Apple to launch new affordable iPhone model in March
Adding to a raft of rumors surrounding a low-cost iPhone model tentatively dubbed "iPhone SE 2," a report on Tuesday claims the hotly anticipated iPhone SE-tier follow-up is going into production next month.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reports Apple suppliers are slated to begin manufacturing the as-yet-unannounced affordable iPhone variant in February ahead of a public debut in March.
Apple last launched a handset aimed at the mass-market with the iPhone SE in March 2016. That model borrowed a design from iPhone 5s, which was two years old at the time, and packed it with then-current tech including an A9 processor and a 12-megapixel camera. The model was priced at $399.
The tech giant is expected to follow a similar strategy with "iPhone SE 2." According to analyst predictions, the upcoming handset is anticipated to share an external design with iPhone 8, currently the cheapest iPhone offering at $449. A 4.7-inch screen is also expected, as is the inclusion of a Touch ID home button for biometric authentication and user interface navigation.
Like iPhone SE, the next-generation low-cost iPhone is rumored to boast Apple's latest processor technology, the A13 Bionic, as well as current-generation camera technology.
A number of trade industry publications have speculated on Apple's 2020 iPhone roadmap, with some claiming the company might launch two low-cost models in 2020. Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested Apple is indeed developing a larger-screened "iPhone SE 2," but intends to release the handset in 2021. Other rumblings suggest Apple is working on an "SE 2" variant with full-face display and Face ID, though the validity of those assertions are shaky at best due to prohibitive production costs.
Hon Hai, Pegatron and Wistron have been tapped to assemble the next-generation affordable iPhone, according to today's report.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reports Apple suppliers are slated to begin manufacturing the as-yet-unannounced affordable iPhone variant in February ahead of a public debut in March.
Apple last launched a handset aimed at the mass-market with the iPhone SE in March 2016. That model borrowed a design from iPhone 5s, which was two years old at the time, and packed it with then-current tech including an A9 processor and a 12-megapixel camera. The model was priced at $399.
The tech giant is expected to follow a similar strategy with "iPhone SE 2." According to analyst predictions, the upcoming handset is anticipated to share an external design with iPhone 8, currently the cheapest iPhone offering at $449. A 4.7-inch screen is also expected, as is the inclusion of a Touch ID home button for biometric authentication and user interface navigation.
Like iPhone SE, the next-generation low-cost iPhone is rumored to boast Apple's latest processor technology, the A13 Bionic, as well as current-generation camera technology.
A number of trade industry publications have speculated on Apple's 2020 iPhone roadmap, with some claiming the company might launch two low-cost models in 2020. Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested Apple is indeed developing a larger-screened "iPhone SE 2," but intends to release the handset in 2021. Other rumblings suggest Apple is working on an "SE 2" variant with full-face display and Face ID, though the validity of those assertions are shaky at best due to prohibitive production costs.
Hon Hai, Pegatron and Wistron have been tapped to assemble the next-generation affordable iPhone, according to today's report.
Comments
The icing on the cake would be a modern exterior design but if you absolutely need or want to be on iOS and are on a budget, a powerful, affordable option is worth its weight in gold.
It is also a carrot for possible Android switchers.
Launching outside the typical end of year refresh cycle also makes a lot of sense. It gives marketing something to talk about and will get some attention when the world has all its attention on MWC.
OT, but can I just say I hate how all the prices quoted on Apple’s website now are based on trade-in? Just give me the full and monthly installment price of the phone. None of this asterisk crap based on the maximum possible value you could get if you had a device to trade-in.
if I wanted a big ass phone I’d just buy a current gen iPhone Pro Max Ultimate Hardcore. or whatever bullshit name the come up with next.
If it’s a significant portion of their market and it costs very little to produce, then why not continue making and selling them? Has nothing to do with the past when people are still willing to buy them in the future.
Haha! Good point!
Those people still on iPhone 6/6s/7 aren’t budget conscious, more than likely they are wary of Face ID and prefer Touch ID.
Now, there may be a lot of people who bought those models when they were “yesterdays” models and got them cheap, maybe those are the people they’re alluding to?
The SE wasn’t about being “cheap” is was about keeping an older much-desired design around longer. It was inexpensive because it didn’t cost as much to produce. (No new tooling/manufacturing/assembly lines had to be set up.)
As far as the SE2 goes, I think it’s a great idea to offer a budget priced model, but as others have pointed out the base model 8 is already down to $450. If they release it for the next model cycle it would essentially be like keeping the 8 in the lineup and dropping the price along with everything else.
In essence, there are two things people are making noise about:
1. Affordability. What people really want is a return to the time when carriers would provide a phone at no charge since they made the handset cost back in service fees. Carriers have now realised that they can continue to charge outrageous service fees without subsidising the handsets, the handsets are more expensive because they're doing more, and if you are willing to forego the latest hardware you can get an older model for a discount. If you think Apple's approach is wrong and they're missing out on sales... well, there's total revenue of US$190bn for the 2019 year to consider. Try and convince Apple's Board of Directors.
2. Size. The original iPhone was mocked for not being big enough, but it still sold incredibly well. The bigger devices helped increase iPhone revenue in 2015 to US$153bn, up from US$101bn the year before, so there is clearly demand for the larger devices too. The iPhone SE is supposedly the optimum form-factor for people wanting a smaller phone; this rumour says the new phone will be based on the iPhone 8, which (while comfortable for everyone I know who has one), is larger than the SE and not significantly smaller than the 11 Pro.
In the end, I see a slight chance that Apple will do this - it has, after all, been four years since the release of the iPhone SE, so they've had time to complete a full re-design if that was their intention - but I truly doubt it.