currentinterest

This is quite interesting. It is good to see Apple is playing around with creative ideas even if the precise product may never be sold.

Apple is rumored to be eliminating the charging port altogether in 2021 for some models. Their plan is likely to keep lightning ports while the transition occurs, and eventually includes all models.

The SE, as I understood it, referred to Special Edition. It was sold as a one-off, not a recurring line. Similarly, this phone is in the same category. The name iPhone Classic would be appropriate here. Apple is no longer conflating size with price. There will be a smaller phone in 2020, the 5.4 inch iPhone 12, but it will not be sold at a budget price. It will have smaller overall dimensions than the iPhone 8. The iPhone Classic will be larger, but much less expensive. The only remaining question for the low end phone is if it will have wireless charging? For $399, it may not.

The 2020 line up is likely:
iPhone Classic $399 64 GB, ($449 128 GB) A13
iPhone XR $499 A12
iPhone 11 $599 A13
iPhone 12, 5.4 inch $649 A14
iPhone 12, 6.1 inch $749 A14
iPhone 12 Pro, 6.1 inch $999 A14
iPhone 12 Pro Max, 6.7 inch $1099 A14

 For accounting purposes I would wager at least some of the purchase price of a qualifying device is charged as paying for the service. Accordingly, everyone who has signed up for the year is likely treated as a paying customer. 

Anything that makes a notebook computer thinner and lighter while remaining powerful as the MacBook Pros are is to be welcomed. Innovation is a good thing.