iPhone users have a reason to be excited this year 2021. The word on the street is that Tim Cook and his Cupertino-based team are working on a new budget smartphone—dubbed the iPhone SE Plus or the iPhone SE 3). And drawing on the success of its predecessor, this doesn’t come as a surprise from a business viewpoint.
Saying the iPhone SE (2020) was a huge hit would be an understatement. According to The Guardian, the device was “Apple’s cut-price smartphone king. Top performance, good camera, long support and manageable size make cheaper iPhone a bargain.” This flattery is echoed by CNBC, which stated that “it’s the best iPhone for most people right now, given its incredible value.”
A quick Google search of the iPhone SE (2020) paints a picture of a smartphone that swept the media, critics, and customers off their feet—and the hopes are high for its successor. For this reason, read on for more on the rumored iPhone SE Plus—including its release date, design, specs, price, and everything in between.
iPhone SE Plus Rumored Release Date
Let’s hark back to April 15, 2020; the media team at Apple announced the second-generation of the 2016 iPhone SE via a Press Release on their website. The device was boldly marketed as “A powerful new smartphone in a popular design”—and it was scheduled for release on April 24, 2020. The phone hit the stores are promised and it more than lived up to the seemingly audacious claims by Apple.
Now, drawing on the trend observed with the previous iPhone releases, it makes sense for Apple to announce the new SE variant around the same time as its predecessor (i.e., April 2021). But incoming reports make this release unlikely.
According to a piece appearing on 9to5Mac, a reliable Apple analyst known as Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that we may not see the next instalment in the SE lineup until the 2nd half of 2021 due to widespread disruptions in the supply chain. A similar perspective is shared by a Barclays analyst.
However, Ross Young and JP Morgan Chase (via GizChina) draw a grimmer picture by slating the iPhone SE Plus for a 2022 release date. With such conflicting information, you’ll have to keep tabs on the rumor mill for more accurate release date predictions.
iPhone SE Plus Design and Size
The iPhone SE (2020) was a beast under the hood—sporting an A13 bionic chipset and all. Its only drawbacks were the outdated design and small size. The upcoming iPhone SE Plus is touted to ‘stamp a band-aid’ on both flaws by offering a design upheaval.
The latest (January 19, 2021) and most widely cited rumor of the iPhone SE Plus design comes from a tweet by the well-known tipster @aaple_lab. The supposed leak features a render of the phone and a few specifications to get fans excited.
Based on the render, the next iPhone SE will adopt a more modern design—including a wide notch (seen in other recent iPhones), minimal bezels, and a non-existent home button. Interestingly, the device might integrate Touch ID into the power button. On the back, the smartphone sports a single camera and it comes in white, red, and black.
The tweet by @apple_lab also confirms the rumors by Ross Young, who had earlier speculated that the iPhone SE Plus would be 6.1 inches—a major size upgrade from the 4.7-inch iPhone SE (2020). As for the screen, all hints point to a cheaper LCD/IPS panel rather than OLED.
In more theoretical territory, a recent concept illustration by Svetapple.sk shows an iPhone 12-borrowed design that’s to die for. But since it’s purely artistic and unlikely to make way into stores, we’ll leave it at that.
iPhone SE Plus Cameras and Other Specs
Although the iPhone SE (2020) used slightly outdated sensors on its single 12MP camera, it performed surprisingly well for its price range. The third generation of the device is expected to follow this tradition with a 12MP iSight sensor for the rear camera and a 7MP sensor selfie camera. Though it remains to be seen, there’s a good chance that Apple might go with a double or even triple camera.
The camera specs look modest on paper, but with the computational photography power of the A13/A14 Bionic chips—it has the potential to be one best value camera phones among its competitors. The device is also tipped to feature 6 portrait light effects, Smart HDR 3, and OIS.
As for battery and charging, we can only hope for an improvement over the measly 1,821 mAh battery capacity that underwhelmed customer last year.
What is the Rumored Price of the iPhone SE Plus?
With the economic uncertainties that continue to cast an ominous cloud over the world, an affordable iPhone SE Plus would be a huge relief for countless users looking for a big-screen phone that takes advantage of Apple’s revered ecosystem.
Whispers from leakers and tattlers suggest that the iPhone SE Plus could retail at around $499. With the possibility of a big 6.1-inch screen, powerful hardware, and the latest iOS, this sounds like a steal—even though it’s $100 more than its predecessor. It balances precariously on the edge of budget and mid-range smartphones, which constitute the bulk of users.
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