In late December, an anonymous account on social network X (formerly Twitter), known for accurate information related to iOS, revealed 2 devices with code names "V59" and "J481" that will be released with iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3.

According to Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman, the "V59" is the new iPhone SE, while the "J481" is the standard 11th-generation iPad.

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The new iPhone SE and iPad 11 may be released this month. Photo: Macrumors

Over the past three years, iOS 15.3, iOS 16.3, and iOS 17.3 were all released in late January. If this trend continues, iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 are also likely to be released this month.

That means the new iPhone SE and iPad 11 could launch as early as January if the information from this leak is accurate.

While the leaker's account is not shared, the source has proven reliable over the years.

What's special about the new iPhone SE?

All previous iPhone SE models were announced in March or April, so a January launch for the iPhone SE 4 would be earlier than usual. Recent rumors suggest that the new iPhone SE could also be called the iPhone 16E.

According to Forbes , a Weibo account named Fixed Focus Digital with more than two million followers revealed that the successor to the iPhone SE 3 is not the SE 4 but the 16E.

Leak expert Majin Bu also has a post on X confirming this information and adding that the iPhone SE 4 is expected to have a similar design to the iPhone 14, with an OLED display and action button. The available colors will be white and black.

There are a few reasons why Apple chose to launch the new iPhone SE this month. Apple recently stopped selling the current iPhone SE with a Lightning port in the EU due to USB-C regulations.

The new iPhone SE is expected to feature a USB-C port, and launching it in January instead of waiting until March or April would help Apple get the device back to the EU market a few months faster.

The new iPhone SE is expected to have a similar design to the basic iPhone 14. Rumored features include: 6.1-inch OLED display; Face ID support; USB-C port; 48MP single camera; latest A-series chip combined with 8GB RAM supporting Apple Intelligence features; Apple's first self-designed 5G modem.

However, it is still unclear whether this device will be equipped with an Action Button like on the iPhone 15 Pro.

The current iPhone SE, released in March 2022, has an iPhone 8-like design with legacy features like Touch ID, Lightning port, and thick screen bezels.

In the US, the third-generation iPhone SE starts at $429. However, the price of the new iPhone SE is expected to increase slightly.

What to expect from iPad 11?

As for the iPad 11, it is rumored to support Apple Intelligence. This means it will be equipped with: a newer A-series chip than the iPad 10, along with 8GB of RAM to support smart features.

Currently, there is no significant information about the design changes of the iPad 11. The iPad 10 was announced in October 2022, so the iPad 11 will probably still use the current design.

Another notable piece of information from Mark Gurman is that the new MacBook Air models will be announced before the iPhone SE and iPad 11 launch.

This means that the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models could be upgraded to the M4 chip as early as this month.

Watch the iPhone SE 4 concept video (Source: Technizo Concept):

(According to Macrumors, Forbes)