The new Apple iPhone could go on sale much sooner than fans had expected. Apple's last iPhones, the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max launched in September and offered a surprising camera design which was mocked by some gamers.
A report by Bloomberg reveals that Apple is getting ready to release a new iPhone soon and this smartphone model will be cheaper and smaller than any of the phones the company has released in the last three years. Apple is planning to put the new iPhone into production in February and will aim to launch it in March. There have been several rumored names for the device and one popular suggestion is the iPhone SE 2 as the new phone will likely be a successor to the more affordable iPhone SE Apple launched in 2016. The iPhone SE was also launched in March.
The more affordable iPhone will have a 4.7-inch display and will look like the iPhone 8. The phone will also offer Touch ID in its home button and it won't have Face ID. Face ID allows users to unlock their phones using their face and is thought of as highly secure. However, if Apple has left out Face ID to make the phone cheaper, few fans will be so upset.
Some may be surprised that Apple is now releasing a cheaper and smaller iPhone after years of releasing large expensive models. The iPhone X was the most expensive iPhone Apple had made when it was released in 2017 and it also cost hundreds of dollars to repair an iPhone X screen. Apple isn't really famous for making products that don't hurt consumers' wallets.
However, iPhone sales have slowed down and a more affordable iPhone could help Apple take on Android phone manufacturers. Android phones are hugely popular because they are powerful and affordable. Those who can't afford to buy a $1,000 iPhone will just spend hundreds of dollars on an Android phone.
There are also Apple's subscription services. Apple now offers the Apple Arcade game subscription, Apple Music, and Apple News Plus. These subscription services make millions of dollars for Apple as they get people to spend more after they've bought an iPhone. Releasing a more affordable iPhone may mean that Apple makes less from the sale of the phone, but it could potentially make thousands from one person signing up to these subscriptions.
Image source: Tinh tế Photo Wikimedia Commons Creative Commons
Source: Bloomberg