IPHONE 9 (2020) & IPHONE S.E. REVIEW,
LEAKS,SPECIFICATIONS,LAUNCH

iPhone SE 2020

Rumors, Leaks, Release Date, Price

iPhone SE 2020 Release Date

9to5Mac exclusively broke the news that Apple is planning to release the iPhone SE 2020 in early April.

9to5Mac has learned new information about Apple’s long-rumored, entry-level iPhone model, including the marketing name, product colors, and storage options, based on a tip from a highly trusted reader.

Based on the new information, it’s possible Apple could be planning to open orders for the new iPhone as soon as tomorrow; the information definitely tells us that Apple is ready to start accepting orders very soon.

While we cannot confirm exactly when Apple will announce the new low-cost iPhone, it’s possible Apple could reveal and begin taking orders for the new iPhone anytime.

We learned from a separate source earlier this week that retailers are preparing to start merchandising cases for the new iPhone starting Sunday. This doesn’t rule out an official announcement early next week.

iPhone SE 2020 Design and Features

Rumors indicate the design of the new low-cost iPhone will be similar to the iPhone 8.

Speaking of design, a new set of video renders has offered a closer peek at what the iPhone SE 2020 might look like. These renders show a home with a form factor nearly identical to the iPhone 8, but with a frosted glass back similar to the iPhone 11 Pro finish.

The iPhone SE 2020 will come in three color options:

White
Black
PRODUCT (Red)

Five cases will also be available to purchase:

Black silicone
White silicone
Red leather
Black leather
Midnight blue leather

The new low-cost iPhone will also come in three storage options:

64 GB
128 GB
256 GB

iPhone SE 2020 Pricing

Apple likes to eliminate pricing umbrellas in their product lines. Right now, they do not offer a modern iPhone under the $400 price range. The iPhone 8 starts at $449. The new iPhone is rumored to only cost $399.

Keep reading for the latest news about the new low-cost iPhone

2020 iPhone SE: Everything we know so far and what you should expect

After over a year of rumors, we are finally nearing the release of Apple’s highly-anticipated low-cost iPhone. The 2020 iPhone SE, also previously referred to as the iPhone 9 and iPhone SE 2, is expected to be released imminently. Here’s everything we know about it.

The iPhone SE

As a bit of backstory, the first iPhone SE was introduced in 2016, continuing the iPhone 5-era design amid the launch of devices like the iPhone 6s and iPhone 7. The iPhone SE was positioned at the low-end of the iPhone lineup, priced at $399 for 16GB of storage.

The iPhone SE was unique for offering the specifications of the then-modern iPhone lineup, at a lower-end price and in a smaller form factor. Parts of that will hold true for the 2020 iPhone SE, but there are also some key changes to Apple’s strategy.

2020 iPhone SE design

As reported early on by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the 2020 iPhone SE will feature a design similar to that of the iPhone 8. This means the device will have a 4.7-inch display with a Home button, as opposed to the bezel-less design and Face ID authentication of the iPhone 11 lineup.

On the back will reportedly be a single-lens rear camera. In an effort to keep costs low, Apple will keep the camera array of the 2020 iPhone SE relatively simple, though it remains unknown if features like Portrait mode could be enabled via software.

As for colors, Kuo has said that the 2020 iPhone SE will come in space gray, silver, and red. The addition of red is notable, as it is generally a popular color and came to the iPhone 8 lineup in a mid-year update. 9to5Mac also corroborated a lineup of white, black, and PRODUCT(RED).

A set of video renders has offered a closer peak at what the 2020 iPhone SE might look like. These renders depict a home with a form factor nearly identical to the iPhone 8, but with a frosted glass back similar to the iPhone 11 Pro finish. This would create a sense of uniformity among Apple’s iPhone lineup, despite the other differences in design.

Those renders also show that the 2020 iPhone SE might be around 0.5mm thicker than the iPhone 8, measuring in at 7.8mm thick. Other than that difference, the device is expected to be identical to the iPhone 8.

