‘iPhone SE 2’ rumored to launch in the first quarter of 2020 with iPhone 8 design

Apple is apparently going back to the hits, at least for design cues, when it comes to future handsets.

A new report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo states (via 9to5Mac) that Apple is planning on launching a new iPhone SE, which will be known as the “iPhone SE 2“, in the first quarter of 2020. When it does arrive, the analyst expects the handset will boast an “iPhone 8 design”, feature an A13 processor (the same one that’s in the iPhone 11/iPhone 11 Pro) under the hood, and 3GB of RAM.

Kuo believes this will be a pretty popular handset when it arrives, with Apple expected to ship between 30 and 40 million units over the course of 2020. Kuo also believes this will target folks still using an iPhone 6, as it will be a worthwhile bump in specifications, but will keep a familiar design.

Apple does still sell the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus right now. The pricing for the iPhone 8 starts at $449 for the 64GB model, but, unfortunately Kuo does not speculate on pricing for the new iPhone SE 2. It stands to reason that, if the iPhone SE 2 does look like an iPhone 8, the company would probably ditch that lineup altogether once the new phone arrives early next year, so pricing could be pretty similar.

The shift in design could be a deal breaker for iPhone SE owners, though. The 4-inch iPhone SE is still praised for its overall size, especially as Apple (and other smartphone companies for that matter) have transitioned to bigger and bigger smartphones. The 4.7-inch iPhone 8 isn’t a huge change in size, but it’s certainly noticeable.

Which is why it makes sense that Apple would be going after iPhone 6 owners, rather than a direct upgrade from the iPhone SE to the iPhone SE 2.

This is not the first time we’ve heard a rumor that a new iPhone SE 2 could launch in the early stages of 2020. Back in September we heard the same thing, and, at the time, it was even rumored it would feature a 4.7-inch display. So the rumors are starting to stack up in this regard.

Still, will the move work? Would you buy a new iPhone SE 2 with a 4.7-inch screen and an A13 processor?