KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo casts its doubts on the second-gen variant of the iPhone SE this year.
“Apple already has three iPhones in the pipeline, and may not have spare resources to build the iPhone SE 2”
Multiple reports in the past few months have indicated that Apple is working on the second-gen variant of the iPhone SE ( review). The rumour mill had suggested that the iPhone SE 2 will see the light of the day in the first or second quarter of this year, but it doesn’t seem to be the case. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has reliable sources in Apple’s supply chain, casts doubts on the second-gen iPhone SE model.
Kuo suggests that Apple already has three iPhone models in the pipeline, which include a second-gen iPhone X, a larger 6.5-inch version called the iPhone X Plus and a 6.1-inch model with Face ID and an LCD screen.
The analyst believes that Apple may have used up all its development resources, and is unlikely to launch the iPhone SE 2 this year. Also, the company will do all it can to avoid repeating the mistake of a shipment delay for the upcoming three iPhone models by working on a fourth smartphone this year.
“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”, says Kuo.
“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”, he added further.
If there really is a so-called iPhone SE 2 in the pipeline, Kuo expects it will come with slightly upgraded specs. The analyst predicts that this model would likely sport a faster processor and a lower price, instead of the iPhone X ( review) -like nearly bezel-free design, 3D sensing for Face ID, or wireless charging.
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