Since last year, the industry has been talking about the entry-level iPhone that Apple plans to release in the first quarter of 2020. However, because of supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, until now, the Cupertino tech giant has not officially launched the said iPhone. Interestingly, a new set of listings from legit sites seemingly confirmed the official name of the affordable iPhone.
Serial leakster Jon Prosser is back once again with interesting information, and this time it has something to do with the entry-level iPhone from Apple. According to Posser, Verizon slipped and mentioned the name iPhone 9 on its trade-in page. The reference, which was now deleted was apparently an ad in the carrier's mobile app called My Verizon.
This is not the first time that the industry encounters the same name for the entry-level iPhone model. In Feb. 2020, Korea telecom, a major carrier in South Korea, was seen displaying promotional materials for those who will pre-order the iPhone 9. These promotional materials were seen in a retail store of the telecom company.
Chinese eCommerce giant JD also uses the name iPhone 9 instead of the rumored iPhone SE 2 on its official website. While the placeholder page of the Chinese eCommerce does not reveal much detail about the entry-level iPhone, it does confirm its official name and the fact that it is arriving very soon.
Verizon slipped and mentioned the new “iPhone 9” on their trade-in page. pic.twitter.com/N1qkuFHN3i — Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) April 5, 2020
As for the official launch of the iPhone 9, rumors have it that Apple might do it discretely. According to MarketWatch, Wedbush Analyst Daniel Ives said that "Apple is viewing this as a low-volume, low-touch release with little fanfare as the phones are already ready to ship." The analyst, according to the report, claims that the release might happen mid-April, which at the time of this publication is just a few days away.
Earlier rumors claimed that the 2020 iPhone SE or the iPhone SE 2 would be the remake of the iPhone 8. It would feature slimmer bezels with a 4.7-inch screen and a Touch ID home button. The upcoming iPhone SE 2 is also believed to house the A13 Bionic chip from Apple and would feature a 12 MP camera at the back.
For its price, the iPhone SE 2 is anticipated to retail at $399. The iPhone 9, according to some sites, is a different iPhone and would sport a 5.5-inch display. It is expected to share some resemblances with the 2017 iPhone model but with modern and advanced features.
