Rumour | iPhone SE 2: Apple misses mass production deadline for its next "budget" smartphone amid new name leak

We have always remained sceptical about Apple naming its rumoured budget smartphone the iPhone 9. As we have previously stated, the name would leave little room for a successor. Apple could release the iPhone 9s, for example, but it would run into trouble with the iPhone X if it decided to make budget smartphones more regularly.

Conversely, we thought that the name iPhone SE 2 seemed more likely, although that also has its problems. While the device is said to be Apple's first sub-US$400 smartphone since the iPhone SE, it is not supposed to look anything like Apple's last budget handset. Instead, the device is supposed to built around the design of the iPhone 8. In our opinion, the name iPhone SE 2 does not sit correctly with something that has with the body of an iPhone 8 and the internals from newer iPhones.

Now, a new name has been offered, and one that sounds more realistic. Citing an unnamed source, Front Page Tech claims that Apple will sell the device as the iPhone. The source has not been verified either, so this could come to nothing. The name iPhone mimics the entry-level iPad, which Apple sells as simply the iPad. The same source supposedly stated that the iPhone (2020) will start at US$399 for the 64 GB model and US$450 for the 128 GB model, which is nothing new.

Separately, Nikkei Asian Review is reporting that Apple has missed the mass production deadline for the iPhone (2020). The outbreak of the coronavirus has been blamed for the delay. However, that may not delay the release of the device, though.