DigiTimes: Apple Could Launch Two 'iPhone SE 2' Models in 2020

[B4U]

So, repeat after me.
They are not called SE2, but rather iPhone 9 and iPhone 9 plus.

 

[TrenttonY]

We need to have 55 iPhone models.
The ability to choose the one that’s right for you is important.

🤡

 

[Guacamole]

Apple could launch a second version of the so-called iPhone SE 2 before the end of the year, according to DigiTimes. The latest prediction from the hit-and-miss industry publication is said to come from sources in Taiwan's supply chain.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects Apple to release five new iPhone models in 2020 - a so-called iPhone SE 2 with a 4.7-inch LCD display in the first half of 2020, followed by a higher-end all-OLED lineup consisting of 5.4-inch, two 6.1-inch, and 6.7-inch models in the second half of the year.

However, some supply chain makers at iPhone's assembly partners claim to have received roadmaps showing production of "six items" of iPhones, claims DigiTimes. According to the report, Taiwan-based driver-IC backend firm Chipbond Technology is said to have landed COF packaging orders from Apple for both LCD devices.

The initial model of the so-called iPhone SE 2 is expected to resemble the iPhone 8, including a 4.7-inch display with bezels and a Touch ID home button, but with a faster A13 chip and 3GB of RAM. The device will continue to have a single-lens rear camera, according to Kuo, like the original iPhone SE and the iPhone 8. Similar to DigiTimes, Kuo believes that a larger "iPhone SE 2 Plus" is also in the works, but he predicts it won't arrive until 2021.

Article Link: DigiTimes: Apple Could Launch Two 'iPhone SE 2' Models in 2020

I would like a iPhone SE 2 Plus, larger screen . I hope it's true, I'm holding on to my 6s plus. I prefer this design and Touch ID than the current phones.

 

[dampfnudel]

What would they update so soon? From 3 to 4GB of RAM? A second camera? I don’t see Apple giving the ‘9s’ or ‘SE 3’ an A14. I don’t see them redesigning it so quickly and adding FaceID. Then maybe it’s better to wait until September and release just one version this year. This reminds me of the iPad 3 which was replaced by the iPad 4 the same year.

 

[Icaras]

lol so I made up the fact that I hear no one in my day to day life that begs for a smaller smart phone? You’re joking right?

No one wants a small smart phone, no one accept for the few on MR forums with obviously small girlish hands

No, but just because YOU didn’t hear anything doesn’t make it true, which is what you’re trying to state as fact.

Again, based on my anecdotal evidence, you’re simply incorrect. Because people around me have indeed expressed their desire for smaller iPhones.

 

[JGIGS]

No thanks I'm sticking with my I phone 11 pro max at least till September when I can upgrade to the 2020 I phone 12 pro max max

Ummm yeah why would you downgrade to a similar sized phone with a huge chin and forehead? You clearly aren’t the target market for this phone.

 

[Infinite Vortex]

The most important measure for one-handed operation is width and height (though it depends on where the height was increased).

Actually I'm finding that the most important thing for one handed usage is the UI design. I find that one handed usage with Samsung's OneUI on a Galaxy S10 is significantly better & simpler to iOS 12 on an iPhone 6. There's a both a size difference plus a massive screen size difference where the iPhone 6's top left corner is right on 1" closer to my right thumb. Physically the iPhone 6 is far more comfortable to hold one handed for sure as I'm not having to balance it on my finger tips quite so much but actual usage, I'd go with the S10 on that.

While sure there's Reachability but that's always felt it more a "hack" on top of a two handed UI rather than it being a UI designed with one handed usage in mind. While mentally the swipe down action might be similar but there's a significant difference with jumping in an out of a "mode" vs something that is part of the UI design.

Coming back to the physicals, the thing for me is that with my "little girl's hands" I can actually hold the SE while using it rather than having to fingertip balance the iPhone 6 and balance even more my XS & S10. I feel the important thing here for me is phone width rather than anything to do with height. Although having an unusually tall phone means one needs to make a lot UI adjustments to accommodate such a thing.

 

[44267547]

if it doesn't have a physical home button then no thanks. Notice how I have given up on the headphone jack....

It’s possible it could have a physical home button, I suspect probably the haptic home button adopted from the iPhone 7/iPhone 8 to offer a water resistance rating.

