Apple is projected to take the wraps off the next-generation iPhone SE as soon as the next week, according to people familiar with the matter, with sales also likely to start by the end of the month.
The new iPhone SE, which is very often referred to as iPhone 9, will be based on the iPhone 8 and use its body and components with some upgraded internals.
For example, the iPhone 9 will feature a 4.7-inch LCD screen with a front-facing home button and integrated Touch ID. However, power will come from a new-generation Apple Bionic chip, while the single lens camera on the back could be the one previously used on iPhone XR.
Several analysts previously suggested that iPhone 9 could go live in mid-April, and a recent note from GF Securities reiterates that this indeed remains the plan for Apple.
Announcement next week
In other words, the iPhone 9 could be announced with a press release on Apple’s site in just a few days, while pre-orders could kick off on Friday. This means shipments will kick off a week later, so the first iPhone 9 buyers might get their hands on the device on April 24.
iPhone 9 won’t feature premium capabilities that remain exclusive to the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max, such as the notch with Face ID and more advanced cameras, all in an attempt to keep the price as low as possible.
It’s believed the iPhone 9 would retain the pricing strategy of the original iPhone SE, which means the base model could start at $399. An upgraded version with more storage could be sold for $449, which is also the starting price of the iPhone 8 right now.
Most likely, Apple will retire the iPhone 8 once the new iPhone 9 becomes available for purchase.
Apple will rely mostly on online sales for the iPhone 9, as the world is still in isolation due to the coronavirus outbreak.
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