Apple is also believed to be working on a larger “Plus” model of the new iPhone SE, but it is believed that it has been delayed

All in all, Apple clearly isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel with the 2020 iPhone SE. Instead, it’s sticking to the design that made the iPhone 6, iPhone 7, and iPhone 8 so popular – which makes sense considering the upgraders that Apple is targeting.

Tech specs

Much like with the original iPhone SE, the 2020 iPhone SE will be just as powerful as modern-day iPhones. According to supply chain reports and recently confirmed by 9to5Mac the 2020 iPhone SE will feature Apple’s A13 processor. This is the latest and greatest Apple processor, which is also used in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. The new 2020 iPhone SE will also reportedly feature 3GB of RAM, which is 1GB less than the iPhone 11 lineup, but still more than enough for almost anything you could throw at it.

While there are whispers that Apple is working on an iPhone that supports both Face ID and Touch ID, don’t expect the 2020 iPhone SE to be that device. With an iPhone 8-like design, it’s expected that the 2020 iPhone SE will support Touch ID for biometric authentication.

Also new to the 2020 iPhone SE compared to the iPhone 8 that it replaces: Express Card and future CarKey support.

Most notably, the inclusion of the A13 processor means that the 2020 iPhone SE will be supported by iOS for years to come. Apple is targeting iPhone 6 users with the new iPhone SE, and those people have been holding onto their phones for as long as five years. Thanks to the A13 processor, they should be able to do the same with the this year’s device.

2020 iPhone SE pricing + release

According to Kuo, Apple is targeting a $399 entry-level price for the new iPhone SE with 64GB of storage. 9to5Mac has also confirmed three storage tiers for the new iPhone SE:

64GB
128GB
256GB

The original iPhone SE debuted back in 2016 at $399 for a 16 GB configuration. When Apple discontinued the SE in 2017, the entry price had dropped to $349 and the base storage capacity had been doubled to 32 GB. Essentially, you’ll be able to get the 2020 iPhone SE for the same price as the original iPhone SE, but with 4 times as much storage.

What about the current iPhone 8? It’s still available in Apple’s lineup, with the company selling the 64GB iPhone 8 for $449. Given that the new iPhone SE will likely be cheaper and more powerful, one has to assume that the iPhone 8 will be removed from Apple’s lineup in conjunction with this year’s launch.

When should we expect the 2020 iPhone SE to be released? 9to5Mac reported this week that the launch is imminent. We also learned from a separate source earlier this week that retailers are preparing to start merchandising cases for the new iPhone starting Sunday, which doesn’t rule out an official announcement early next week.

2020 iPhone SE naming

Last but not least, a note on naming. Kuo regularly referred to this low-end, 4.7-inch iPhone as the “iPhone SE 2.” As we have pointed out, this new iPhone isn’t a followup to the iPhone SE in terms of form factor.

The original iPhone SE featured a 4-inch display, which is what made it so popular among many people. The so-called iPhone SE 2 will get significantly bigger at 4.7-inches, with the goal being to bring iOS 13 to more users – not to appeal to those who like the smallest possible phone. This led to the belief that the device could be marketed as the iPhone 9.

But this week, 9to5Mac learned new information about the device. Based on what we learned, Apple will simply call the new entry-level model “iPhone SE” while referencing the new hardware as the 2020 version.

Wrap-up

As reports have said, Apple’s goal with the 2020 iPhone SE is to incentivize those still using the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus to upgrade. That makes quite a bit of sense, especially considering that those devices were dropped by iOS 13 this year.

Because iOS 13 is not supported on the iPhone 6 series, those users are unable to access Apple’s newest services such as Apple Arcade and Apple TV+. A modern, low-cost iPhone SE makes it easier for those users to upgrade and therefore increases the active user base capable of accessing Apple Arcade and Apple TV+.

Apple’s goal is clearly to drive more users towards its subscription services, even if that means offering more affordable, yet just as powerful iPhone hardware. Analysts have predicted that Apple could sell over 30 million 2020 iPhone SE phones across all of 2020.

