Most of us don’t need the most expensive smartphone but that shouldn’t compromise the comfort factor, which is exactly the idea behind the iPhone SE, which makes an appearance every few years. The first one was in 2016, then in 2020 and the latest was in 2022. Apple is expected to release the next edition early next year.
The speciality of the SE series is that phones are smaller, and less expensive but come with the same processing power as some of the latest iPhones. Yes, there are compromises but those are not dealbreakers.
A new report from Bloomberg says a new low-end version of the iPhone is set for release early next year alongside upgraded iPads.
Codenamed V59, the new model will be unlike previous iPhone SEs. It will reportedly have 5G capability and a move away from the home button design, besides offering edge-to-edge screen.
Then what’s the compromise? Perhaps the rear panel will not be as premium as that on the iPhone 16. The camera will be good but not the best…. These are things most people don’t care about. The SE will help Apple compete in the low-end smartphone market which is being run over by Android devices, especially those manufactured in China.
The latest iPhone SE is cheaper than the latest iPhone but it's still more than Android offerings. Modernising the SE will make it look like its higher-end siblings, which may entice new users, who ultimately will purchase AirPods, iPads, MacBooks and whatnot. It will help Apple wrestle away shares from brands such as Huawei and Xiaomi.
Further, the SE model is expected to support Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI tools that also work with the iPhone 16 series and the high-end versions of last year’s iPhone 15. According to Bloomberg, the new model will resemble the iPhone 14, including the notch cutout at the top. The current SE more closely resembles the iPhone 8.
The charge against the most recent iPhone SE from 2022 has been the design, which is stuck in the past, besides the base model offering 64GB of storage. The next edition is expected to tackle the criticism.
If Apple breaks away from the old design factor then it will be goodbye to Touch ID. Apart from that SE is expected to be a powerful little phone.
Apple is also working on new iPad Air models — codenamed J607 and J637, besides an updated version of Magic Keyboard accessory, codenamed R307 and R308, for both the 11-inch and 13-inch versions of the new Air. Bloomberg says there will be a refresh of the Mac computer lineup. Updated models will include a revamped Mac mini as well as updated MacBook Pros and iMacs. They’ll sport the M4 processor and highlight Apple Intelligence features. The M4 chip will come to the MacBook Air, Mac Studio and Mac Pro in 2025.
