Apple might not be launching the rumoured iPhone SE 2 in the second quarter this year. According to a fresh research note by the KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, via MacRumours, the company is limited on “spare development resources” as there are already three upcoming iPhones in the works.
The analyst also says that even if Apple launches the alleged iPhone SE 2, it will receive minimum cosmetic changes and differ mostly in terms of hardware. It is expected to feature an upgraded processor at a lower price point and skip on any iPhone X-like features; edge-to-edge display design, Face ID or wireless charging.
“The announcement of three new iPhone models in the same quarter in the second half of 2017 was the first time Apple made such a major endeavor, and we believe the delay of iPhone X, which had the most complicated design yet, shows that Apple doesn't have enough resources available for development,” Kuo stated in the research note. “With three new models in the pipeline for the second half of 2018, we believe Apple may have used up its development resources. Also, we think the firm will do all it can to avoid repeating the mistake of a shipment delay for the three new models. As such, we believe Apple is unlikely to have enough spare resources to develop a new iPhone model for launch in 2Q18.” The analyst added.
It’s rumoured that Apple might be launching a second-generation iPhone X which will sport a different internal design. The company is also expected to launch a larger 6.5-inch version dubbed as the iPhone X Plus and a lower-priced 6.1-inch iPhone with an LCD screen.
In a recent previous research note, Kuo shared some details on the three upcoming iPhones. As per the report, the new 6.1-inch could pack a larger 2850-2950mAh battery, which is bigger than the 2716mAh battery used on the current iPhone X and will be priced around $700 and $800 in the US (approx Rs 44,500 to Rs 50,800). The iPhone X Plus is also speculated to feature a larger 3300-3400mAh battery along with 4GB RAM. You can read more about the upcoming iPhones here.