A recent leak suggests that Apple plans to release the new iPhone SE, codenamed “V59,” and the new iPad 11, codenamed “J481,” alongside iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, with potential announcements occurring in January or by April.
Details on the new iPhone SE
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman previously indicated that “V59” refers to a new iPhone SE. Historically, Apple has announced all three previous iPhone SE models in March or April, making a January announcement for the iPhone SE 4 earlier than usual. The upcoming iPhone SE may also be referred to as the iPhone 16E.
There is speculation that an early launch could benefit Apple due to regulatory compliance. The current iPhone SE, equipped with a Lightning port, has been discontinued in the EU due to new USB-C regulations. The new iPhone SE is expected to feature a USB-C port, allowing Apple to resume sales in the EU sooner.
Rumored specifications for the iPhone SE 4 include a similar design to the base iPhone 14, equipped with a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, a newer A-series chip, and 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence support. Additionally, it will feature the first Apple-designed 5G modem. However, it remains uncertain if the device will include an Action button, which was introduced with the iPhone 15 Pro models.
The current iPhone SE, announced in March 2022, resembles the iPhone 8 and includes a Touch ID button and a Lightning port. The current U.S. price for the iPhone SE starts at $429, with expectations of at least a modest price increase for the forthcoming model.
Specifications for the iPad 11
The new iPad 11, identified as “J481,” is said to support Apple Intelligence, indicating it will be equipped with a newer A-series chip compared to the iPad 10 and an increase to 8GB of RAM. So far, no major design changes have been reported for this model, which follows the announcement of the iPad 10 in October 2022.
In addition, Gurman mentioned that new MacBook Air models are expected to be announced before the iPhone SE and iPad 11 launches, with rumors suggesting that the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models will be updated with the M4 chip.
Projected launch timeline for iPhone SE 4 and iPads
Other reports indicate that both the iPhone SE 4 and new iPads are expected to launch in the first half of 2025, with some sources specifying a launch “by April.” This aligns with Gurman’s previous suggestions of a spring release.
The launch will likely coincide with the introduction of iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, which Apple has been enhancing to support new hardware. It is important to note that iOS and iPadOS “.3” updates have been historically released in late January.
Despite these updates, Gurman clarified that the announcement for the iPads and iPhone SE 4 may not occur simultaneously with the release of iOS 18.3. The traditional spring season begins in mid-March, which supports expectations for announcements between that time and April, consistent with previous launch patterns.
Apple plans to ship the new devices with iOS 18.3, while it has already confirmed the public release of iOS 18.4 sometime in April. This upcoming version aims to enable Apple Intelligence for non-English languages for the first time.
Rumors indicate that at least three new devices will be released during this spring period: the iPhone SE 4, iPad 11, and an updated iPad Air. The iPhone SE 4 is rumored to resemble an iPhone 14, featuring a single rear camera lens and incorporating the A18 chip found in the iPhone 16. Meanwhile, the iPad 11 is expected to receive a specification upgrade, possibly with an A17 Pro chip, to support Apple Intelligence.
Featured image credit: David Zieglgänsberger/Unsplash
