The iPhone SE 2, also known as the iPhone 9, is intended to fill the gap for budget devices in Apple's iPhone lineup. And according to new rumors, it will be released this March.

There is no need to wait until September, as in previous years, for the release of the next iPhone, and Apple has long been rumored to bring out a new version of this smartphone early this year. In a new development, however, MyDrivers (via TechRadar) claims that Apple has begun the prototype period and will launch next month.

MyDrivers also claims that the phone will be called the iPhone SE 2 and not the iPhone 9. The SE 2 name was given weight by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who used it back in the original, lower-priced iPhone SE. The name fits nicely into the gap left by Apple's transition from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone X, which did not exist for very long, but makes sense since it is based on the iPhone 8 casing with upgraded internals.

Kuo is also the source of many of the specs we have already heard about the phone, including the A13 CPU, LCD display, and standard and Plus variants.

The report continues to say that this budget iPhone will be targeted at emerging markets like India, but hopefully that doesn't mean it won't be released in the US or UK. Also, the estimated price is 3,000 yuan, which translates to $427 or £327, cheaper than the current $449 for the iPhone 8. This is great and not unexpected, given that Apple has made the iPhone 11 cheaper than the iPhone XR's successor.

If you want to read about other rumored features of the upcoming budget iPhone, the iPhone SE 2 hub, which is updated regularly, is the best place to start.