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Apple's First New Low-Cost iPhone Since the iPhone SE Expected to Launch Early Next Year

This sort of formula makes some sense for Apple:

1. Introduce an "iPhone 8s" in 64GB and 128GB storage sizes in March, 2020. (I don't think 128GB will be the entry model.) For better or worse, it'll be basically the iPhone 8 on the outside, and it'll be basically the 2019 iPhone XR (11r?) internally. Available in two colors, and priced at around US$479 and US$539 respectively.

2. Withdraw the iPhone 8 and at least some of the 2018 iPhones (if not already withdrawn).

3. Assemble the iPhone 8s outside mainland China for tariff-related reasons.

4. In March, 2021, bump the storage capacities to 128GB and 256GB at the same prices and with no other changes.

5. Withdraw the iPhone 8s with the 2022 iPhone cycle in September, 2022.

The iPhone 8s would be the 5th iteration of the iPhone 6 form factor, a terrific Apple accomplishment in courageous parts bin innovation.
 
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satchmo said:
That’s an iPhone 6/7/8. Not an SE.

How difficult is it to simply make an SE with an edge-to-edge screen?

Apple’s entire phone lineup needs to be updated and all bezel-free.
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I think SE isn't that specific 5SE type of phone anymore. When it's the time to drop the iPhone 8, it will become the label for the budget Home Button iPhone in the FaceID era.
 
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MacRumors said:



Apple plans to launch a new-generation "iPhone SE" in the form of a low-cost 4.7-inch iPhone this coming spring, sources in Asia have claimed.

iphone-6-iphone-se.jpg

Nikkei reports that the new model will be Apple's first low-cost smartphone since the 2016 launch of the popular iPhone SE, which started at $399, and while the name and price of the new model hasn't been decided, "it is viewed as the latest generation of the iPhone SE," according to the paper's sources.
Rumors of a new low-cost 4.7-inch iPhone modeled on the iPhone 8 first appeared in April via Economic Daily News. EDN's sources also claimed the device coming in early 2020 will include an LCD display. In addition, they also claimed it will feature a new PCB design to house Apple's A13 processor, a single-lens rear camera, and 128GB of base storage.

It's not clear if the rumored 4.7-inch iPhone would inherit the notched design and Face ID features of Apple's flagship smartphones, but Nikkei's references to 2017's iPhone 8 suggest it could retain the bordered screen and Touch ID-equipped Home button of that device to keep costs down.

Apple's iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR devices dominate its marketing, but the company continues to offer the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus (starting at $599) as lower cost options alongside the even cheaper iPhone 7 series (starting at $449).

Apple could end sales of the iPhone 7 when its new flagship models launch later this month, which would leave a space in its line-up for a new device that could boost its share of the mid-tier smartphone market. But apart from being new and coming in at a lower price, we'll have to wait and see if comparisons can be legitimately drawn with the much-loved 4-inch iPhone SE of yesteryear.

Article Link: Apple's First New Low-Cost iPhone Since the iPhone SE Expected to Launch Early Next Year
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So basically they will take the existing iPhone 8, replace the A11 with the A13, and replace the current 64 / 256 GB option with one single 128 GB option. Then lower the price. I'm thinking it's between 399 $ - 549 $.
 
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If the source said it will be announced in September along with the other iPhones, I would most likely believe it. So far it seems to be an updated 8 renamed to SE but I'll wait until an official announcement from Apple.
 
I have an SE. iOS 13 just isn’t really built for it. Everything just fits better on larger iPhones. 4.7” seems like the smallest reasonable size for the OS as currently designed.

I find it interesting though that the claim is the new lower cost iPhone will supposedly have a minimum of 128 GB. That’s more than the current thousand dollar flagships.
 
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Wiencon said:
I guess there is no point in complaining about the size anymore, another 4in iPhone will not happen anytime soon. This 4.7 SE2 could be great as entry-level iOS device but I personally never cared about the price of original SE, the form factor was so good I would be happy to pay twice as much for it as I did at launch
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This isn’t really an SE2, it’s more like an iPhone 9. Or 7s even.
 
