There have been rumors swirling about the iPhone SE getting an update sometime in 2018, but KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has thrown some cold water on those fires. A new research note claims that Apple might not have an updated SE in the cards at all — or if there is one, customers can expect a minor update that amounts to a run-of-the-mill spec boost and no new features like wireless charging or Face ID, via MacRumors.
According to Kuo, between the three phones Apple released last year (iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X) and the three phones rumored to be released this fall, the company may not have enough development resources for an SE follow up as a fourth phone for 2018. That said, Kuo also does acknowledge that a basic processor update could still happen, but it seems that SE fans should keep expectations low.
The iPhone SE still fills an interesting place in Apple’s lineup. It uses the same design as the iPhone 5, which was released in 2012, with the 2015 internals of an iPhone 6s. This means the current model would get a boost in processor speed — something that will likely continue to get worse with the presumed release of iOS 12 this fall. But SE is still popular for its low price and smaller size among consumers. Compared to the giant 6-inch-plus phones Apple is rumored to be releasing this year, it could make sense to keep an updated version of the smaller SE around.
