Kuo: 'iPhone SE 2' Entering Mass Production in January and Launching at the End of March

Apple's "iPhone SE 2" is scheduled to go into mass production in January 2020 and will launch at the end of March, according to the latest information from reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

iphone se and iphone 8
The timing basically tallies with Kuo's previous reports on the so-called "‌iPhone SE‌ 2," in which he predicted a Q1 2020 release for the device, which is expected to start at $399.

Relying on historical patterns in Apple's product release schedule to predict future launches is not without risk, but March has traditionally been the launch month of Apple's more affordable iPhone.

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. Apple has also held special launch events in the last week of March for the last two years.

Specs for the new low-end ‌iPhone‌ are said to include:

  • 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 expects the device to look similar to the ‌iPhone‌ 8 and believes it will be a popular upgrade option for existing ‌iPhone‌ 6 and ‌iPhone‌ 6S owners, serving as a "key growth driver" for Apple in 2020. 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.

In terms of shipments, Kuo estimates that monthly shipments of the ‌iPhone SE‌ 2 will be between 2 million and 4 million. Kuo also expects the ‌iPhone SE‌ 2 will use a liquid crystal polymer LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer) antenna design to facilitate transmission efficiency.

According to other industry sources, LG is in talks with Apple to supply LCD displays for the successor to the ‌iPhone SE‌, with the panels currently undergoing last-minute quality checks.

Of course, "‌iPhone SE‌ 2" might not be the final name of the device, with ‌iPhone‌ 8s and ‌iPhone‌ 9 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 surely disappoint fans of that model.

Related Roundup: iPhone SE
Buyer's Guide: iPhone SE (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 With Apple's Own 5G Modem 'Confirmed' to Launch in March

Tuesday November 19, 2024 12:12 pm PST by
Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley and his colleagues recently traveled to Asia to meet with various electronics manufacturers and suppliers. In a research note this week, outlining key takeaways from the trip, the analysts said they have "confirmed" that a fourth-generation iPhone SE with an Apple-designed 5G modem is slated to launch towards the end of the first quarter next year. In line with previo...
airtag purple

AirTag 2 Rumored to Launch Next Year With These New Features

Sunday November 17, 2024 5:18 am PST by
Apple released the AirTag in April 2021, so it is now three over and a half years old. While the AirTag has not received any hardware updates since then, a new version of the item tracking accessory is rumored to be in development. Below, we recap rumors about a second-generation AirTag. Timing Apple is aiming to release a new AirTag in mid-2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman....
Magic Mouse Next to Keyboard

No, Apple CEO Tim Cook Didn't Say He Prefers Logitech's MX Master 3 Over the Magic Mouse

Sunday November 17, 2024 3:03 pm PST by
While the Logitech MX Master 3 is a terrific mouse for the Mac, reports claiming that Apple CEO Tim Cook prefers that mouse over the Magic Mouse are false. The Wall Street Journal last month published an interview with Cook, in which he said he uses every Apple product every day. Soon after, The Verge's Wes Davis attempted to replicate using every Apple product in a single day. During that...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

Apple Releases iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 With Security Fixes

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1, minor updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that debuted earlier in September. iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 come three weeks after the launch of iOS 18.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iOS 17.7.2 for...
at t turbo indicator iphone 16 pro max v0 8hrh7w5f3w1e1

AT&T Turbo Indicator Showing Up in iPhone Status Bar for Subscribers

Wednesday November 20, 2024 3:42 am PST by
AT&T has begun displaying "Turbo" in the iPhone carrier label for customers subscribed to its premium network prioritization service, according to reports on Reddit. The new indicator seems to have started appearing after users updated to iOS 18.1.1, but that could be just coincidence. Image credit: Reddit user No_Highlight7476 The Turbo feature provides enhanced network performance through ...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 1 Redux

'iPhone 17 Air' Rumored to Surpass iPhone 6 as Thinnest iPhone Ever

Monday November 18, 2024 1:07 pm PST by
In a research note with Hong Kong-based investment bank Haitong today, obtained by MacRumors, Apple analyst Jeff Pu said he agrees with a recent rumor claiming that the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" will be around 6mm thick. "We agreed with the recent chatter of an 6mm thickness ultra-slim design of the iPhone 17 Slim model," he wrote. If that measurement proves to be accurate, there would be ...
bug security vulnerability issue fix larry

Make Sure to Update: iOS 18.1.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 Fix Actively Exploited Vulnerabilities

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:52 am PST by
The iOS 18.1.1, iPadOS 18.1.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 updates that Apple released today address JavaScriptCore and WebKit vulnerabilities that Apple says have been actively exploited on some devices. With the JavaScriptCore vulnerability, processing maliciously crafted web content could lead to arbitrary code execution. The WebKit vulnerability had the same issue with maliciously crafted...

