Apple is preparing an entry-level “iPhone XE” that will be introduced this fall, according to a sketchy new report.

The device is claimed to be an iPhone SE successor with huge improvements, including an edge-to-edge display and Face ID. It could also pack Apple’s latest A12 Bionic processor.

If you’re still a fan of compact smartphones, your options are extremely limited in 2019. You either have to opt for a handset that’s significantly larger than you normally prefer, or one that’s a lot older.

Apple’s last compact smartphone, the iPhone SE, is now three years old. But just like the MacBook Air and the iPad mini, it could make a comeback in 2019 with big improvements.

iPhone SE will be reborn in 2019

The new iPhone SE will be called the iPhone XE, according to a report from PC-Tablet. It will supposedly offer a 4.8-inch edge-to-edge OLED display and Face ID. That means it will have a notch but no Home button.

“iPhone XE will still come in iconic rectangular slab design with an aluminum back, so no wireless charging this time,” the report adds. “The internals of the iPhone XE is still unknown but if it will be coming with Face ID, it’s automatically understood that it will feature Apple’s latest A12 Bionic chip.”

The device is also expected to feature a 12-megapixel an f/1.8 aperture — like the rear-facing camera in the iPhone XR.

Made in India

The report says the iPhone XE will be manufactured by Foxconn in India, which suggests it could be aimed primarily at locals and other emerging markets. It cites a source “closely associated” with the facility.

“Our source got no information about the battery specs or internal storage details yet,” it adds. “The retail pricing of iPhone XE could go as high as $600.”

We would advise you to take these claims with a bucket full of salt for now. This is the first time we’ve seen a report predicting Apple’s plans from PC-Tablet, so we can’t vouch for its accuracy. And there is no way to verify its claims.

Some aspects of the report also seem implausible.

It’s unlikely Apple would put a pricey OLED display inside a budget device. Not even the $750 iPhone XR has one. It also seems crazy that it would charge $600 for what seems to be a phone designed for emerging markets.

But you never know.

Source: cult of mac