal fanbase that...
All Screen iPhone 2027 Feature 1

Apple to Hide Selfie Camera Under Display of 20th Anniversary iPhone

Monday November 10, 2025 1:55 am PST by
Apple will conceal the front-facing camera under the screen of its 2027 iPhone, a Chinese leaker said today, corroborating reports that Apple's 20th anniversary iPhone will have no visible cutouts in the display. Weibo-based account Digital Chat Station said Apple's development of under-screen camera technology was progressing as planned for adoption in 2027, one year after it will...
maxresdefault

In-Depth iPhone Battery Experiment Pits Slow Charging Against Fast Charging

Friday November 7, 2025 1:19 pm PST by
HTX Studio this week shared the results from a six-month battery test that compared how fast charging and slow charging can affect battery life over time. Using six iPhone 12 models, the channel set up a system to drain the batteries from five percent and charge them to 100 percent over and over again. Three were fast charged, and three were slow charged. Another set of iPhones underwent...

Top Rated Comments

John Connor Avatar
51 months ago
They need to move away from this design.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Andres Cantu Avatar
51 months ago
Battery on the current SE isn’t very good. Adding 5G on top of that won’t make it any better. The flaw here is the thinness of the design forces it to have a very small battery.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spartan1967 Avatar
51 months ago

I didn’t realize the Mini was $400. Plus, the mini has pretty bad battery life due to its size, which is smaller than the SE.
With everything you have on your wishlist, your SE would probably be more than the 13 mini. Also go to Apple’s comparison page. The 13 mini has hours more of battery life than the current SE.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spartan1967 Avatar
51 months ago

Come on, Apple. Just give me a device with an updated design in the same size as the current SE with a full front display and Touch ID like the iPad Air (assuming they don’t want to put FaceID in it). This can even reduce the notch size.
They have. It’s called the 13 mini.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
phillypharm Avatar
51 months ago
Come on, Apple. Just give me a device with an updated design in the same size as the current SE with a full front display and Touch ID like the iPad Air (assuming they don’t want to put FaceID in it). This can even reduce the notch size.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
51 months ago
Nice! It might be launching sooner then expected?
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)