Brace yourselves for potentially significant iPhone 9/iPhone SE2 delays
Leaked iPhone 9 renders
Apple’s next big medium iPhone release has been in the limelight for several months now, and although the design, most of the specifications, and even the pricing structure of the fast-approaching iPhone SE sequel are no secret, we still find ourselves talking about this mid-range device almost every single day.A number of factories in China had to temporarily close their doors to stop the coronavirus epidemic from spreading, and while the situation is slowly improving, many key components might still be in short supply, threatening to have a major impact on both the release date of the iPhone 9 and the quantities that will be initially available worldwide.
Is a March launch completely off the table?
In short, the answer to that question seems to be a resounding yes. At best, Apple could stick to its rumored March 31 announcement plan, then keeping potential buyers waiting a few weeks (or even more) for an actual commercial rollout. In another scenario bandied about of late, the iPhone 9 would be released shortly after its late March announcement, but only in very limited numbers before Apple can ramp up production and catch up with global demand at some point down the line.
This iPhone 9 sure looks familiar
Clearly, these are less than ideal circumstances, but for what it’s worth, the “new entry-level LCD iPhone” has purportedly entered the “final stage of engineering validation”, which normally suggests a release is not too far on the horizon.
Name, design, prices, and features
The iPhone 8 is not an ugly handset by any standards, but it’s not very modern either
Of course, that’s not as important as the specs, pricing, and design of the upcoming device, which are… kind of a mixed bag.
While it’s definitely hard to argue with the value for money provided by a $399 and up phone powered by a state-of-the-art Apple A13 Bionic chipset, we can see a lot of haters and even devoted “iFans” preparing to ridicule the revival of a terribly outdated design with massive screen bezels, a single rear-facing camera in tow, and a conventional Touch ID fingerprint scanner doubling as a physical home button.