Apple has reportedly shelved its plans to launch the second generation iPhone SE. Sources indicate that Apple plans to entirely focus on its 2018 iPhone-line up that includes a 5.8-inch iPhone X, a plus-sized 6.5-inch iPhone X, as well as a low-cost 6.1-inch LCD model.
As per earlier reports, Apple had reportedly planned a new 4-inch iPhone SE 2 inspired by the iPhone X, incorporating design elements such as a notch and the edge-to-edge display. The device was expected to go official in the spring of 2018, and was later speculated to launch alongside the 2018 iPhone-line up in fall 2018. However, a new report by Forbes suggests otherwise. The report cites a case maker Olixar, claiming that Apple has ditched the second generation iPhone SE as the company wants to entirely focus on the upcoming iPhone-line up planned for a debut in fall 2018.
The second generation iPhone SE was supposed to cater to a specific user base that still prefer 4-inch handsets as opposed to giant-sized screens. However, 4-inch smartphones are fast diminishing these days given the widely adopted trend of bezel-free smartphones, allowing manufacturers to fit bigger screens in a compact form factor.
That said, nothing is official at the moment and Apple might still launch the second-generation iPhone SE at some point in the near future. Apple surprised everyone with the launch of the original iPhone SE at a time when 5-inch screens were in vogue. But the latest report suggests it’s highly unlikely.
As already mentioned, Apple plans to launch three different iPhone models this year. One of them will be a direct successor to the iPhone X with a 5.8-inch OLED display, and the second one being the larger iPhone X Plus with a 6.5-inch OLED display. However, the third one is rumoured to be a more affordable iPhone 9 model having a 6.1-inch LCD display.
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