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There's a huge reason to be less excited about iPhone SE 4

By Anam Hamid

Published: Feb 18, 2025, 2:34 PM

Apple

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iPhone SE 4 Spigen case render | Image credit - Spigen

Tomorrow, Apple will announce the successor to the third-generation iPhone SE, which might not necessarily be called the iPhone SE 4. It will likely be a substantial upgrade over the model it's replacing but that might not be a good enough reason to go for it, considering the SE models depreciate faster than the flagship iPhones.

iPhones tend to hold their value better than Android handsets but this is only true of high-end models. According to smartphone and tablet marketplace SellCell, iPhone SE models depreciate 1.5 times faster than flagship models.

The SE variants depreciate more than 40 percent in the first month after launch alone. After six months, their value plummets by around 60 percent. In contrast, flagship models depreciate by less than 30 percent six months after release.

The SE models are not as good at retaining value as flagship iPhones. | Image Credit - SellCell

The reason behind the iPhone SE's poor value retention isn't its smaller size, given the Mini models held their value better. Instead, it appears that their positioning as budget models, low starting price, and outdated specs and design cause them to depreciate faster.

The forthcoming iPhone SE 4 will look less out of place among the other phones in Apple's lineup because of its rumored iPhone 14-like design. It will reportedly run on the powerful A18 chipset and support Apple Intelligence.

The iPhone SE 3 costs $429 and the iPhone SE 4's price may be bumped to $500. This means it may have a little more room to hold value. However, the SE moniker is still associated with budget phones.

This could be why Apple is supposedly rebranding the phone. It might be known as the iPhone 16E and introduced as a new member of the iPhone 16 family.

Of course, those in the know will be able to see through Apple's marketing strategy. So while the new name may spruce up demand, it may do little to stem depreciation. While depreciation isn't necessarily something most buyers factor in when purchasing a phone, it's something to be mindful of if you upgrade phones frequently. SellCell recommends trading in the new iPhone SE 4 within the first year to get the best trade-in value.

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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.

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