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fokmik said:
Wait..this is SE 2? or iphone 8 upgraded?
4.7" into an smaller bezel SE or just an 7/8 iphone?
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that's the point... otherwise it's going to be an iPhone 8SE or something like that. Doesn't make too much sense though, we have the iPhone 8 already at "cheap" prices and the specs are more than enough.
 
qgadrian said:
that's the point... otherwise it's going to be an iPhone 8SE or something like that. Doesn't make too much sense though, we have the iPhone 8 already at "cheap" prices and the specs are more than enough.
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They probably want to stop making A11 products. A11 is an orphan in the iDevice world and is missing key technology features included in A12 and beyond. Now that the iPhone X is discontinued, the iPhone 8 series is the only product that has it.
 
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Pelea said:
Hoping it starts at around $649, I don’t want to buy a cheap plastic phone, it needs a high price tag to reflect the high quality!
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As a slightly smaller XR, $649 would seem about right. But this is basically an iPhone 7s, with a newer SoC. There’s no FaceID or dual rear cameras.

Expect the iPhone 7 to be discontinued and this new phone to be around $449, maybe the 8 drops to $549 in March. XR, XS and XS Max discontinued for iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max.
 
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PickUrPoison said:
As a slightly smaller XR, $649 would seem about right. But this is basically an iPhone 7s, with a newer SoC. There’s no FaceID or dual rear cameras.

Expect the iPhone 7 to be discontinued and this new phone to be around $499.
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More like an iPhone 9, as others have mentioned. More advanced and faster than iPhone 8.
 
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niji said:
i would buy this phone as described even if it is premium priced.
if it really can house an A13, with LCD, and Touch ID, and (god hoping) no notch, and only 1 camera.
it has 95% of what i am hoping for.
i don't want Face ID, I dont want OLED with its pulsating light, i definitely dont want a notch. and 1 camera has always worked well for me.
the only thing that gives me pause is if the configuration(s) for sale only have a 128GB storage. that would give me pause.
i use iCloud for everything but i love carrying all my apple Music on my device, and all my original size Photos, so 128GB would not do it.
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If it’s got TouchID, there won’t be a notch. Article says there would be a 128GB base model, not that there will only be a 128GB model. If 128 is base, they’ll also offer 256.
 
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A true next-gen SE would be amazing, e.g. small but full-screen OLED, Touch ID on the back of the phone, single but high-quality camera lens flush with the body...

Unfortunately, based on Apple's history, in particular the XR, if this phone exists it will likely just be some garbage parts thrown together like a 480p LCD with 32 GB storage
 
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Agit21 said:
An iPhone X in the body of an iPhone 8, my dream phone.
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I read somewhere recently that an analyst sees this as a segment that isn’t economically feasible enough to warrant a new design. He claimed it’s only 10 percent or so of apples market. The prior SE was an iPhone 5. This will be an iPhone 8. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.marketwatch.com/amp/story/guid/555DBEB2-CB48-11E9-B114-42193EBFDE7D

For what it’s worth surveys like that are meaningless imo. I know way too many that just won’t fool with x series (or xr) because of price or losing Touch ID.
 
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For those wanting the X style design remember this is the low cost model. There is a high end OLED 5.4 inch model launching next year. Which with the bezeless design it would be smaller than even this phone.
 
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MoreRumors? said:
If the source said it will be announced in September along with the other iPhones, I would most likely believe it. So far it seems to be an updated 8 renamed to SE but I'll wait until an official announcement from Apple.
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Nothing is official yet obviously but i heard this rumor months ago and everyone said March 2020. iPhone 8 with updated A13 chipset and 128 GB storage. March 2020.
 
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GuruZac said:
It’s too bad Apple can’t bring an X style derivative in the smaller iPhone 8 form factor and still come in at a lower cost. Offer it as a smaller XR derivative featuring single lens, LCD to keep costs down. This would bring consistency to iPhone design. Call it the iPhone XE or something.
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I’m hoping they keep the iPhone 8 form factor. If they do I’ll finally upgrade. I hate the notch and Face ID.
 
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