Again, what you shouldn’t expect from the 2020 iPhone SE is a 4-inch followup to the original iPhone SE. Apple has clearly changed its trajectory, and seemingly has no plans to release another 4-inch iPhone

Exclusive: iPhone 9 launch imminent, 2020 ‘iPhone SE’ in red, white, and black with up to 256GB

2020 iPhone SE

Apple’s marketing names are perhaps the most protected component of new iPhones, so we’ve used two nicknames to reference the rumored iPhone 8 replacement so far: iPhone SE 2 and iPhone 9.

Based on the new information 9to5Mac has learned, Apple will simply call the new entry-level model “iPhone SE” while referencing the new hardware as the 2020 version.

Apple originally used the iPhone SE marketing name for the 4-inch model that use the iPhone 5s body with the camera and processor from the iPhone 6s.

We expect the new model to use the same chip as the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Plus: Apple’s A13 processor. That’s two generations up from the A11 Bionic chip inside the iPhone 8.

The new iPhone SE will likely be popular with iPhone 6 customers who no longer receive major new software updates. A13 enables Apple Arcade and augmented reality features not possible on the software running on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Color and storage

9to5Mac can also confirm the color and storage options for the 2020 iPhone SE.

Color options will include three options:

White
Black
PRODUCT (Red)

Five iPhone SE cases will also be available:

Black silicone
White silicone
Red leather
Black leather
Midnight blue leather

We can also confirm three storage tiers for the new iPhone SE:

64GB
128GB
256GB

iPhone 8 originally included the same storage tiers, but the pricier 256GB version was discontinued last fall.

Price and availability

New reporting from 9to5Mac corroborates reliable supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who reported the red color option and 64GB and 128GB options last fall. The higher-capacity 256GB option was not previously reported.

While we cannot confirm the three price points for Apple’s new iPhone SE, Ming-Chi Kuo reported last fall that Apple was planning to price the new model from $399. iPhone 8 is currently priced at $449.

The new iPhone SE is expected to have the same design as the iPhone 8, although battery life should much improved with the removal of 3D Touch, a special feature on older iPhones.

Also new to the 2020 iPhone SE compared to the iPhone 8 that it replaces: Express Card and future CarKey support.

While we cannot confirm when Apple will announce the 2020 iPhone SE, it’s possible Apple could reveal and begin taking orders for the new iPhone as soon as tomorrow.

9to5Mac learned from a separate source earlier this week that retailers are preparing to start merchandising cases for the new iPhone starting Sunday. This doesn’t rule out an official announcement early next week.

iOS 13.4.5 beta code corroborates a new iPhone model with Touch ID, Express Card, and future CarKey support

We’ve heard a lot about the new iPhone 9, which could be announced in the near future according to rumors. 9to5Mac found references to the new entry-level iPhone model in iOS 14 code, and now we can corroborate that information with the iOS 13.4.5 beta firmware released today for developers.

Apple continues to work internally on the new CarKey API, which will make it possible to use the iPhone and also the Apple Watch to unlock, lock, and start a car. What has changed in iOS 13.4.5 is that the CarKey API now includes code that mentions compatibility with an iPhone with Touch ID for the first time.

Previously, CarKey strings only mentioned iPhone models with Face ID, but Apple has now added references to an iPhone with Touch ID on the latest beta version of iOS.

As we’ve previously reported, CarKey can be used without biometric authentication through Express Transit Card technology, even when the phone is out of battery. Although the Express Transit mode is available on iPhone 6s and later, using it with power reserve only works with the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone 11 models.

iOS 13.4.5 makes it clear that there’s an iPhone model with built-in Touch ID compatible with CarKey and Express Transit cards with power reserve. As the iPhone 8 doesn’t have that combination of features, this code probably refers to the new iPhone 9 that had already leaked in the iOS 14 code.