Secondly, regarding the headphone jack, Apple would never re-introduce something that would be counterproductive to what the success of the AirPods are today. The 3.5 m Jack is gone and there’s no place for it in today’s technology. It’s exactly what Apple called it: ‘Antiquated technology.’

 

[topmounter]

If they don’t make an iPhone5-sized SE phone they are missing a huge opportunity!

Agreed. The battery in my wife’s ip6 (which replaced an SE) went south recently and I replaced it with a new 8. She never liked the size of the 6 and would be much happier with an SE2 in the original 5/SE form factor.

 

[amgff84]

I don’t know if this will be nearly as popular as the previous SEs. I think people just really like the size and square-edge design. The iPhone 8 is basically the same physical size of the X, but with a smaller screen, so why would anyone want that?

This is a good point. I actually came over to the Apple world because I got a rose gold se for my mother, but she didn't like the size. After she gave it back I slipped it in my pocket, made a comment on my I liked that fact that it fit well, and then played with it for a bit. I felt like a traitor at first, but fell in love with the size and UI. I miss being able to easily text in one hand, and have a good grip on my phone while doing so. However, I have the XR now, and it's okay. I would like to hold the SE2 in my hand, before I make any decisions. I am disappointed that they are revamping the 8 in place of the SE.

 

[iJustines]

Your argument is just not good, period.
Others mentioned why and I think if you think about it a bit you will probably agree with them.
In fact, I agree with the other guy who mentioned that people mention its bulky and awkward.

Its not what the public wanted, its what the trend set. I know a lot of people that never wanted huge phones but when Apple started doing their flagships that way then everyone had no choice but to get those if one wanted to stay with Apple. In honesty, Apple really never gave us a choice. They put the best features on their biggest phone and then when people buy it because of those features Apple thinks people want bigger phone.
So now we have bloody phablets everywhere.

Regardless, average Joe/Jane will be the person to complain about the bulkiness etc.

So yeah, just because you don't hear stuff doesn't mean its not valid.

Nice. Absolutely agree that Apple really never gave the people more choice and are forced to buy a phablet for newer functionality.

 

[PickUrPoison]

We need to have 55 iPhone models.
The ability to choose the one that’s right for you is important.

🤡

Yikes, does six models blow your mind? 🤯

• 2 LCD single camera models around $400-500
• 2 OLED midrange dual-camera models around $700-800
• 2 OLED flagship triple-camera models around $1,000-1,100

Have you ever gone down the cereal aisle at the supermarket? Bought a car? People seem to be able to handle more than three choices.

Good, better, best. Each in two sizes. Rather evenly spread between $400 and $1,100. Is it really that hard? I don’t think people are too stupid to decide how much they want to spend on an iPhone... are they?

 

[Classie]

No, they’re missing a small opportunity. Few want small iPhones 🤷‍♂️

Then I know a lot of the few people. iPhone 5 with a full screen would be an ultimate device for a lot of people (that I know) how thinks the current iPhone 11-line up is difficult to hold in one hand

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In my normal day to day life I never hear people screaming for a smaller phone. I never hear anyone complaining their phone is too big. Not being sexist but even woman and small kids I see use the big plus size phones...

I hear a lot of people wishing for a size they can fit in one hand. The ultimate device would be fulscreen iPhone 5

 

[PickUrPoison]

Then I know a lot of the few people. iPhone 5 with a full screen would be an ultimate device for a lot of people (that I know) how thinks the current iPhone 11-line up is difficult to hold in one hand

Even five or ten million is few, when you’re selling upwards of 200 million a year

But it sounds like those who want iPhones smaller than the current iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro will have two new options with iPhone 12:

• The 5.4” $700-ish OLED model, which will be slightly less wide and 5-6 mm less tall than the iPhone 6/7/8. Dual camera, A14/4GB.
• The so-called “SE2”, a 4.7” $400-ish LCD model which will be about the same size as the 6/7/8. Single camera, A13/3GB.

 

[Miat]

Add me to the list of those who want a small basic (relatively) cheap iPhone.

The original SE size (or very slightly bigger), with upgraded internals, and a thinner bezel.

 

[PickUrPoison]

There you go again.

Apple doesn't do budget devices. This is clickbait.

Who said budget, besides you?

 

[Infinite Vortex]

The only way I see an SE2 appearing in 2020 is if Apple feels that those that don't buy Apple at all because of the size and/or price point far outweighs those that buy an SE2 in lieu of an iPhone 11 (or whatever model further down the line).

