2022 iPhone SE could be Apple’s cheapest 5G model yet

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The third-gen iPhone SE could be Apple most affordable 5G handset.
Photo: Apple

An iPhone SE updated with 5G is less than a year away, according to a trusted Apple analyst. Because of its lower price, the model could put high-speed cellular wireless connectivity in the hands of far more people.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from TF International Securities said in a note to investors on Wednesday that, “The new 1H22 SE will have the similar form factor design as the existing SE, with the major differences being 5G support and processor upgrades.”

The analyst uses sources in Apple’s component supply chain to make predictions about Apple’s future product lineup. Kuo has a 76.6% accuracy rating, according to AppleTrack.

iPhone SE 3 could make 5G more accessible

The iPhone SE 2 released in early 2020 sells for $399, making it Apple’s most-affordable model by $100. And the third-generation version reportedly won’t significantly change that. “We believe the 1H22 SE is positioned to be the cheapest 5G iPhone model ever,” said Kuo.

If the analyst is correct, then the 2022 edition will hold onto the 4.7-inch display, sizable screen bezels and Home button as seen in the current iPhone SE. But last year’s model includes an Apple A13 processor from 2019 while its replacement will sport a faster chip.

Kuo doesn’t have a more exact release window for the first 5G iPhone SE than sometime in the first half of 2022. Its predecessor came out in April 2020.

It’s almost certainly going to be followed by more powerful devices in the second half of the year. That could include a more-affordable 6.7-inch iPhone Max.

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