Apple's long-awaited overhaul of iPhone SE to release in few days

The company intends to present its modernized iPhone SE version in upcoming days to support growth and attract customers from different brands.

The company plans to make a public announcement about the device soon as next week but it will go on sale later this month according to people familiar with the situation. Apple Inc plans to unveil the device on its website because it will not host a launch event as the people who shared this information requested anonymity due to the private nature of the plans.

The launch represents a significant transformation for the smartphone Apple introduced as its entry-level model back in 2016 which has remained largely unnoticed. The existing version — released in 2022 — has grown dated: The existing iPhone SE remains the only model with a home button while not supporting Face ID technology. The upcoming version will resemble the iPhone 14 appearance while incorporating Apple Intelligence, the company's artificial intelligence software.

Evidence has surfaced indicating that Apple is preparing to launch a new phone. The iPhone SE inventory has vanished from Apple retail locations across many US regions as part of a common pattern before device updates.

Reports from multiple Apple retail employees show that device inventory has been decreasing for weeks and customers wanting specific device configurations often cannot make their purchase.

Apple’s online store lists the phone for sale but it won’t ship some configurations such as the red 256 gigabyte version until March. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models both experience low stock levels.

Apple halted sales of the existing SE model and iPhone 14 in the EU market because these products failed to meet the local USB-C charging requirements which other Apple iPhone 14 series adopted starting in 2023. The upcoming iPhone SE will feature the same USB-C port which will enable its return to the EU market.

The existing iPhone SE model remains priced at $429 while the standard iPhone 16 costs $799. The price in the Indian market for the updated model might rise from Apple because of its new features and design.