If the value champ becomes a current spec SE2 with a full screen, and no iPhone 8, rather than the iPhone 11 then that changes a lot for Apple. Personally I don't see it happening in the nearer term. I hope I'm wrong but my money is on no change in the line up configuration at all in 2020.

There isn't anything wrong with the A11 in the iPhone 8 so what's the purpose of a spec bump there given its still a generation newer than the A10 in the 2019 iPad (looking from an iOS support perspective)? Plus I don't see the value in removing the iPhone 8 and then throwing out something akin to the iPhone 5c.

 

[manu chao]

The only way I see an SE2 appearing in 2020 is if Apple feels that those that don't buy Apple at all because of the size and/or price point far outweighs those that buy an SE2 in lieu of an iPhone 11.

Ahm, what exactly do people buy for whom the iPhone 6/7/8 is too large?

 

[Pearple]

I will buy nothing if the new SE will be bigger then the current SE. Period. This is not a warning, this is a threat! Happy new year!

 

[iapplelove]

No, but just because YOU didn’t hear anything doesn’t make it true, which is what you’re trying to state as fact.

Again, based on my anecdotal evidence, you’re simply incorrect. Because people around me have indeed expressed their desire for smaller iPhones.

I never said it was a fact, what I said was no one ever complains their phone is too big.

why else do you think manufacturers make larger smart phones?

You will never see small phones again, case closed/

I base my statement on the fact that smart phone manufacturers DO NOT make small phones any longer. That’s a fact.

 

[iJustines]

I never said it was a fact, what I said was no one ever complains their phone is too big.

why else do you think manufacturers make larger smart phones?

You will never see small phones again, case closed/

I base my statement on the fact that smart phone manufacturers DO NOT make small phones any longer. That’s a fact.

It is entirely wrong to refer the SE as a small phone. The fact is SE can have a screen size as big as the iPhone 8 without expanding the overall physical size by making it closer to the bezel-less form factor.

 

[Infinite Vortex]

Ahm, what exactly do people buy for whom the iPhone 6/7/8 is too large?

They buy something that's too large and they learn live with it else they live with an ageing SE.

Had I not acted on this same choice myself I'd still have an SE in my hands 2 years down the road waiting for yet another year to go by with no SE replacement. I made a choice and I now use a phone that I prefer was smaller. Overall though I'm far better off from having made that choice because even if an SE2 did happen to appear I no longer care. Same thing happened with the iPad mini… I moved on while Apple dragged their feet. The iPad mini 5 appeared by which time I no cared about that either.

 

[manu chao]

They buy something that's too large and they learn live with it else they live with an ageing SE.

I was talking about those that don't buy Apple at all, as you phrased it. If they are not buying Apple at all, they cannot be buying anything large from Apple either. The question is thus what are these people buying if they are not buying anything from Apple because anything from Apple is too large for them?

'Not buying from Apple' implies that they buy elsewhere. So where do they get anything the size of an SE from parties other than Apple? There is a clear difference between the two statements of:
1) don't buy from Apple at all
2) stopped getting new phones (beyond the SE)

 

[Miat]

They buy something that's too large and they learn live with it else they live with an ageing SE.

Or they don't buy an Apple when phone replacement time comes around.

Which is a serious option for me. I really don't like large expensive phones. I have no need or want for them, and they are a poor use of my limited funds.

Pretty sure I am not alone on that.

 

[hubchau]

I read a lot of comments about how Apple should create an entirely new design for this 2nd gen SE with smaller/no bezels, touchID under the screen, etc. You do realize that the whole idea of the SE was to reuse an existing design and existing parts hence existing manufacturing processes to lower its cost, right? If so, I don't see Apple creating a new design for the SE 2G. Based on that, there are two possible next steps:
1) the existing 5S/SE body is large enough to handle the new expected internals (A13, larger battery and ram) not to mention the possible heat dissipation issues
2) the current body is too small, so they have to switch to the closest currently existing body which would be the 8.

Personally, I bought my 2 SEs for both the size AND the price.
But I've held some 7 and 8 and I don't feel particularly overwhelmed by the size increase.

So I'm waiting a few more months to be able to replace my SE (the camera lens is full of dust) and hopefully it will be as expected or even better!