In another new line of code from iOS 13.4.5 beta, Apple has added a message that says “Your device does not support Car Key.” which makes us believe that older iPhone models will not have the CarKey feature.

iOS 14 code previously revealed that iPhone 9 will also be able to scan NFC tags in the background, something that is not possible with the iPhone 8 and may be essential to CarKey.

The iPhone 9 is expected to be a 4.7-inch followup to the iPhone 8. It’s rumored to feature Touch ID and a design nearly identical to the iPhone 8, but with an A13 processor inside. Apple is also believed to be developing an “iPhone 9 Plus” with a larger 5.5-inch display.

iPhone 9 case inventory arriving at Best Buy, other retailers with April 5 merchandising date

The long-rumored iPhone 9 is expected to be released at some point this spring. Now, accessories from case makers are making their way to retailers such as Best Buy, with specific instructions not to inventory the products until the end of this week.

The image you see above shows an Urban Armor Gear case for the “New iPhone 4.7-inch, 2020.” According to a 9to5Mac tipster, these cases, among others, are being sent to retailers such as Best Buy this week.

We’ve already seen some iPhone 9 and iPhone SE 2 cases pop-up from online retailers, but actual inventory being sent to Best Buy is more important step in the process. This doesn’t happen until much closer to a device’s release.

What’s also notable is that Best Buy is being told not to inventory these cases until April 5, which is this coming Sunday. It’s unlikely that April 5 will be the release date for the iPhone 9, but one possibility is that Apple announces the iPhone 9 this week with availability sometime next week.

Best Buy and other retailers, however, just don’t want the iPhone 9 cases to appear in their inventory or be available for purchase ahead of Apple’s official announcement.

iPhone 9 preview — will it live up to the popular iPhone SE? [Video]

The long-rumored iPhone 9, which could be announced any time now, will fill a much-needed spot at the bottom of Apple’s iPhone lineup.

From a business standpoint it makes total sense. The release of an iPhone 9 will provide customers with a less expensive phone with modern internals, and at the same time can make a healthy profit, thanks to already established manufacturing and assembly processes.

Yet while the iPhone 9 will probably sell well, it won’t generate the same sort of love and cult following as the last budget-minded phone that Apple produced way back in 2016 — the iPhone SE. Watch our iPhone 9 preview video for the details as to why.

The original iPhone SE

The iPhone SE, when it launched in March 2016, was loved for several reasons. Arguably the biggest reason for the iPhone SE’s popularity was the price. When it first launched, the entry level iPhone SE started at $399. At that price it was $250 cheaper than the entry level flagship iPhone model at the time, the iPhone 6s.

Granted, back then carrier subsidies were still a thing. Even without such a subsidy, customers understood how much more affordable the iPhone SE was. Prior to the release of the iPhone SE, the previous “budget” iPhone, the iPhone 5c, launched for $549, not including carrier subsidies. In the history of the iPhone, the SE model was the cheapest just-launched new iPhone that you could purchase without considering carrier subsidies.

Timing

The iPhone SE release was strategically timed. It appeared right at the halfway point between the release of the iPhone 6s, and the then upcoming release of the iPhone 7 later in September 2016. Thus, Apple took good advantage of the lull period, which tends to happen shortly after the new year. That’s a period when excitement about the recent iPhone launch begins to wane a bit in the collective mindshare.

Value

The cool thing about the iPhone SE is that Apple didn’t lumber it with outdated technology for the sake of saving a few bucks. In fact, the iPhone SE featured the same A9 system on a chip featured in the flagship iPhone 6s that launched just six months earlier.

Even though the iPhone SE sported a design last seen on new iPhones a few generations prior, and even though it featured older screen technology running at a lesser resolution than current flagship models, the iPhone SE was still a remarkable value. Not only did the SE pack in similar processing power as the flagship iPhone 6s, but it also came with a rear-facing camera that could shoot beautiful 4K videos.

Design

The biggest reason that the iPhone SE was so well liked, outside of the affordable price, was due to its design. The iPhone SE’s design was pulled directly from the iconic iPhone 5 era, which itself was pulled from an even more iconic iPhone 4 era.

