The fastest iPhone SE refresh yet is mostly for cell carriers.
Even if Apple sticks in an A14 or A15 chipset, it’s only helping to future proof the 2022 SE by another year or two — hardly a reason to introduce a whole new model. And since nearly the major rumors point to Apple keeping the same iPhone 6-era design for the 2022 refresh, it’s hard to imagine broad upgrades to the camera , display, or battery life.
And while we’ll have to wait for the actual reveal on Tuesday to know for sure, all signs right now point to more compromises than ever for the new iPhone SE in a bid to optimize the device for carriers to sell it, not the customers who’ll be buying it. Since its launch, the $400 SE has remained a constant floor for Apple’s iPhone pricing, even with Apple going on to release pricier models that cost well over $1,000. That $400 entry point has stuck around. It’s been one of the key selling points of the product: a fully-fledged iPhone with a more affordable price tag.
Maybe Apple has come to the conclusion that the 5G connectivity has become a key part of that standard iPhone experience. And if Applekeep the new 5G SE at the same $400 price tag while offering iPhone 13-level performance and at least some of the battery improvements from last year’s models, it could have a somewhat compelling option to ease customers into the iPhone life with a few new perks along the way. We’ll find out one way or the other when Apple takes the stage on Tuesday at 1PM ET.