Mysterious regulatory filing hints at new iPhone SE 2 models
If you thought we'd seen the last of the iPhone SE, don't be so sure.
Consomac (via MacRumors) has spotted a filing from Apple to the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) listing eleven never-before-seen model numbers. Each name refers to an iPhone running iOS 11, according to the filing.
However, don't get too excited: We're not necessarily looking at 11 different iPhone models. Apple often gives different model numbers to the same phone, to delineate factors such as carrier and country of sale. We know, we're disappointed too. But hey, at least something new is coming.
The EEC consists of five countries: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. Russia, in particular, requires that all products containing encryption or cryptographic tools be registered.
There's not much other information on what models these numbers could refer to, but we have some theories.
Rumors indicate that an iPhone SE 2, an upgrade of Apple's tiny entry-level smartphone is in the works. The SE 2 will probably be less expensive than Apple's other products (the current iPhone SE starts at $349). Reports have also predicted that it will have a glass back for wireless charging but will not be enabled with the same 3D-sensing tech as on the iPhone X. Apple's iPhone SE generally does not follow the same annual cycle as the company's larger phones, so unlike, say, an iPhone 8s, it could debut at any time.
The company is also expected to drop three high-end models this year. Two are expected to be upgraded and cheaper versions of the iPhone X, respectively. We don't know much about the third except that it looks to be the "largest iPhone ever."
These product codes could refer to any, or all of these models -- or something else entirely.
Monica wrote for Mashable's Tech section with a focus on retail, internet of things, and the intersections of technology and social justice. She holds a degree in creative writing from Brown University, and has previously written for Dow Jones Media, the New York Post, Yahoo Finance, and others. In her free time, she can be found attempting to cook Asian food, buying board games, and looking for new hobbies.
