A new report has sparked excitement among Apple fans, with speculation that the 4th-generation iPhone SE could arrive earlier than expected—potentially as soon as this week. While the budget-friendly device was widely anticipated to be unveiled during a dedicated press event in spring 2025, industry analyst Mark Gurman of Bloomberg now suggests that the launch could happen much sooner.
In his Thursday article, Gurman predicted that Apple’s next iPhone SE would be revealed “in the coming days” and clarified that it could be as soon as next week. He further asserted in his Power On newsletter that the new device might even be arriving “this week,” which would fall between now and February 14. This contradicts earlier expectations of a spring event, which typically takes place in March or early April.
Gurman’s claim is based on insights from anonymous sources “with knowledge of the matter,” and while these reports should be taken with a grain of salt, Gurman’s track record of accurate predictions lends credibility to the rumor. Adding weight to his claims, Gurman noted that stock levels of the 3rd-gen iPhone SE are reportedly running low in the U.S., with retail employees turning away customers and online buyers facing shipping delays until March. This is often seen as a sign that Apple is winding down production in anticipation of a new release.
However, it’s worth noting that the situation appears different in the U.K., where stock levels remain steady, and immediate shipping options are still available for the 3rd-gen SE model.
If the iPhone SE 4 is indeed arriving early, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising. The 3rd-gen model was withdrawn from sale in the European Union earlier this year due to non-compliance with new regulations requiring USB-C ports on smartphones. With no budget iPhones available in the EU for over a month, an early release of the new iPhone SE would fill a significant gap in Apple’s lineup.
As the rumor mill continues to churn, we’ll have to wait and see if Apple surprises us with an unexpected launch in the coming days. For now, it’s still just a rumor, but with Apple, anything is possible.