Apple is readying its third-generation iPhone SE for a release in the first quarter of 2022, says Taiwanese research firm TrendForce.
TrendForce said the new iPhone SE will remain a mid-range smartphone with added support for 5G:
In terms of product development, Apple is staying with the plan to release its third-generation iPhone SE in 1Q22 and four models under a new series in 2H22. The third-generation iPhone SE is expected to be a major instrument in helping Apple establish a presence in the market segment for mid-range 5G smartphones. Its production volume for 2022 is forecasted to reach 25-30 million units.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in June said that the design of the new iPhone SE will be “roughly the same” as the current SE, which is based on the design of the iPhone 8. Kuo says the new iPhone SE will offer 5G support, making it the “cheapest 5G iPhone ever.” He also said the new handset will boast an updated processor.
Since the lowest-priced iPhone at the moment is the iPhone 12 mini, which starts at $699, we can expect the 2022 iPhone SE to come in somewhere below that price point.
There have been rumors about a 6.1-inch version of the iPhone SE featuring a hole-punch design rather than a notch. Apple is rumored to be bringing a hole-punch display to its 2022 flagship iPhone models so that technology could trickle down to the iPhone SE one year later.
The current (second-generation) iPhone SE debuted in April 2020 and is still available at $399 for a 64GB model or $449 for 128GB of storage.