Apple Prepares New iPhone SE and iPad Air Models for Early 2025 Release [Report]

Apple is preparing to release a new iPhone SE and updated iPad Air models in early 2025, according to a report from Bloomberg today.

The updated iPhone SE, codenamed V59, will be the first refresh of Apple's low-end smartphone since 2022, when 5G capability was added. With the new model, Apple is expected to drop the home button and transition to an edge-to-edge screen, similar to the rest of its lineup. This change could help Apple win back some budget-minded shoppers, especially in China, where it has lost market share to Huawei and Xiaomi.

The new SE phone is expected to support Apple Intelligence, an upcoming suite of AI tools that will also work with the iPhone 16 and the high-end versions of last year's iPhone 15. The new model will resemble the iPhone 14, including the notch cutout at the top. The current SE more closely resembles the iPhone 8, the last standard version to include a home button.


Apple also has new iPad Air models, codenamed J607 and J637, in development. The update is likely to focus on internal components rather than an external redesign. Alongside them, Apple is reportedly preparing a new Magic Keyboard accessory, codenamed R307 and R308, for the 11-inch and 13-inch versions of the iPad Air. These accessories will incorporate some features from the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro.

While these new devices won't arrive until next year, Apple is expected to hold an event at the end of this month to introduce new M4 Macs and potentially a new iPad mini, codenamed J410. You can learn more about those rumored announcements here:
● Apple to Hold Another Event 'In the Coming Weeks' to Launch M4 Macs [Gurman]

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