The next version of Apple's iPhone SE could be released in the first half of 2022 and look very similar to the current design, which is based on the iPhone 8. This is also what Nikkei Asia is now claiming. The main upgrades in the new model will be Apple's A15 chip, which will first appear in the iPhone 13 lineup, as well as 5G support through Qualcomm's X60 modem chip.
The day before yesterday, DigiTimes reported that the 2022 iPhone SE will contain an A14 chip and not the A15 chip, as Nikkei claimed. Since the next iPhone SE will remain similar in design to the current model, it will retain a 4.7-inch LCD panel instead of switching to a larger LCD or OLED display. The report does not specifically address whether the new model will have a home button. But the consistent design suggests that a Touch ID home button will also be present in 2022. The report states:
The budget 5G iPhone is expected to launch as early as the first half of 2022, according to sources familiar with the matter. It will be powered by Apple's own A15 processor - the same chip used in this year's premium iPhones - and its 5G connectivity will be enabled by Qualcomm's X60 modem chip.
iPhone 2022 series without mini model
The report also confirms other rumors that the 2022 flagship iPhone lineup will not include a 5.4-inch "mini" model, as sales of the iPhone 12 mini have proven disappointing. Instead, Apple will introduce a second 6.7-inch model, which will apparently result in two "iPhone 14" and two "iPhone 14 Pro" models, each in 6.1- and 6.7-inch sizes.
It's all but decided that there won't be a Mini next year, and that a relatively inexpensive version of the larger iPhone Pro Max will be coming instead. However, drafts of the detailed specifications for next year's four new models have not yet been finalized.
Finally, Nikkei states that the iPhone 13 series will go into mass production next month. If the information is correct, the launch could take place in September. (Photo by Unsplash / AB)