People have been longing for a follow-up the budget iPhone SE. The long wait might finally come to an end as the rumors surrounding the iPhone 9 intensifies.
It’s not clear if Apple will push this confusing naming scheme. Although we’re excited that the popular iPhone SE from ages ago will be finally getting its successor.
Rumor has it that the upcoming iPhone 9, a.k.a iPhone SE 2, will inherit the design of the iPhone 8. It’s bigger than the iPhone 5s design that its predecessor had but noticeably smaller than the iPhone 11 models that we have now.
This rumor was immortalized by factory CAD-based renders published by well-known leakers iGeeksBlog and OnLeaks.
UPDATE: iPhone SE 2020 is now official.
The device should have a smaller body, with a screen spanning at 4.7-inches. And since it’s going to be a budget alternative to the newer iPhones, it shall use an IPS panel instead of an OLED one.
Apple’s TouchID fingerprint scanner might also make a comeback on the iPhone 9. It should be a cheaper alternative to the complex sensors that are needed for the Face ID to work.
To further keep the price down, the iPhone 9 might only have a single rear camera. If we’re lucky, it may use the same primary sensor that the new iPhone 11 has. No ultra-wide.
On the upside, there’s a chance that Apple will use the same A13 Bionic chip that they used in their latest smartphones.
As for the pricing, well, it can get a bit tricky. If you remember, Apple drastically discounted the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and XR when the Philippine prices for the iPhone 11 series were released. It dragged down the starting price of the iPhone 8 to Php30,990 from Php39,990.
Since the iPhone 8 series is already a couple of generations old, Apple might decide to just discontinue it, and have the iPhone 9 fill the gap. We’ll see how it goes when the device becomes official sometime in the coming months.