Published 13:42 IST, October 7th 2019
Apple iPhone SE 2 coming early next year with iPhone 8 design: Report
Rumours that the iPhone SE 2 is in development have been going around since 2017 but two years down the line, we’re yet to see them come to life.
According to long-time Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is indeed working on an iPhone SE successor – the iPhone SE 2. Rumours that the iPhone SE 2 is in development have been going around since 2017 but two years down the line, we’re yet to see them come to life. That said, if Kuo’s words are to be believed – the analyst has had a good track record in these things – then Apple may launch the iPhone SE 2 early next year, that is sometime in Q1 2020.
The iPhone SE was launched with an iPhone 5-like body with the innards of the iPhone 6S. The idea was to offer a smaller, more affordable iPhone for developing markets – although, the iPhone SE wasn’t exactly cheap to get in India even after all those measures. In 2019 however, Apple has launched the iPhone 11 at a relatively more affordable price in comparison to last year’s iPhone XR. So, you can say that change is in the air. An affordable – and possibly smaller – iPhone SE 2 won’t be a surprise in this scenario.
iPhone SE 2: iPhone 11 in an iPhone 8 body?
Kuo notes that the iPhone SE 2 will have a design similar to the iPhone 8 but it will pack the Apple A13 processor – which is also found inside the latest and greatest iPhones. This means that the iPhone SE 2 could be launched with an iPhone 8-like body with the innards of the iPhone 11. Again, even that won’t be surprising since the iPhone 8 is now in dire need for a phase out. It is the most affordable iPhone that Apple sells in many markets and therefore a refresh – vis a vis a hardware – will be a nice touch.
That's not the case in India though. Apple quietly introduced a new 128GB storage variant of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus in India recently, while also slashing the price of the existing 64GB variant post the iPhone 11 launch.
The iPhone 8 now starts at Rs 39,900 for the base variant with 64GB storage, while the 128GB storage variant will sell for Rs 44,900. The iPhone 8 Plus now starts at Rs 49,900 for the base variant with 64GB storage, while the 128GB storage variant will sell for Rs 54,900. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are not the most affordable iPhones that you can get though – Apple is also continuing to sell the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in India.
Updated 14:17 IST, October 7th 2019