iPhone SE fans hoping for an annual refresh could face disappointment in early 2021. One reliable analyst today reports that Apple has no plans to refresh its budget device during the first half of next year.

Ming-Chi Kuo of TF International Securities indicates that plans for an upgraded iPhone SE have been pushed back while Apple suppliers battle it out to secure orders for next fall’s iPhone 13 instead.

iPhone SE might look even more outdated now that iPhone 12 has landed, but for smartphone buyers on a budget, it remains a very appealing handset. It’s also a key player in Apple’s mobile strategy.

The newest model, which packs a blazing-fast A13 processor, is particularly important in emerging markets like China and India, where more affordable handsets are key to a successful business.

Despite all that, iPhone SE isn’t as important as Apple’s more expensive flagships, which arrive every fall. So plans for a refresh are said to be on hold for now while suppliers focus on iPhone 13.

iPhone SE refresh won’t come in early 2020

Kuo’s latest report, issued to investors on Wednesday, insists there will be no iPhone SE refresh during the first half of 2021. There’s no word on when the upgrade might arrive, but we could be waiting until 2022.

It’s unlikely Apple would launch a new iPhone SE alongside the iPhone 13 lineup next fall. So if the device doesn’t appear before the summer, it is sensible to assume that it will end up on ice until early 2022.

The reason for the delay, according to Kuo, is that up to four Apple suppliers — responsible for manufacturing camera optics — are focused on battling it out to secure iPhone 13 orders instead.

Despite their higher price tags, Apple’s flagship handsets are much more successful in established markets like the U.S., the U.K., and many other countries throughout Europe.

Via: GSMArena