iPhone SE to Feature Notch in 2025 Update with Cost Implications and Design Changes
The 2025 iPhone SE will feature a notch for the first time in Apple's mid-range lineup, impacting cost, design, and its positioning within the iPhone ecosystem.
How do you make an iPhone SE look and feel like an iPhone? The latest leaked images of the next iPhone illustrate how Tim Cook and his team will ensure the new iOS-powered smartphone fits into its portfolio.
There has been a question about how advanced the iPhone SE screen would be. The cardinal-numbered iPhone line has moved from the iconic notch debuting on the iPhone X to a dynamic island, featuring a pill-shaped cutout for the selfie camera, FaceID camera, and other sensors. This was masked by a black widget area generated on the display, which could change size dynamically to offer contextual information and controls.
The latest leaked images of 2025's iPhone SE show that the SE will introduce the notch to Apple's mid-range smartphone for the first time, but will not go as far as the dynamic island. This decision will impact several factors.
The first is cost. The notched screen is based on older technology, and with a smartphone screen being one of the most expensive components in the bill of materials, keeping the cost of the screen as low as possible will significantly affect the manufacturing cost of the iPhone SE models.
It's also why a screen that does not feature a variable refresh rate is expected.
Then, there is the need for separation in Apple's portfolio. The iPhone SE will bring much of the Apple ecosystem, including the awkwardly backronymed Apple intelligence AI suite, but it can't incorporate everything; otherwise, there would be no temptation for consumers to upgrade to the iPhone 16. Keeping the latest screen technology -- including the Dynamic Island -- will play into that discussion.
Finally, the move to the notch ensures that the iPhone SE is perceived as "an iPhone." The current iPhone SE model continues to use TouchID, and the bezels are highly visible. The 2025 iPhone SE will have an almost edge-to-edge display and a notch that popular culture associates exclusively with the iPhone.