Some of the hallmarks of the iPhone SE included an anodized aluminum back cover, squared off anodized chamfered edges, and the outright lack of a camera bump. Of course, the most compelling design aspect of the iPhone SE was its size. Smaller than any iPhone since the iconic iPhone 5s, the iPhone SE was much-beloved due to its portability and ease of use with one hand.

The iPhone SE 2 / iPhone 9 preview — filling a void

The upcoming release of the iPhone SE2, or the iPhone 9, whatever Apple decides to call it, will likely meet much of the aforementioned criteria for a successful out-of-season iPhone launch.

For starters, assuming it launches within the next month or so, it’s far enough away from the iPhone 11 release and not running up against the release of the iPhone 12. This, of course, could be disrupted due to the spreading coronavirus pandemic.

Then there is the price. The entry level iPhone 8, which the iPhone 9 is expected to be based on, sells for $449, or for as low as $349 with an eligible trade-in.

The iPhone 8 is Apple’s current entry-level smartphone and starts at $449

With that said, I think it’s possible that we could see the iPhone 9 start at $399, $50 cheaper than the much slower iPhone 8, which will likely be discontinued, and the same price as the iPhone SE when it launched in 2016.

According to leaked iOS 14 code, it appears that Apple is also working on a larger “Plus” version of the iPhone 9, which indicated that these phones will be outright replacements for the iPhone 8 at the bottom tier of Apple’s smartphone lineup.

Expect a Plus model of the iPhone 9, similar to the iPhone 8 Plus

The iPhone 9 Plus or iPhone SE2 Plus, depending on Apple’s marketing decisions, will feature similar specs, but the Plus model will have a larger 5.5-inch display, and perhaps a more capable rear-facing camera. The starting price for the iPhone 9 Plus will likely be around $549.

With the uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus, I think some people looking to upgrade from an older iPhone will be attracted to the lower-priced iPhone 9, even if they were at one time considering a move to the iPhone 11.

Assuming that the iPhone 9 follows the pattern set by the iPhone SE, which featured flagship iPhone 6s internals, the iPhone 9 will likely come with primary components of the iPhone 11. If that turns out to be the case, and all indications are that it will, Apple’s new entry-level smartphone will end up being a great value.

Impressive specs from the iPhone 11 will be crammed into a body similar to the iPhone 8

As such, we can expect the iPhone 9 to sport a speedy A13 system on a chip, 4GB of RAM, and start with 64GB of flash storage. I also expect both the front-facing and rear-facing cameras to receive substantial upgrades, with the ability to shoot 4K 60 FPS video.

Like the iPhone SE, which lacked some of the bells and whistles of the iPhone 6s, we expect the iPhone 9 to lack some of the features of the iPhone 11. But it should have enough of the under-the-hood processing power to easily handle things like Apple Arcade, AR, multitasking, Group FaceTime calls, high-framerate 4K camera capture, and more.

The iPhone 9’s weakest link: Design

As mentioned, it’s likely that the iPhone 9 will use the same chassis as the iPhone 8, with Apple taking advantage of already-existing parts and infrastructure. Some small differences may be present, for example it may include a frosted glass back like on the current-gen iPhone 11, but for the most part it should be very similar to the iPhone 8.

The iPhone 9 will sport a similar design as the iPhone 8

But the iPhone 8, with its rounded corners and largely uninspired design, doesn’t measure up to the classy and timeless look of the iPhone SE. Those expecting a modern take on the iPhone SE, from a design perspective, may be disappointed when they see a turbo-charged iPhone 8 instead.

Expect a solid-state Home button on the iPhone 9

The adoption of the iPhone 8 chassis also means that features like FaceID, which allow you to unlock your iPhone using your face, will be missing. The iPhone 8 body style lacks a TrueDepth Camera system and the edge to edge display that modern day iPhones are known for. That means that Touch ID fingerprint biometric authentication will be back on a brand-new iPhone release for the first time since the iPhone 8.

