KEY POINTS

  • The Apple "Far Out" event is scheduled on Wednesday
  • Apple is expected to unveil its new list of iPhones at the said event
  • iPhone 2023 is anticipated to officially roll out sometime in 2023

The Cupertino-based tech giant Apple has reportedly wrapped the upcoming iPhone SE 2023 with a massive surprise and based on the latest claim online, it appears that the said device is a clone of a discontinued model.

The excitement surrounding the launch of Apple's new flagship iPhones is mounting up as the company's "Far Out" event scheduled for this month draws near. Aside from the rumored iPhone 14, consumers are also looking forward to seeing the official unveiling of the fourth-generation iPhone SE 2023.

And while Apple is still mum on the list of products that it would introduce a few days from now, industry insider Jon Prosser confirmed some interesting details about the said iPhone model. In one of the latest episodes of the Geared Up podcast hosted by Andru Edwards, Prosser claimed that the iPhone SE 2023 is just a rebranded iPhone XR, which was discontinued by the company in 2021.

Apple Jony Ive Tim Cook
Apple chief design officer Jony Ive (L) and Apple CEO Tim Cook inspect the new iPhone XR during an Apple special event at the Steve Jobs Theatre on Sept. 12, 2018 in Cupertino, California. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

"The SE 4 from what I understand, and I don't think I've said this publicly, is just the iPhone XR," the insider disclosed. Currently, the third-generation iPhone SE is the most affordable A15 Bionic SoC-powered iPhone, it would most probably stay that way.

Prosser did not elaborate on the specs of the upcoming iPhone SE 2023 but other rumors claim that it would house the same Apple-designed 64-bit six-core CPU as its predecessor. If the insider's information is accurate, consumers can expect a large-size, 5G-capable and affordable iPhone 2023, which is said to be a notch higher than iPhone SE 2022's SRP.

Prosser's claim also implies that the iPhone SE 2022 might be the last iPhone model that features the Touch ID or has a physical home button. The fourth-generation iPhone SE is believed to launch sometime in 2023 and among its specifications include a 12 MP, f/1.8 aperture rear camera, a 6.1-inch display with Face ID and an IP67 water and dust rating.

Unfortunately, while Prosser's information about Apple and its products is usually accurate, they are not official. Consumers should take this claim about the iPhone SE 2023 as highly speculative at this point.

Apple is set to hold the Far Out event on Wednesday at 10 a.m. PT of 1 p.m. ET live from Apple's headquarters in Cupertino.

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