This week in Apple: iPhone SE 2 renders leaked, Apple's growing China sales

This week in Apple news we got a peek into the future of Android’s number one competitor. Most notably, we caught a possible glimpse of the upcoming iPhone SE 2 in a few leaked renders. Unfortunately, these renders revealed an outdated design and no headphone jack.

Apple also saw Americans activate more iPhones this holiday season than any other smartphone, and customers spent more in the App Store than ever before. Pair that with Apple’s recent sales increase in China, and it looks like the company’s success won’t be slowing down anytime soon.

See the Apple news roundup below for all the latest.

The top Apple news stories of the past week:

• Leaked iPhone SE 2 renders reveal an outdated design, still no headphone jack: We got our first look at the potential upcoming iPhone SE 2. The budget device looks a little outdated, resembling the likes of Apple’s 2017 devices.
• Americans activated more iPhones this holiday season than any other smartphone: Apple supposedly dominated American holiday smartphone sales this year, making nine of the 10 most activated devices this season.
• Apple users spent more money in the App Store than ever this Christmas: Between December 24 and 31, the App Store pulled in $1.42 billion in revenue. This is a 16% increase over 2018 and sets a new record for the App Store.
• Apple gains a deeper foothold in the Chinese market: Apple claimed 11% market share in China in December after strong annual growth of just under 19%. Meanwhile, Android’s market share declined from about 91% to 89%.
• Apple’s Golden Globes sorrows: Apple TV Plus’ star series The Morning Show walked away from the Golden Globes empty-handed after it earned three nominations.
• You can now engrave custom emoji on new AirPods Pro cases: When customers purchase a new pair of AirPods Pro, they can opt to add a custom phrase, name, or emoji engraving on the exterior of the case at no extra charge.
• Analyst says Apple could launch 5G phones this year: Apple might be planning to launch four sub-6 GHz 5G devices this year, while mmWave models will most likely come out in 2021.
• FBI asks Apple for access to phones belonging to suspected shooters: The FBI is asking Apple to unlock iPhones taken from two suspected shooters. This is the second time the FBI has made such a request, though we don’t suspect Apple will comply to the extent the agency desires.
• The iPhone’s 13 anniversary: On January 9, 2007, then Apple CEO Steve Jobs showed off the iPhone for the first time at the MacWorld Conference & Expo. Even if you’re not a fan of Apple or the iPhone, that was still an incredibly important event for the mobile industry.

Thinking about making the switch?

If you are reading this Apple news article on an iOS device and thinking about making the switch to Android, we have multiple articles and guides that can help you with that process. Despite how it might seem, moving from iOS to Android is easier than ever, and many of the services and systems on iOS have similar or even the same counterparts on Android.

The best place to start would be our guide on how to switch from iPhone to Android, which goes over all the basics. We also have more specific guides, such as how to transfer your calendar from iPhone to Android. We also have app guides that will give you the best alternatives to iOS staples, such as our list of best alternatives to FaceTime on Android.

If you’re looking for a great Android device to replace your iPhone, consult our list of the best Android smartphones available now.