High Likelihood of Apple March Event Reveal
4.7-Inch Model Expected to Feature Design Similar to iPhone 8
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Rumors about the release of the 'iPhone SE 2,' which have been rampant for several years, have flared up again. There are expectations that Apple will launch a mid-range iPhone called 'iPhone SE 2' or 'iPhone 9' this spring.
According to IT media outlet CNET and others on the 20th (local time), Apple is expected to hold an event in March to unveil the iPhone 9. Except for 2017, Apple has held events every March for several years to announce new products such as Apple TV Plus.
The iPhone 9 is a mid-range smartphone released four years after the 2016 iPhone SE. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that the price of the iPhone 9 will start at $399 for the 64GB model. The iPhone 9 is likely to be launched in developing countries such as India, where mid-range smartphones are popular.
The overall design is expected to resemble the iPhone 8. It will feature a 4.7-inch LCD display and a home button with Touch ID. It is highly likely to be equipped with the same A13 Bionic chip used in the iPhone 11, and the camera is expected to have the same specifications as the iPhone 8, with a single 12-megapixel lens.
Rumors about a successor to the iPhone SE have been a recurring topic whenever forgotten. Despite many users waiting for a small 4-inch screen iPhone, it never materialized. However, with the global demand for mid-range phones surging, attention is focused on whether Apple will release a product targeting developing markets. Over the past three years, Apple has released semi-premium models like the iPhone XR and iPhone 11 rather than mid-range phones.
Meanwhile, Apple is also preparing a 5.4-inch iPhone with thinner bezels and Face ID functionality, separate from the 4-inch mid-range iPhone. This product is likely to be one of the flagship models with an OLED display released this fall. Analysts including Ming-Chi Kuo expect Apple to release a total of four models in the second half of the year: a 5.4-inch iPhone, two 6.1-inch models, and a 6.7-inch iPhone.
Additionally, Taiwan's DigiTimes, citing Apple's supply chain in Taiwan, reported that Apple will launch a total of six iPhones this year: four models with OLED displays and two models with LCD displays. Ming-Chi Kuo released an analysis report stating that the iPhone SE 2 (iPhone 9) will be released in the first half of the year, four flagship models in the second half, and an iPhone SE 2 Plus model after next year.
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