Apple is working on its cheapest 5G iPhone yet, according to the reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a note to investors, seen by MacRumors, Kuo explained that Apple is planning to launch an updated version of the iPhone SE in 2022 that will feature 5G connectivity. The device will apparently be positioned as "the cheapest 5G iPhone ever."
The current most affordable 5G-capable iPhone is the iPhone 12 mini, meaning that the next-generation iPhone SE will presumably be considerably more affordable than the $699 price point of that device. With the launch of the iPhone 12 lineup and the latest iPad Pro models, Apple has become a champion of 5G connectivity, lauding the tangible speed improvements it brings.
Kuo has previously said that the design of the new iPhone SE will be largely the same as the current iPhone SE, which is modeled after the iPhone 8. Display analyst Ross Young has similarly commented that the 2022 iPhone SE will feature the same 4.7-inch display as the current model.
There have been rumors of an "iPhone SE Plus" with a larger display and Touch ID integrated into the power button, which Kuo has also mentioned in the past, but the device has not been mentioned by analysts or leakers for some time, so it is not clear if it has been scrapped or is something set to come at a later date.
Kuo also previously claimed that Apple is developing a new version of the iPhone 11 with a 6-inch LCD display, Face ID support, and 5G, and it is possible that this future device, which is said to be launching in 2023, may also be in the SE product lineup.
Kuo noted that as well as 5G connectivity, the next iPhone SE will feature a processor upgrade to entice customers to upgrade. There is no specific information about when the next-generation iPhone SE with 5G connectivity is expected to launch, but the first half of 2022 perhaps suggests a spring Apple event. Alternatively, like the current generation iPhone SE, it may simply be unveiled via a press release.
