Apple‘s “iPhone for the masses,” the long-rumored Apple iPhone SE 4, might be closer than we thought.

No less than Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming keynote on social media today, set for February 19, with the cryptic caption: “Get ready to meet the newest member of the family.” The accompanying video features an animated Apple logo reflecting what strongly resembles the outline of a next-gen AirTag, fueling speculation about the oft-rumored AirTag 2. That device is expected to get a range boost, an integrated speaker, as well as Apple Vision Pro integration.

Get ready to meet the newest member of the family.

Wednesday, February 19. #AppleLaunch pic.twitter.com/0ML0NfMedu

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) February 13, 2025

Can you see a smartphone?

But things get way more interesting.

Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reported earlier this week that Apple might be gearing up to launch the iPhone SE 4 within days. It’s been years since we’ve seen a new SE; the last one arrived in 2022, so this is a big deal for budget-conscious Apple fans.

Gurman suggests a price tag of around $500 (around P28,934), a compelling proposition compared to the iPhone 16‘s $799 (P46,237) starting price in the United States — or P54,990 ($950) if you are in the Philippines. For context, the 2022 iPhone SE was priced from P28,990 ($499) at local retail. We can only imagine how much a sub-P30,000 brand-new iPhone would disrupt emerging markets.

Guess this is how the iPhone SE4 will turn out? 🤷‍♂️📱 #ESR #ESRtech #esrgear #esriphonecase #iPhoneSE4 #screenprotector #esrscreenprotector pic.twitter.com/U7ml1HyO8C

— ESR Tech (@esrtechofficial) February 13, 2025

Here’s how the Apple iPhone SE 4 could look

The Apple iPhone SE 4 is rumored to be getting a substantial size upgrade, sporting a 6.1-inch display, matching the iPhone 16. That’s a significant jump from its predecessor’s 4.7-inch screen. Under the hood, the SE 4 is expected to pack an A18 chip, bringing Apple Intelligence features to the budget-friendly device. Notably, Apple Intelligence is currently limited to the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and iPhone 16 lineup. The A18 also powers the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, meaning the SE is essentially leapfrogging older models.

Beyond the chip and screen, the Apple iPhone SE 4 is tipped to stick with a notch, not the Dynamic Island, and a single rear camera, echoing its predecessor.

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