Apple iPhone SE successor based on iPhone 8 to arrive next year

by Joshua Swingle / Sep 04, 2019, 6:36 AM

Apple iPhone SE successor based on iPhone 8 to arrive next year

Apple is just days away from introducing the iPhone 11 series but a new report from Nikkei suggests the Cupertino giant is secretly working on a fourth device that’ll arrive early next year.

The iPhone SE2 might actually be an iPhone 8S

The new model, which will reportedly act as a spiritual successor to the now-discontinued iPhone SE, looks set to be based on 2017’s iPhone 8. It will inherit the latter’s 4.7-inch LCD screen and should opt for a Touch ID system rather than Face ID. However, several upgrades are to be expected internally.

According to today’s report, the low-cost iPhone will share most of its components with this year’s iPhone 11 series. This means it’ll probably be powered by the upcoming A13 Bionic paired with a minimum of 128GB of internal storage. To help keep costs down, though, 3GB of RAM rather than 4GB seems likely. Nikkei didn’t provide any details about the iPhone SE2’s camera setup but a previous report dating back to April mentioned the presence of a single rear sensor borrowed from the iPhone 11 coupled with one selfie camera.

The iPhone 8

Apple’s iPhone SE successor will reportedly arrive in Spring 2020, perhaps at the company’s annual March event. Exact pricing hasn’t yet been determined but it should significantly undercut the next-gen iPhone flagships.

Why is Apple creating a second-gen iPhone SE?

The premium smartphone segment as a whole has been performing quite poorly as of late but Apple is undeniably the worst affected. The company reported its first-ever iPhone sales decline last year and continues to face tough competition from manufacturers such as Samsung and Huawei but it seems to have had enough.

According to Nikkei, the decision to revive the iPhone SE concept is an attempt to regain lost ground. Apple hopes to win over price-sensitive customers in emerging markets and attract Chinese buyers that are interested in cheaper devices from rival brands. The iPhone SE’s impact in the US, UK, and Europe isn’t expected to be as big but it could still spark the interest of people looking for Google Pixel 3a-like offerings.

The iPhone 8

On a global level, Apple’s new device could prove beneficial both short-term and long-term when it comes to business. The original iPhone SE sold around 30 million units in 2016 and Apple seems to be planning an initial production run of 20 million for the second-generation device. This will undoubtedly help keep up sales as demand for the iPhone 11 series begins to slow. In turn, the launch should help Apple maintain its all-important iPhone user base. This gives the company’s Services business more room to grow over time and may also boost AirPods and Apple Watch sales.

The iPhone 11 series is Apple's priority right now

As mentioned in the opening paragraph, Apple is now just days away from announcing the iPhone 11(R), iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. These three devices will boast the same internal components as the iPhone SE2 but with the bonus of upgraded camera setups. Specifically, all models will feature primary 12-megapixel cameras alongside a second 12-megapixel sensor that’s coupled with a 2x telephoto zoom lens. To help differentiate the Pro-models, Apple is said to be planning a third ultra-wide-angle camera.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 11 series are expected to kick off on Friday, September 13 and should be followed by shipments on Friday, September 20. Pricing is yet to be determined but the expectation is that the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max will retail at $749, $999, and $1,099 respectively.

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22 Comments

1. OneLove123

Posts: 1161; Member since: Aug 28, 2018

So, not really iPhone se 2 .

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 6:44 AM 5

3. inFla

Posts: 126; Member since: Aug 17, 2018

A smaller performance phone, enough to consider buying.

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 7:01 AM 0

5. LEEDAQ

Posts: 188; Member since: Aug 07, 2018

I'll ask my 6s to work till mid next year

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 7:46 AM 0

6. strawberry

Posts: 115; Member since: Feb 20, 2019

SE form factor is beautiful then iphone X. hope SE2 has its original form facir

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 8:25 AM 0

7. OneLove123

Posts: 1161; Member since: Aug 28, 2018

It will be an iPhone 6 body. They sure love using old form factor.

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 8:32 AM 2

15. bigstrudel

Posts: 604; Member since: Aug 20, 2012

iPhone 8 body with Glass back and Wireless charging. Not the same.

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 1:38 PM 2

8. yonith

Posts: 228; Member since: Sep 11, 2012

Too bad they don’t use the SE form factor but with an edge to edge screen. Something like an “iPhone Mini” would make sense with their naming convention.

