The iPhone 9 announcement will finally put an end to months of conflicting reports and rumors. It is expected to take place in the near future but ahead of that 9To5Mac has obtained further information.

It won’t be called the iPhone 9 or iPhone SE2

Apple’s upcoming smartphone has been referred to countless times as the ‘iPhone’ in recent months. Before that, many called it the ‘iPhone SE2,’ but new details shared by a highly trusted reader of 9ToMac suggest both could be wrong.

The Tim Cook-led company is reportedly planning to market the new device as the ‘2020 iPhone SE’ when it hits shelves later this month. That means Apple will be positioning it as a direct successor to the original model.

Greenlighting the iPhone SE2 name, on the other hand, doesn’t make much sense long-term. The reason being that numbers eventually make branding more confusing, and if Apple has no plans to update this particular hardware on a yearly basis, there is no need to add one.

Such a strategy has been successfully implemented by Apple on the iPad series in recent years once the yearly upgrades stopped. The extensive tablet lineup now receives refreshes around every 18-24 months.

Three colors, five cases, and a 256GB version

The same reputable source claims the 2020 iPhone SE will be made available in three colors at launch – White, Black, and PRODUCT (Red). These options look set to be paired with at least five official cases including Black and White Silicone cases, and a Leather version in Red, Black, and Midnight Blue. 

Customers will have even more choice when it comes to choosing the storage variant. The 2020 iPhone SE is reportedly being planned in a 64GB variant, although like the iPhone 11, pricier variants with 128GB and 256GB of storage are said to be on the way.

9To5Mac unfortunately couldn’t corroborate the official 2020 iPhone SE pricing, but countless reports have mentioned at $399 starting price in the United States. If true, that would make it $50 cheaper than the iPhone 8 it replaces.

2020 iPhone SE announcement and release date

Regarding the new iPhone SE announcement date, this is actually where things get interesting yet confusing. Apple was originally planning to unveil the device at an event on March 31, but was forced to shelve the plans over the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 iPhone SE was then delayed until June, before Apple made a U-turn and rescheduled a launch in April. Tipster Jon Prosser says the announcement will happen on April 15 and shipments should begin April 22.

9To5Mac, on the other hand, can’t corroborate this information. It says Apple is ready to start accepting orders very soon and suggests an announcement could even happen tomorrow, April 3, although that isn’t confirmed.