But perhaps the most disappointing thing for huge fans of the iPhone SE are the size differences between it and the upcoming iPhone 9.

If, as expected, it’s based off the iPhone 8, the upcoming iPhone 9 will feature a 4.7-inch display, making it notably larger than the iPhone SE, which featured a 4-inch display.

This iPhone SE 2 concept would have been nice

However, as I noted in my Rewind review of the iPhone SE, I think that a 4-inch display is realistically much too small in today’s age of large smartphones. As comfortable as it is to use in the hand, and as portable as it is, the 4-inch iPhone feels unreasonably restrictive in 2020 as far as screen size goes. What do you guys think?

9to5mac’s Take

Compared to iPhone hardware from the last few years, the iPhone 9 will feel like a step backwards design-wise. But for those upgrading from an iPhone 6 through iPhone 8,

this phone will feel like a major upgrade thanks to modern-day internal components.

Although it’s disappointing not to have an updated take on the iPhone SE chassis, it’s understandable why Apple would not find it beneficial to put the effort into a new design for its entry-level smartphone.

I think that the iPhone 9 will be a moderate success and especially attractive to those coming from older hardware going back to the iPhone 6. It won’t be the most dashing new smartphone from a features or design perspective, but if it contains iPhone 11 internals like expected, and if it launches below $400, it will easily be one of the best smartphone values on the market.

What do you think? Are you planning on purchasing the iPhone 9 or iPhone 9 Plus? Sound off down below in the comments with your thoughts.

iOS 14 code confirms Apple planning ‘iPhone 9 Plus’ with A13 as larger version of rumored entry-level model

9to5Mac has learned several new details about the upcoming iPhone 9 based on iOS 14 code. Now we’ve discovered evidence that Apple is also working on a larger “iPhone 9 Plus” — not only an iPhone 9 — to replace both iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. While rumors of the 4.7-inch hardware has been reported through the supply chain, this is the first time evidence supports a larger version of the entry level iPhone.

We already knew some details about iPhone 9, Apple’s alleged new entry-level smartphone, including the fact that it will have a 4.7-inch LCD display and a Home button with Touch ID built-in. Now, thanks to the iOS 14 code snippets, we have learned more information about this new iPhone.

First of all, it seems that Apple is also working on a larger version of the iPhone 9, which may be named iPhone 9 Plus (or at least the Plus moniker of whatever Apple dubs this line). That would make sense considering that these iPhones should replace the iPhone 8 lineup, which features the 4.7- and 5.5-inch versions.

Evidence indicates that both will run with the A13 Bionic chip, the same processor used in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. This should make iPhone 9 more attractive for those who still use older models such as the iPhone 6 and the iPhone 7, since some people prefer not to spend money on high-end smartphones.

These iPhones will feature a solid state Home button, which was introduced with iPhone 7 and kept on iPhone 8. That means the Home button has no moving parts, as it uses the Taptic Engine to simulate clicks and reduce hardware failures.

As they are meant to be a entry-level model, the iPhone 9 and iPhone 9 Plus will offer Touch ID instead of Face ID. Users will be able to use Apple Pay and the Express Transit feature, which is not available on some older iPhones. The new models will also be able to scan NFC tags in the background, something that is only possible with the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and the iPhone 11 and not the iPhone 8 or iPhone X.

It’s important to note that the iPhone 9 and iPhone 9 Plus names are merely speculative, just as some rumors claims it will be called iPhone SE 2. The new iPhone 9 or iPhone SE 2 is expected to be released this spring, possibly alongside or after the release of iOS 13.4.

Update: In a related note, we can confirm that the fourth generation iPad Pro will be released in four variants, as we have found the following models: J417, J418, J420, and J421. These are probably the Wi-Fi and cellular versions of the 11 and 12.9-inch models. The new iPad Pro is expected to include a new triple-lens camera with a time-of-flight sensor.

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IPHONE 9 (2020) & IPHONE S.E. REVIEW, LEAKS, SPECIFICATION, LAUNCH DATE