More References to Apple’s Upcoming Low-Cost ‘iPhone 9’ Appear Online

A couple of new references to Apple’s upcoming low-cost iPhone have appeared online, reads a new report, with one on a Chinese e-commerce website and another on US carrier Verizon’s smartphone trade-in website.

Firstly, MySmartPrice discovered a placeholder page for the iPhone 9 on the Chinese e-commerce website JD.com:

Looks like the long wait for the upcoming iPhone 9 could end pretty soon. Earlier this month, we had reported about the possibility of Apple launching a new smartphone called the iPhone 9 later this month — on April 15. Today, major Chinese retailer JD.com has published a placeholder page for the iPhone 9, indicating that the official launch and retail availability of this new iPhone model are imminent. The page on JD.com does not have any specifications or details pertaining to the upcoming iPhone 9. But the very fact that a major Chinese retailer has readied a page dedicated to a new iPhone is a clear indication that the device is indeed on its way.

The placeholder features a teasing reveal image, with specifications mostly unconfirmed. Keep in mind that the website is likely guessing the iPhone’s name, and is simply making room on its sitemap for this page. That being said, the specification page lists that the iPhone 9 (SE 2) will not support 5G, but does have 4G support. It also reportedly features a Lightning port, and a calculator (!).

The Verizon document, meanwhile, was shared online by Apple leaker Jon Prosser. Again, there are no details about the handset, although its inclusion is certainly interesting.

Apple’s new low-cost phone is expected imminently, although it’s apparently going to recycle the ?iPhone? SE name used for Apple’s previous dedicated budget phone.

The new iPhone is rumored to offer upgraded components in an iPhone 8 body. That’s similar to what the original 2016 iPhone SE did with upgraded iPhone 5 internals. The phone is rumoured to cost $399 USD, the same as the original iPhone SE.

A recent rumour stated the phone could be launched as soon as April 3, and while the date proved to be incorrect, but it doesn’t preclude the possibility that we could see the device announced by Apple any day now.

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