Apple (Finally) Announces 2nd-Generation iPhone SE, Available for Pre-Order On April 17

Apple has announced a new iPhone designed to provide high performance at a low price point. The second-generation iPhone SE starts at $399 and will be available for pre-order beginning this Friday, April 17. The phone is expected to ship on April 24, 2020.

Available in black, white and PRODUCT(RED), the phone is outfitted with an A13 Bionic chip and a 4.7-inch Retina HD display with True Tone. The front of all of the phones is all black, with a rear glass finish and a color-matched aluminum band. 

Apple is touting IP67 water- and dust-resistance, which means that the phone can stay submerged in water one meter deep for 30 minutes. For security, the iPhone SE uses Touch ID.

The A13 Bionic system-on-chip is focused on machine learning, with an 8-core Neural Engine rated at 5 trillion operations per second, two Machine Learning Accelerators, and a Machine Learning Controller. The company says that the A13 Bionic (also used in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro) aids in high-end photography, gaming and augmented reality experiences.

The new iPhone SE has what Apple refers to as “the best single-camera system ever in an iPhone”, with a fast f/1.8 aperture Wide camera. Thanks to the A13 Bionic, this “low-end” phone has Portrait Mode, all Portrait Lighting effects, and Depth Control. Smart HDR also comes to the inexpensive member of the iPhone line. 

Storage capacities of 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB are available. The 64GB model begins at the aforementioned $399, 128GB is available starting at $449, and the 256GB model starts at a very affordable $549. Trade-ins of older iPhone models can drop the prices up to $170.

The iPhone SE has wireless charging built in, and is capable of being charged to 50% in 30 minutes. Wi-Fi 6 and Gigabit-class LTE are standard in the device, as is a dual SIM with eSIM for having two phone numbers on a single device.

Apple Rumored To Announce iPhone SE 2 On April 15th

A new rumor regarding the iPhone SE / iPhone 9 from Jon Prosser claims that Apple has now held internal meetings to decide on a release date for the phone. Reportedly, the meeting provisionally decided to announce the phone on April 15, and have it shipping a week later on April 22.

Twitter user Jon Prosser adds that "Apple is shipping iMacs to select retail employees who are being asked to work remotely." These staff are reportedly intended to provide both sales and technical support for customers.

iPhone 9 update 👀

Per an internal meeting yesterday, Apple is now preparing for an April release.

Tentative dates:
- Announcement on April 15
- Shipments on April 22

Keep in mind: we’re in the middle of a pandemic, and things could change.

Fingers crossed 🤞 pic.twitter.com/egz8UWXd9F

— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) March 31, 2020

Apple’s Rumored March Special Event Postponed Due To Coronavirus Restrictions

Apple’s rumored "special event" at the end of March seems to have been postponed due to  coronavirus restrictions, according to Cult of Mac. The article says the tech giant grew “concerned” about bringing together 1,000 people for the event, originally planned for late March at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park in Cupertino, California.

The event was expected to see the announcement of the iPhone SE 2, two iPad Pros, and perhaps other products. No word on when/if the event will be rescheduled. Doesn’t look like Apple had any choice in the matter, since the County of Santa Clara Public Health has issued an order canceling mass gatherings due to increasing rates of the coronavirus.

Rumored iPhone SE 2 / 9 Might Be Delayed Due To Coronavirus

According to DigiTimes, Taiwan-based flexible PCB makers in the supply chain of Apple devices will see their shipments for the upcoming entry-level iPhone SE 2 / iPhone 9 deferred from the first quarter to the second due to the coronavirus outbreak. If this is true, the smartphone may not ship in March or April, as expected. 

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that the phone will cost around $400. He thinks its specs will include: an A13 CPU; 3GB of RAM; 64GB and 128GB options; and no 3D Touch feature. Kuo prognostics that the phone will come in silver space grey, and red. 

