Apple will launch its new iPhone 9 smartphone in March, according to reports.
An article in Bloomberg suggests the company will kick off production on the new low-cost device, rumored to be called the iPhone 9 or the iPhone SE 2, as early as next month.
After production begins, the device is expected to launch as soon as March.
Previous rumors suggest that the new phone will sport a similar design to the iPhone 8, with a 4.7-inch LCD display, thick bezels and a Touch ID home button, rather than Face ID.
The device will also come with a single-lens rear camera and the A13 Apple-powered chip.
Apple launched its first low-cost smartphone, the iPhone SE, in March 2016, so a March 2020 release would mark four years since its last venture into an affordable smartphone.
Insiders expect the new iPhone 9 to be priced at just $399 in the United States, the same price as the iPhone SE when it launched in 2016.
Apple currently sells the iPhone 8 as its cheapest smartphone on its website, priced at $449 brand new, so a cheaper model would be welcome and allow the company to tap into price-conscious markets like India and China.
Apple is widely expected to launch five new iPhones in 2020. As well as a new budget iPhone, the company will release high-end all-glass models with 5G technology and new rear 3D cameras, though they’re expected to follow the usual September release schedule.
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