The launch of the iPhone 16 series is approximately a month away, but according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, it will not be innovative in terms of product design or features.
The latest edition of his weekly newsletter, PowerOn, mentions that Apple has planned major changes for the iPhone 17 series next year. However, it also confirms that a next-gen iPhone SE is in the works, and it will support Apple Intelligence.
A Fourth iPhone 17 Model with a Thinner Design Under Works
Gurman says the upcoming iPhone 16 series will be similar to the current-gen iPhone 15 lineup. Apple Intelligence will be the biggest highlight for the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The other noticeable change is that the rumoured DSLR camera-like dedicated button will be limited to the iPhone 16 Pro models. According to Gurman, this multi-purpose button can take pictures, trigger autofocus, and adjust the zoom range.
However, Apple reportedly has major plans for the iPhone 17 series next year. It is working on adding a new “fourth iPhone model” to the lineup, and the existing Plus variant will disappear. This new model is said to have a far thinner design than other models.
Gurman notes that it will be positioned as an iPhone 17 “Air” model, similar to how the original MacBook Air was introduced. The iPhone 17 ‘Air’ variant will be above the standard iPhone 17 but below the Pro variants. It will target customers who want a nicer design while maintaining the specifications of a standard iPhone.
Apple has not exactly seen success with this ‘fourth’ iPhone in its lineup. The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 13 mini did not enjoy stellar success. Apple then changed its strategy and introduced the Plus variant with the iPhone 14 series, which also failed to make an impact. Maybe the third time will be the charm for Apple.
Apple Intelligence Coming to iPhone SE
Gurman has further reported that the next-generation iPhone SE will come with Apple Intelligence. This is undoubtedly surprising news, considering even the latest iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus do not support Apple Intelligence. Apple cited low processing power as the reason for the incompatibility. The report also mentions that at least 8GB RAM is required to run Apple Intelligence.
The report says, “And you can also bet that it [iPhone SE] will have Apple Intelligence.” The iPhone SE has traditionally been an affordable iPhone with a slightly older design and chipsets. If the latest claim is correct, Apple is ready to put a powerful processor on the iPhone SE, even more powerful than the standard iPhone 15.
The iPhone SE is rumoured to feature an iPhone 14-inspired design. It is said to sport an OLED display and Apple’s proprietary 5G modem. The launch is expected to happen as early as the beginning of 2025.
