Apple's New iPhone 9: Just an iPhone 8 On Steroids?
Would you buy it?
It’s on. Off. Likely. Maybe. Next year? Apple fans on a daily basis have indeed been pulled side to side regarding the upcoming iPhone launch. But, at last, there may be a light at the end of the tunnel.
According to recent reports, Best Buy is already receiving cases for a “New iPhone 4.7-inch, 2020.” The case is from Urban Armor Gear, and it comes with instructions that it shouldn’t be sold until April 5. If this is true, the highly anticipated launch could be imminent.
So, what to do? Well, if you’re an owner of an iPhone 8 and have been trying to pick the perfect time to upgrade, this might be your best chance. For one, many are already pointing to the affordability factor of the iPhone 9. When the iPhone X and 11 first launched, they were in the whopping $1,000-plus range, a price point that many just could not afford.
With the iPhone 9, though, insiders are anticipating a price tag of about $400. That’s sweet music for those who have been left on the sidelines the past few years. If you’re wondering, you can buy a new iPhone 8 right now for $449. Simple math will tell you to wait for the launch.
What’s really fascinating about the iPhone 9 is that it will likely combine the iPhone 8 chassis with the internals of the uber-powerful iPhone 11. At around the $400 price point, this will surely be a win-win situation for both current iPhone 8 owners and those looking for an entry into the Apple ecosystem. Another way to look at it is why would someone pay $50 more for internals that are already 3 years old?
As for the specs, it’s going to be plenty potent for the everyday user. Yes, it won’t come with Face ID (like the iPhone 8, which has a physical home button), so you’re going to have to continue to rely on Touch ID. And it’ll come with an A13 CPU, 64 GB of storage, 4K60 video and 3 or 4 GB of RAM.
Like bigger phones? The iPhone 9 will also come in a Plus size, which comes with a 5.5-inch LCD screen. The regular version will have a 4.7-inch LCD screen. The smaller screen size does harken back to the SE, which was unveiled back in 2016. Even with some also calling the iPhone 9 the SE2, keep in mind that the design won’t resemble the original SE at all, which directly originated from the iPhone 4 and 5.
It appears that the long-awaited iPhone 9 launch is in the offing, so if you’re in the market to add a little more muscle to your iPhone 8, be sure to pick up an iPhone 9 at that rock-bottom price.
Ethen Kim Lieser is a Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek and Arirang TV.