iPhone SE Gets Massive Upgrade—Apple Forced to Keep Up with AI Era

The next-generation iPhone SE is shaping up to be Apple’s most powerful budget phone yet. With AI becoming a core smartphone feature, Apple is reportedly upgrading the SE far beyond its predecessors to keep pace with the market.

At the heart of this upgrade is the A18 chip, the same processor expected in the iPhone 16. This move is crucial as Apple’s AI-powered Apple Intelligence will only run on select Apple Silicon chips, making the A18 a necessity for future-proofing the device.

Alongside a next-gen processor, the iPhone SE is likely to feature 8GB of RAM, matching the base iPhone 16 model. RAM has traditionally been lower in SE models, but with Apple Intelligence updates increasing memory demands, Apple may need to boost its budget phone’s capabilities.

Storage is another key factor. The current SE starts at 64GB, but with the iPhone 16 base model shifting to 128GB, Apple may need to follow suit.

As Apple Intelligence updates require more storage, a higher starting capacity is almost a necessity for long-term usability.

Apple’s SE lineup has always been about longevity. The original iPhone SE, released in 2016, was supported until 2024—eight and a half years of updates. If the 2025 SE aims for similar longevity, Apple must equip it with the hardware to last until 2030.

With these upgrades, the next iPhone SE may not just be another budget option—it could be Apple’s most future-proofed SE yet, ensuring users get a powerful and AI-capable device for years to come.