As reported by Chinese website MyDrivers, Apple may be preparing a cheaper 4G iPhone 12, according to Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives.

According to previous information, the iPhone 12 will consist of four models with three different screen sizes: the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Max at 5.4" and 6.1", the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max at 6.1" and 6.7". And all four are expected to feature 5G connectivity, a first for an Apple phone.

While 5G connectivity is far from widespread or ubiquitous, it could make the iPhone 12 somewhat future-proof. Apple has previously advocated that its iPhones have a long lifespan, thus reducing the impact of smartphones on the environment.

However, adding 5G connectivity appears to be a costly endeavor, as there are not many budget smartphones with 5G modems at this time. Also, since 5G is still being rolled out, one might not want to pay a premium for a device with connectivity to something that is not yet accessible.

In other words, if Ives' prediction is correct, a 4G iPhone 12 variant might be a good way to offer Apple fans a new iPhone without expecting them to pay for 5G if they can't use 5G.

Apple used to offer one iPhone at a time, but as larger screen smartphones came out, they started offering two models. iPhone 11 offers three models: the vanilla iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max.

And with four models expected for the iPhone 12, there is an argument that Apple's smartphone lineup is getting much larger. This means that adding another non-5G phone model could make Apple's iPhone lineup and manufacturing process more complex with respect to marketing and tooling the factory to produce another iPhone 12 variant.

However, a less expensive iPhone 12 could also replace the iPhone XR, which is a less expensive but still fully specced iPhone X. Of course, since the iPhone 11 is priced as an attractive alternative to the high-end iPhone 11 Pro, one could argue that the iPhone 11 makes that device a little extra.

This leads us to believe that the 4G iPhone 12 could be the iPhone 12 SE. Apple's iPhone SE 2020 has already been a wave of success, receiving critical acclaim and praise from critics, including praise from us for bringing the iOS and iPhone experience to a device that is affordable but more than a budget class performer.

However, there is no escaping the fact that the iPhone SE is based on a design that is rather outdated in the face of bezel-less phones. Apple could therefore use the success of the iPhone SE as a blueprint for a truncated iPhone 12.

We expect the iPhone 12 to feature a dual rear camera setup and a powerful A14 Bionic chip. Meanwhile, the iPhone 12 Pro model is expected to feature a triple camera array and a 120 Hz refresh rate Pro Motion display.

Therefore, the iPhone 12 SE will probably feature a single rear camera and a nearly bezel-less 5.4-inch display, but it will not have a particularly high resolution and may have an LCD screen instead of an OLED screen. This would help keep production costs down for the iPhone 12 SE.

However, this is all just our speculation based on the few rumors surrounding a fifth 4G iPhone 12 model. There is still a good chance that Apple will simply release the four iPhone 12 models that we have seen more comprehensive leaked information about.

We will have to wait a few months to see if these rumors and predictions come to fruition, as Apple usually releases its new flagship iPhone series around September.