Apple Media Event Rumored For End Of March With iPhone SE 2 Launch On April 3

A new report from German site iPhone-ticker.de, Apple is planning to hold a media event at the end of March, with Tuesday, March 31 being the most likely date. A launch of the new low-cost iPhone,  rumored to be called the iPhone SE 2, is said to follow on Friday, April 3. In addition to the new low-cost ‌iPhone‌, rumors have indicated Apple is planning to release several other products in the next few months, including updated iPad Pro models and an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro. 

Rumored “iPhone SE 2” Could Launch As Soon As March

Apple will start mass production of the rumored “iPhone SE 2” in February with it launching as soon as March, reports Bloomberg. 

The article says the “low cost” smartphone will be 4.7 inches, sport TouchID, and look similar to 2017’s iPhone 8. In October 2019, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted its specs will include: an A13 CPU, 3GB of RAM, 64GB and 128GB options, and no 3D Touch feature. Kuo prognostics that the phone will come in silver space grey, and red options. 

He feels that Apple has told suppliers to produce between 2-4 million iPhone SE 2 units each month. Ming expects Apple to sell in excess of 30 million iPhone SE 2 phones across 2020.

Apple's Rumored ”iPhone SE 2" To Enter Mass Production In January, Releasing In End Of March

Apple's rumored ”iPhone SE 2" is scheduled to go into mass production in January 2020 and will launch at the end of March and expected to start at $399, according to the latest info from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

The original iPhone SE was announced on March 21, 2016, pre-orders began on March 24 and the device was officially released on March 31, 2016. It was re-released almost a year later on March 24, 2017 with larger storage capacities. Specs for the new low-end iPhone are said to include the follow:

• 4.7-inch display
• A13 CPU (same as iPhone 11)
• 3GB LPDDR4X RAM
• 64GB and 128GB options
• Space Gray, Silver and Red colors
• Home button
• No 3D Touch

Kuo believes the device to look similar to the iPhone 8 and that it will be a popular upgrade option for existing iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S owners. He believes these customers have low desire for new features like Face ID and multiple cameras, suggesting the "‌iPhone SE 2‌" will stick with Touch ID and a single-lens rear camera.

The “‌iPhone SE 2‌" might not be the final name of the device, with iPhone 8s being speculated as other possibilities. With a larger 4.7-inch display, the device won't be as portable as the original iPhone SE, which will disappoint some fans. 

iPhone SE 2 Rumored To Be Coming In First Quarter Of 2020 For $399

In a note to clients, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple will release a lower-priced iPhone SE 2 (only a rumored name) in the first quarter of 2020 for $399. He predicts its specs will include: iPhone 8 body, an A13 CPU, 3GB of RAM, 64GB and 128GB options, and no 3D Touch feature. Kuo prognostics that the phone will come in silver space grey, and red options. The analyst feels that Apple has told suppliers to produce between 2-4 million iPhone SE 2 units each month. He expects Apple to sell in excess of 30 million iPhone SE 2 phones across 2020.

iPhone SE 2 Rumored To Be Arriving Next Spring

Apple plans to launch a lower-cost iPhone next spring, according to a Nikkei report. The new model would be Apple's first low-cost smartphone since the launch of the iPhone SE in 2016, which started at $399. Though the name and price of the new model hasn't been decided, it’s viewed as the latest generation of the iPhone SE.

Looks Like An iPhone SE 2 Is Coming After All

Apple could be announcing a follow-up to the iPhone SE, after the discovery of a regulatory filing by Consomac. That reveals details and images for unannounced mobile devices from the tech giant. The filing by the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), which authorizes devices for a number of countries including Russia and Armenia, shows it has given the all-clear for a number of iPhones to go on sale. The information in the filing doesn't specify model names, but rumors and the timing of the filing strongly point to a follow-up to the iPhone SE. Last month Cowen and Company analyst Karl Ackerman said Apple has apparently planned a second generation of the smartphone, but Apple made a firm commitment to launch such a device. It’s predicted that we’ll see a second gen iPhone SE in the fall. It will have a bigger display (4.2 inches), an A10 processor, Touch ID and 2GB of RAM. The smartphone will come in 32GB and 128GB storage options.