iPhone SE 2 could come with a popular feature no other cheap iPhone has
Face ID on the iPhone SE 2
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When theiPhone Xshook up the iPhone line it brought with itApple’s Face ID facial recognition phone unlocking, a feature that wasn’t present on theiPhone 8or earlier, and now it’s been claimed that the anticipatediPhone SE 2might have this feature too.
Japanese tech rumors blogMacotakarahas published a report claiming there will be a variant of the upcoming affordable iPhone that has Face ID, as well as a version that only has Touch ID, as is the case with iPhones prior to the iPhone X.
According to Macotakara, that information comes from Apple suppliers who were exhibiting atCES 2020in early January, and we’re inclined to take it seriously as the website tends to be a reliable source of Apple-related news.
It’s still a surprising suggestion though – the iPhone SE 2 is looking like it’ll be a small step up from the iPhone 8, with some rumors suggesting it’ll actually end up being named the iPhone 9. Since none of the ‘numbered’ (pre-iPhone X) iPhones had Face ID, it would be a break with tradition by Apple if the budget ‘iPhone 9’ got the feature.
However, it could be that this second SE 2 handset is therumored iPhone SE 2 Plus, although the mere existence of that phone is something we’re unsure of.
Wait, Face ID in a budget iPhone?
There’s precedent to suggest that Apple doesn’t add Face ID to its affordable devices – while the top-endiPad Profrom 2018 has the feature, the more recent (yet affordable)iPad 10.2from 2019 lacks it, and we’d expect Apple to follow this pattern with its phones.
The iPhone SE 2 is slated to be the first ‘true’ affordable iPhone since the originaliPhone SEin 2016, unlike theiPhone XRandiPhone 11, which are simply the relatively affordable devices in a top-end line.
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It’s a device that’s eagerly anticipated by many who want a new iPhone without breaking the bank, but that means it won’t be as flush with specs as new iPhones, making Face ID a dubious prospect – although if there are indeed two versions of the SE 2 then we’d expect the higher-end model to get some extra features.Overall, while this report does come from a reliable source we’d still take it with a pinch of salt for now.There’s no hint yet of a release date for the iPhone SE 2, so it’s not clear when (or even if) we’ll find out the truth about the anticipated iPhone, but stay tuned to TechRadar, as we’ll bring you all the latest news and leaks.
Via9to5Mac
Tom Bedford was deputy phones editor on TechRadar until late 2022, having worked his way up from staff writer. Though he specialized in phones and tablets, he also took on other tech like electric scooters, smartwatches, fitness, mobile gaming and more. He is based in London, UK and now works for the entertainment site What To Watch.
He graduated in American Literature and Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. Prior to working on TechRadar, he freelanced in tech, gaming and entertainment, and also spent many years working as a mixologist.
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