iPhone SE 2 2018 release date, specs rumors: Next-gen budget phone to include all-glass back for wireless charging

The iPhone SE in different color variantsApple website

While there are rumors that the next generation of the iPhone SE will arrive this 2018, Apple has yet to reveal the possible upgrades expected from the budget SE 2 handset. Although, Apple followers believe that the next standard edition iPhone will include some of the popular features of the current iPhone models, specifically the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. As per the latest rumors, the iPhone SE 2 will have wireless charging capability through an all-glass rear panel.

A known tech tipster Sachin Bhatt from tekz24.com said that the iPhone SE 2 will sport an all-glass back. According to his insider source, which he claims to be "very reliable," the 2018 iPhone SE version will switch undergo a major design change by introducing a rear panel made entirely by glass material, although this change is not only driven by aesthetic purposes. An all-glass back for the iPhone SE 2 will give the smartphone a wireless charging feature, similar to the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X models that also sport rear glass panels.

For comparison's sake, the current 4-inch iPhone SE handset has glass portions at the top and bottom rear, although most of the back panel is made of aluminum. According to 9to5Mac, an all-glass material for the iPhone SE 2 2018 back portion will give the next-gen device a fresh and modern look, not to mention a flagship-like touch via wireless charging.

On the other hand, the rumored iPhone SE 2 is being described as the smaller version of 2016's iPhone 7. To note, the design and features of the current iPhone SE are similar with those of the iPhone 5. As a trimmed-down variant of the iPhone 7, WCCFTech suspects that the iPhone SE 2 2018 will be powered by Apple's A10 Fusion processor, including two performance cores and two efficient cores. However, this chipset is nowhere near the latest A11 Bionic processor, as the A10 Fusion can only use two cores at once.

Other rumored specs for the iPhone SE 2 include 2GB of RAM with built-in storage choices ranging from 32GB to 128GB. As the 2018 iPhone SE version is likely to boast wireless charging, it is speculated that the handset will have other flagship components, particularly the dual-lens camera setup. However, introducing a dual camera to the iPhone SE 2 could greatly affect its price, and Apple is reportedly keeping the SE 2 as a budget device. 

Earlier reports suggest that the iPhone SE 2 will be showcased by mid-2018, or sometime in June or July. While the iPhone SE's successor will still have an affordable price, the SE 2 is reportedly more expensive at $450 compared to the original's $349 price tag.