According to a new report from German tech outlet iPhone Ticker, Apple is gearing up to re-introduce an updated version of its budget iPhone model in the form of the iPhone SE2 at an event at the end of March.
The iPhone SE (Special Edition) was initially launched in 2016 by Apple as a more affordable version of its flagship iPhone line, but was discontinued after 2018 coinciding with the company’s move away from a physical home button, and the change from using Touch ID fingerprint authentication to the newer Face ID 3D facial recognition system found in today’s iPhone models.
However, it is looking like a newer version of the SE line — the SE2 may also be known as the iPhone 9 — will be one of the big announcements to come out of an Apple event currently slated to be held at the end of next month.
A new iPhone SE2 would likely still be geared toward a more entry-level audience, perhaps with older users in mind.
Famed tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted that the SE2 will feature similar physical qualities to the iPhone 8, including a 4.7 inch screen, and will also likely signal the return of Touch ID to the iPhone line, as the device is expected to also feature the return of a physical home button.
There are also reports that Touch ID could be making a return to future higher-end models of the iPhone, possibly in the form of a capacitive power button.
The report also suggests that the SE2/iPhone 9 will benefit from some of the anticipated new features of iOS 13.4, including the ability to use your iOS device to unlock your car, and a new compatibility with FIDO compliant security keys.
There are concerns, however, regarding Apple’s ability to meet the expected launch date due to the impact of the coronavirus and how it may be affecting Apple’s production capabilities in mainland China, where the virus has already infected more than 74,000 people and claimed almost 2,000 lives.
Sources: iPhone Ticker, Forbes
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