Top Rated Comments

Roscorito Avatar
66 months ago
One last appeal Tim before you enter mass production. Its not that we want cheap, we want small! You’ve got the iPhone pro, how about the iPhone mini? I’ve hung on to my SE because I like to go running without a brick in my pocket.
Score: 46 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CouponPages Avatar
66 months ago
Hey Apple. Some people don't like a big phone. Give us a smaller option.

To me the best option would simply be physical size of the current SE, but with a screen that extends to the edges, like the current lineup.

The thing that boggles my mind over the years is why screen size should have such a big relationship to price. Price differences between the display panels do not vary that much by size, yet traditionally any device including laptops with a bigger screen are much more expensive.

A 13" MacBook Pro starts at $1299, yet 15" starts at $2399 because they have entirely different specs. Why can't they offer the same specs with just small differences for display preferences?

The bottom line... Why not just build the same specs, but offer 3 sizes (small, medium, large)?
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MoreRumors? Avatar
66 months ago
Ok, stop calling it a SE2 and call it what it really is, 8s. I think this will sell very well for those not wanting to spend a lot on a phone. For me, 128GB is the sweet spot.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ruka.snow Avatar
66 months ago
iPhone 6 is way too big. I really hope Apple have clicked on that there is demand for a smaller full feature phone at any price. Amazingly smaller sized humans exist.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GuruZac Avatar
66 months ago
On a side note, you guys all begging for an even smaller phone, full featured may in fact get your wish, as rumors have the iPhone 12 Pro smaller at 5.4” next year with an even larger iPhone 12 Pro Max at 6.7”. A full screen 5.4” phone would be even smaller than the iPhone 6/7/8.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
michaelahlers Avatar
66 months ago

One last appeal Tim before you enter mass production. Its not that we want cheap, we want small! You’ve got the iPhone pro, how about the iPhone mini? I’ve hung on to my SE because I like to go running without a brick in my pocket.
I'm also frustrated at this trend towards bigger and bigger phones. Back in September 2018, when the iPhone SE stopped selling, I penned the following letter to Tim Cook ('https://f000.backblazeb2.com/file/michaelahlers-public/iphone-se-open-letter/index.html'). Most of these go ignored, but I've updated it and maybe it's worth sharing for others to submit, as well.


Dear Mr. Cook,

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my letter.

Over more than a decade, I've purchased for myself and family dozens of Apple products, including desktops, laptops, phones, and accessories to match. Apple's industry-leading design and craftsmanship inspire intense brand loyalty, and I enthusiastically take every opportunity to recommend your company's products for both professional and personal uses. While I've routinely applauded Apple's willingness to shed legacies from its products in pursuit of exciting new features, I remain disappointed by the iPhone SE's elimination from Apple's lineup.

The market clearly demands phones with big displays, and it is, of course, reasonable Apple should eagerly supply that demand. But for myself and—I'm inclined to believe—millions of others the iPhone SE is nearly perfect in its form and function. Its aesthetics are attractive. It can be gripped comfortably and operated with one hand. It fits easily in a pocket.

I have tried one of Apple's larger phones (an iPhone 6s) and found its form factor awkward, and returned it after a week. I couldn't get used to it. Having owned almost every iPhone model from the original up to the SE, I haven't wanted for much more besides updated processor and memory specifications. With Apple now only offering what I feel are miniature tablets, I'm suddenly reliant on a dwindling aftermarket supply of my favorite device.

As you've observed in your September 2018 keynote address ('https://apple.com/in/apple-events/september-2018/'), our phones are integral parts of our lives, and you've expressed Apple's desire to serve everyone with the iPhone. Such a personal device needs to fit well with an individual's needs, and I sincerely hope you'll reconsider serving this segment of the market. We're not customers clamoring for a lower price, just a smaller device.

Yours respectfully,

Michael Ahlers
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)