Apple could launch a new iPhone SE and PowerBeats Pro headphones as early as February 11, according to reporting from Bloomberg. The announcement is likely to be on the smaller side, given that the company has not yet issued invites for either an in-person or virtual event.
A new iPhone SE would mark the fourth generation of Apple’s more budget-minded handset, as well as the first in the line to be released since 2022. At the time, the third-generation device, which was part of the larger iPhone 13 portfolio, sported a $429 price tag and features that are similar to the iPhone 8, including a Touch ID fingerprint scanner. That product has already been discontinued in the EU owing its Lightning port, which doesn’t adhere to Common Charger Directive legislation.
A new iPhone SE would most likely have a USB-C port, just like the rest of Apple’s lineup. Rumor has it that the phone will look like the iPhone 14 series, which came out months after the last SE. With Face ID biometrics taking its place, the update probably signifies the formal demise of the iPhone’s Touch ID home button.
Interestingly, the fourth-generation iPhone SE is thought to be compatible with Apple Intelligence, joining the iPhone 15 Pro and all iPhone 16 models. As Apple continues to reduce its reliance on outside chip manufacturers like Qualcomm, it may also be the first handset to include an in-house, Apple-built modem.
Outside of the US, the new SE is anticipated to be widely adopted, particularly in China and India, which are currently the largest smartphone markets in the world and the second-largest in the world, respectively. Although Apple has had difficulties in China in recent quarters, the country has long been a significant market for the business. Sales of iPhones in China have decreased 11% year over year, the company disclosed in its most recent financial report.
The decline was mostly caused by the ongoing expansion of domestic producers, such as Huawei, which has recovered from trade restrictions put in place during the first Trump administration. Another factor is that China does not presently have access to Apple Intelligence, the company’s solution to generative AI.
ICYMT: 2025 Budget: IMF, Gov’t to discuss tax cuts and energy debt
The PowerBeats Pro 2 is rumored to be announced by Apple concurrently with the iPhone SE. The first-generation Beats headphones would be released almost six years later. As the company seeks to expand its wearable health project beyond the Apple Watch, the new Bluetooth earbuds are anticipated to be the first headphones bearing the Apple logo to have integrated heart rate tracking.
Along with a long-rumored expansion to the company’s smart home line, Apple is anticipated to release M4 updates for the MacBook Air and iPad Air later this year. According to reports, the new home hub will have a display and might be Apple’s first foray into consumer robotics. However, none of these products are anticipated to be available on February 11.
SOURCE: TECH CRUNCH
