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Lovers of small iPhones might be rewarded with rumored next-gen SE 2
But will any iPhone X features make it into the new entry-level handset?
New regulatory filings may hint at new iPhone models coming earlier than this September. According to a MacRumors report, the French website Consomac first reported new Russian-language regulatory filings in the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) database that indicate 11 new iPhone models all running iOS 11.
The model numbers in the filing are all different from existing iPhone model numbers, which means all 11 models would be totally new iPhones. The EEC has a decent track record in revealing new Apple device model numbers: in February, the EEC detailed two new iPad model numbers, and those ended up being the identifiers of the two new 9.7-inch iPads that debuted in March. The EEC also had the model numbers of the new MacBook models revealed at WWDC 2017 one month before they were announced.
So which iPhones correspond with these new model numbers? Probably not any new variations of the iPhone X—while it's safe to say that Apple will debut new iPhone X-like models in September, that's unlikely to come before then (much less around WWDC time). Apple is reportedly planning three new iPhones for a fall announcement, including 5.8- and 6.5-inch OLED models and one more affordable LCD model. These will all likely have the same stand-out features as the current iPhone X, including an edge-to-edge display, FaceID, ARKit capabilities, and wireless charging.
With the possibility of new flagships out of the way, the EEC model numbers may correspond to new iPhone SE devices. Apple's entry-level smartphone hasn't been thoroughly updated since March 2016, so it's due for some attention. Some speculate that the rumored iPhone SE 2 could have a glass back to allow wireless charging capabilities, as well as 4-inch size, A10 Fusion chips, and a slightly larger battery.
However, the iPhone SE 2 likely won't get all the bells and whistles of the iPhone X. There are rumors that Apple is trying to lower the production costs and complexities associated with its new flagship, so features like FaceID that require expensive parts and laborious construction probably won't make it into the iPhone SE 2.
While that will bum some users out, it makes sense for Apple. The company's entry-level iPhone won't be considered "entry-level" any more if it even comes close to the iPhone X's $999 price tag. That means eschewing some of the most innovative features that make the flagship handset so different from all other iPhones that Apple has debuted.
iPhone SE 2 rumors have been volatile since the beginning, and it's possible that Apple won't release an updated version at all. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated in the past few months that Apple may not change the iPhone SE much, going so far as to say that even a model with wireless charging is unlikely. Apple may not have the time or resources to devote to significantly updating the iPhone SE as it prepares for three major new handsets to debut this fall.
There's no indication of when Apple might announce the rumored new iPhone SE models (if at all), but the company may reveal them during WWDC. iPhones don't usually make appearances at the June event, but it's not unheard of (the iPhone 4 was announced at WWDC in 2010). We anticipate Apple announcing iOS 12 at WWDC and possibly a more affordable MacBook that would replace the MacBook Air, which hasn't been updated in years.
