Unreliable leakers agree on unlikely 'iPhone 16E' name for iPhone SE 4

AppleInsider

Apple's iPhone SE line has existed since 2016 as an entry-level option, but a couple of leakers with poor accuracy suggest a new name is coming for Apple's 2025 budget model.

iPhone SE 4 is rumored to resemble iPhone 14

There is no doubt that an iPhone SE 4 is due in early 2025. It is rumored to have the iPhone 14 design, but with a single rear camera.

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Apple's naming scheme for the iPhone SE hasn't changed in its eight years and likely won't because of simple brand power. Yet two leakers think Apple might try to utilize a stronger brand to promote the budget model.

According to posts first discovered by MacRumors from Fixed Focus Digital and Majin Bu, Apple could use the name "iPhone 16E" for the new product.

We've detailed much of what makes Majin Bu unreliable before, like a miss on an iMessage redesign, macOS for iPad, AirPort routers returning in 2022, and more. The leaker has said in previous posts not to take them too seriously, and as we've noted before, many of his posts are sourced from Weibo leakers and others without crediting the source.

The seeming original leaker of the "iPhone 16E" name is from Weibo called Fixed Focus Digital. They shared this name on December 13 with little other information.

Fixed Focus Digital seemingly appeared in early 2024, though there may be some reference to the leaker prior to that. They have repeatedly shared outlandish-seeming leaks that contradict reports from more seasoned leakers, but have gotten a couple right.

Apple did include a kind of bronze-like desert color for iPhone 16 Pro, even if it wasn't quite the shade leakers expected. Their other color-focused leaks didn't quite hit the mark as there isn't green, purple, yellow, or blue but teal and ultramarine.

Fixed Focus Digital says Apple has given up on a foldable iPhone despite recent reports from reliable sources suggesting otherwise. Apple could eventually give up and never release a foldable, but patents and leakers continue to suggest development continues.

These leakers' histories and tendency to piggyback on other sources make us question the legitimacy of the name claim. Apple could announce iPhone SE 4 anytime before June 2025, and only then will we know if it is called "iPhone 16E" or have an unlikely iPhone 16 chassis.

Rumor Score: B#$&(*it

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charlesn

Wesley, we have needed a B#$&(*it. rumor rating for a long time, so thanks for kicking off 2025 with this innovation! But since the poop emoji is on the far right, shouldn't the red line go all the way across? This sure sounds like a full poop rumor to me, lol! 

luis.a.masanti

How far is… publishing an unreliable leaker's news… from a… fake news?
(Well… other than advise the reader that the news is… almost fake?)

narwhal

I think the rumor is likely, and here's why: it will be easier for Apple to claim "Apple Intelligence works on all iPhone 16 and later models" than to say "Apple Intelligence works on all iPhone 16 and later models plus iPhone SE (4th generation) and later." People who own an iPhone SE have no clue what generation device it is.

eriamjh

narwhal said:

I think the rumor is likely, and here's why: it will be easier for Apple to claim "Apple Intelligence works on all iPhone 16 and later models" than to say "Apple Intelligence works on all iPhone 16 and later models plus iPhone SE (4th generation) and later." People who own an iPhone SE have no clue what generation device it is.

This is the most logical thing I’ve ever heard.

jsnively

Luis.A.Masanti said:

How far is… publishing an unreliable leaker's news… from a… fake news?
(Well… other than advise the reader that the news is… almost fake?)

You hit the nail on the head. Usually we do this when we see the things like this start to creep up on social media a little too frequently... because truth and common sense just go to die out there. Obviously we can't cover every dumb thing that comes up, but the endeavor feels exceptionally worthwhile in the age of platforms whose algorithms exist to encourage attention and interaction over truth or quality... to make no to mention of how AI will continue to pour gasoline on that particular fire.

We give something people can link directly to and go "Experts say it's trash." Been doing it solidly for a year or so. Consider it our small way of combatting misinformation. 

baconstang

I traded my 5S for an SE because it was the only small phone they made at that point.
I used it until they released the 12 mini.  Again, because it was the only small phone they made.
I'm still using the 12 mini and I wish they would put out something new that fits in my pocket.
Until then, you can reach me on my mini...
I'm not buying a phone that doesn't fit in my pocket!

m68000

E for economy iPhone 

jb112

So now that the iPhone 16e is IN FACT the name of the “iPhone SE”, I think the system that indicates the probability of a rumor being true should be eliminated. This rumor was blatantly called “BS” and now has been to determined to be factual and accurate. I’m sure there will be a reply saying something along the lines of “it is the opinion of the writer” or some other BS to defend this bizarre system of how accurate a rumor is based simply on opinion, due to how certain “leakers” track records were flawed. Which is worse, the opinion of a writer which is inaccurate and flawed or a “leaker” with a flawed “track record”?

wesley_hilliard

JB112 said:

So now that the iPhone 16e is IN FACT the name of the “iPhone SE”, I think the system that indicates the probability of a rumor being true should be eliminated. This rumor was blatantly called “BS” and now has been to determined to be factual and accurate. I’m sure there will be a reply saying something along the lines of “it is the opinion of the writer” or some other BS to defend this bizarre system of how accurate a rumor is based simply on opinion, due to how certain “leakers” track records were flawed. Which is worse, the opinion of a writer which is inaccurate and flawed or a “leaker” with a flawed “track record”?

The score is there to help the reader decide how much salt to take with the rumor. These were unreliable sources. And technically, this isn't a renamed iPhone SE 4. It's a whole new product line. I suspect Kuo was correct when he said previously the iPhone SE 4 was cancelled internally. Then rumors of all these features and specs didn't align with how Apple handles its budget iPhone. We were all looking at it wrong.

The iPhone 16e wasn't the next iPhone SE. It's a whole new product and the iPhone SE has been retired. It's an important distinction. And yes, that means that these leakers got something correct out. It means we'll reevaluate them and treat them more seriously in the future. However, given Bu's history, he's likely still just repeating things he's found on social media and got lucky here.

We'll have to wait and see how iPhone 17 does before we change our mind on them completely. Fixed Focus Digital is hit or miss. This was a rare hit.

The score stands. It was a BS leak from unreliable sources. The name was right, but the framing was wrong. I'm glad to say yeah, we were wrong in suggesting the name was incorrect, but the leakers were also wrong in suggesting this was an iPhone SE 4. The score still served its purpose in keeping everyone on their toes.

iPhone 16e also implies there will be an iPhone 17e. iPhone SE isn't an annual product. This is a whole new line at a higher price point driven by the economy and market.

Would you prefer we report every leak as if it were gospel? Recall when the flat sided Apple Watch and iPhone 4 designed iPhone 14 were going around and everyone thought that was coming until launch day because of relying on unreliable leakers? We're trying to avoid that. It's not a perfect system, but it also isn't an opinion. The scores are based on history and our own data and expertise in tracking Apple's movements.