Vague Report Claims iPhone SE/9 to Launch Today at 11am EST

The new iPhone SE (or iPhone 9, as it’s often been called) is launching today according to a major Chinese retailer. And if a top leaker’s guess is correct, the next iPhone will drop at 11am EST.

A new (somewhat sketchy) report from CNTechPost references steps taken by major electronics retailer Suning to ready customers for the launch.

Suning.com, the Chinese e-commerce platform, has launched several iPhone 9 related warm-up activities today.

Suning.com’s personal consumer loan department “Renxingfu” sent text messages to some users today, claiming that the iPhone 9 is coming soon. The messages said if customers start Renxingfu service, they can enjoy new products and interest-free discounts.

Suning.com’s official Weibo said that the iPhone 9 is coming and added the words “iPhone 9” to today’s Suning Tesco’s live event warm-up poster.

The Weibo post also said viewers of the live event will have the chance to get an iPhone 9.

Front Page Tech host and Apple leaker Jon Prosser shared screenshots from the Chinese retailer’s website promoting the “iPhone 9.” Shortly after, another leaker Ben Geskin posted a countdown video clip set to end at 11am EST.

The imagery does not show or support Suning’s claim, but past rumors have pointed to today being the next iPhone’s debut date. Several weeks ago, Prosser said on Twitter that April 15 is a likely launch date according to an internal Apple meeting.

Another report this morning from MacWorld suggests Apple plans to reveal the iPhone 9 today, saying it has “never seen such a solid wave of [rumors] all pointing to a single period.”

9to5Mac says its source claims that the new iPhone model is based on the iPhone 8 but with updated internals and may be called the iPhone SE 2020:

Based on the new information 9to5Mac has learned, Apple will simply call the new entry-level model “iPhone SE” while referencing the new hardware as the 2020 version.

Apple originally used the iPhone SE marketing name for the 4-inch model that use the iPhone 5s body with the camera and processor from the iPhone 6s.

We expect the new model to use the same chip as the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Plus: Apple’s A13 processor. That’s two generations up from the A11 Bionic chip inside the iPhone 8.

The iPhone SE 2020 is expected to be available in white, black, and PRODUCT(RED) and come in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB storage tiers. It’s pegged to be priced at $399 USD.

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