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 8:49 AM 7

9. ssallen

Posts: 200; Member since: Oct 06, 2017

So is Ars Technica the only tech site that has the integrity to discuss this?https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2019/09/for-the-first-time-ever-android-0days-cost-more-than-ios-exploits/

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 9:04 AM 1

10. DnB925Art

Posts: 1168; Member since: May 23, 2013

I was hoping it would still use the 5 form factor like the original SE. I liked that form factor since it was easily to conceal as a backup phone while traveling internationally and going to music festivals with a lot of people (easy to pocket and harder to pickpocket).

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 10:21 AM 0

11. bbycrts

Posts: 29; Member since: Nov 05, 2018

So...4.7 inch screen in a touch ID body? That's not an SE. SE is about size and value, not just updating the iPhone 8 - which is what this is.

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 10:37 AM 1

12. joshuaswingle

Posts: 620; Member since: Apr 03, 2018

The SE was about updating the iPhone 5S. It's the same formula, just a newer design.

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 11:00 AM 4

14. Alcyone

Posts: 461; Member since: May 10, 2018

Rumors I'm guessing So what do they think an SE2 with 4" screen? Or an 8S with 4.7" screen? I'd say a true SE successor would stick to the 4" screen. A move to a 4.7" would be a redesign, since a physical change was made.

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 12:42 PM 0

16. raky_b

Posts: 409; Member since: Jul 02, 2014

It won't be Pixel 3a look a like. It will cost double as Google's offering.

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 2:01 PM 2

17. Poptart2828

Posts: 419; Member since: Jan 23, 2018

This is a good business decision by Apple.

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 2:44 PM 0

18. Mode8306

Posts: 9; Member since: May 28, 2018

I don't get it. A big part of the popularity of the SE was it's small form factor. If they make the SE2 the same size as the iPhone 8, well that's only a few mm smaller than than the iPhone XS. What they SHOULD do, as rendered below, is keep the dimensions of the SE, but use the XS design language: full screen with a notch. Then upgrade the internals and maybe the camera and you've got an amazing model that sits alone as THE premium compact phone. Render: https :// www . concept-phones.com/apple/iphone-se2-ben-geskin-treatment-inspired-3d-cad-renders/

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 2:50 PM 0

19. KingSam

Posts: 1465; Member since: Mar 13, 2016

Anything over $550 and it's dead. The XR/11 starts at $750.

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 3:29 PM 0

20. Whitedot

Posts: 823; Member since: Sep 26, 2017

If this is your thoughts you're very wrong oyf this is apple strategy they are very delusional "and attract Chinese buyers that are interested in cheaper devices from rival brands." Apple lost it against full packed featured high end Android phones. This mentality does not work especially in China. There are superior phones for the price above and beneath. Also for a price of $300+$400 one can get very decent phone. Tell me how Apple is going to compete against that specifically with "high margin" driven business model in mind? #bringbacknotifications

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 5:35 PM 0

21. Vancetastic

Posts: 1508; Member since: May 17, 2017

Make this thing out of something less stupid than glass, and price it around four hundred bucks, and you have my attention again, Apple.

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 6:57 PM 0

22. domfonusr

Posts: 1086; Member since: Jan 17, 2014

Interesting idea... not entirely sure how I feel about that, but if Apple plays it right, they may have my attention. The Apple iPhone 8 base model (64 GB) should be on track to cost about $300 to $400 at my carrier once the new iPhone crop comes out, and after another three to five months it should definitely be closer to the $300 mark. Price the iPhone SE2 (8S) at $400 to $500 at launch in the new year, and after a year or two (probably two) it will be down to $200 or thereabouts, and I will be looking right about in that price range at right about that time for my next phone, I think. The big question will be whether I should take an iPhone SE2 at that point, or wait another year for the iPhone XR to be low in price... if the SE2 has an A13 processor, I may just snap up the SE2 instead of the XR. I am not yet sure whether I like the all-screen design of the XR over the classic design of a supposed "SE2"...

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 7:29 PM 0

23. libra89

Posts: 2289; Member since: Apr 15, 2016

I will believe this when I see or hear about it in March. I have been down this road of hope too many times to have a lot of it.

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 8:04 PM 0

24. Mrmark

Posts: 399; Member since: Jan 26, 2013

Just call it the iPhone 9 .

posted on Sep 04, 2019, 11:37 PM 0

26. tokuzumi

Posts: 1918; Member since: Aug 27, 2009

Pretty sure Phonearena just dusts this article off every year and just changes the dates. 2017....iPhone SE 2 is coming! 2018...iPhone SE 2 is really coming this time! 2019...iPhone SE 2?