Report: Apple plans on releasing a new iPhone SE 2 model for 2018

Apple plans on updating its 4-inch retro model handset in the first half of next year. The Apple iPhone SE 2 will reportedly be built by one of Apple's trusted contract manufacturers, Wriston. Earlier this year, the current version of the iPhone SE started to go into production in Wriston's Indian plant. Despite heavy demand for smartphones in the country, which makes India the second largest market for intelligent handsets globally, low per capita income limits many iPhone buyers in the region to purchase older models, or the cheaper iPhone SE unit.

After cutting its teeth on the production of the Apple iPhone 5c, Wriston's Indian facilities not only churned out the iPhone SE earlier this year, but produced some Apple iPhone 8 models as well; Apple is looking to expand the distribution of Wriston's output to more locations around the world.

The current iPhone SE model, which resembles the Apple iPhone 5s, is powered by the A9 chipset used in the Apple iPhone 6s and Apple iPhone 6s Plus. It carries 2GB of RAM, a 12MP rear-facing camera, a 3.5mm headphone jack and is equipped with Touch ID. The storage options on the current iPhone SE were doubled in March to 64GB and 128GB, with the unit's starting price recently trimmed to $349.

As for the Apple iPhone SE 2, one report out of India claims that the handset will keep the 4-inch display and will be powered by Apple's A10 fusion chipset. 2GB of RAM will be inside along with 32GB or 128GB of internal storage. A 12MP rear-facing camera is said to adorn the back of the model, with a 5MP FaceTime camera in front, and a slightly larger 1700mAh battery keeping the lights on.

source: CENS (translated) via MacRumors