Other Apple just announced a new iOS device with Touch ID...

[Adelphos33]

New iPad 9.7" with Apple Pencil Support

Suggesting Touch ID will be a thing for Apple for another 3-4 years at least.

After iPhone X, I know plenty of people were betting on no new hardware with Touch ID ever again... I wouldn't be surprised if an iPhone SE in some format (maybe even the current 6/7/8 body) with Touch ID were released

 

[BugeyeSTI]

It surprises you that the entry level cheapest products would have touchid? No one ever said faceid would be included on the cheapest hardware. That’s how they keep cost down. It won’t have a laminated screen, stereo speakers, truetone and all the other features that are included on premium devices. These “new” devices are only new in name, the hardware is generations old.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

After iPhone X, I know plenty of people were betting on no new hardware with Touch ID ever again... I wouldn't be surprised if an iPhone SE in some format (maybe even the current 6/7/8 body) with Touch ID were released

Wasn’t the unique selling of the SE it’s smaller form factor? What would be the point of releasing another standard size iPhone alongside the 7 and 8? They’d also lose the people who bought it because of its size.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Glad to see it - I personally really like TouchID.

 

[fromgophonetoiphone]

I don't know why people expected TouchID to die. It's most likely going away on newer premium products, but for products where Apple doesn't want to re-engineer with a notch or a new array of front facing modules, TouchID is the cheapest way to continue.

At the very core it's just a way to authenticate the user. I would expect TouchID to continue on existing devices and maybe even refreshes whereas FaceID becomes the new norm for new designs.

Anyhow as another poster said I don't see how this is surprising at all given this iPad's design is ages old.

 

[puma1552]

Considering it takes Apple about ten years to truly replace a product, TouchID isn't going anywhere on these cheap old devices.

EDIT: I didn't watch the Keynote because quite frankly, who cares, but I would not be one bit surprised if it was Gen. 1 TouchId either...

 

[joeblow7777]

In other news, water is wet.
Not many people were expecting a FaceID iPad to be unveiled today. No one ever said that Apple would never release another TouchID device.
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Considering it takes Apple about ten years to truly replace a product, TouchID isn't going anywhere on these cheap old devices.

EDIT: I didn't watch the Keynote because quite frankly, who cares, but I would not be one bit surprised if it was Gen. 1 TouchId either...

Yes, it's 1st gen, as per the Apple website.

 

[44267547]

Why would Apple include Face ID On an entry-level budget iPad priced at $329? Face ID would only raise the cost, using touch ID that’s older technology is cheaper products and cost prohibitive. The Only devices that would include touch ID would be the low-cost iPad and perhaps an updated SE If one ever does release.

 

[fromgophonetoiphone]

Yes, it's 1st gen, as per the Apple website.

Which devices was Gen 1 Touch ID? iPhone 5s, 6? Gen 2 = iPhone 6s and later?

 

[puma1552]

Which devices was Gen 1 Touch ID? iPhone 5s, 6? Gen 2 = iPhone 6s and later?

yes, 6s released in 2015 and newer is gen 2, so three year old tech was too new for this apparently...

 

[Raist3001]

A cheaper price, but years old technology

 

[joeblow7777]

Which devices was Gen 1 Touch ID? iPhone 5s, 6? Gen 2 = iPhone 6s and later?

Yes. As far as iPads go, the Air 2, ipad 5th gen, and Minis 3 and 4 have 1st gen.

 

[newellj]

New iPad 9.7" with Apple Pencil Support

Suggesting Touch ID will be a thing for Apple for another 3-4 years at least.

After iPhone X, I know plenty of people were betting on no new hardware with Touch ID ever again... I wouldn't be surprised if an iPhone SE in some format (maybe even the current 6/7/8 body) with Touch ID were released

I think that's a wholly unwarranted leap. The iPad line is completely different than the iPhone line. And FaceID faces a big issue with iPads, which are used mostly in landscape format: it is currently directionally limited. Apple could set up FaceID on an iPad for portrait, or for landscape, but currently not for both, and that would drive iPad users *crazy.*
[doublepost=1522190978][/doublepost]

A cheaper price, but years old technology

Including a frankly substandard display, overall, compared to other iPads.
[doublepost=1522191070][/doublepost]

Anyhow as another poster said I don't see how this is surprising at all given this iPad's design is ages old.

You could debate this, but basically an Air with a new SOC.

 

[rui no onna]

You could debate this, but basically an Air with a new SOC.

For the general populace, that coupled with the $329 price point (less when retailers start discounting) is a good enough option compared to premium $650+ iPad Pro models (at least if one doesn't wanna go the used/refurb route).

 

[newellj]

For the general populace, that coupled with the $329 price point (less when retailers start discounting) is a good enough option compared to premium $650+ iPad Pro models (at least if one doesn't wanna go the used/refurb route).

I agree, and I think it's good strategy for Apple. I sort of miss the product line that the Air 2 represented, with its bonded, AR-coated display and what looked like a new generation of high performance SOCs. In retrospect, I think the Air 2 turned out to be a false start that Apple came back to at a different price point and for a different market with the Pro line.

 

[ftaok]

Wasn’t the unique selling of the SE it’s smaller form factor? What would be the point of releasing another standard size iPhone alongside the 7 and 8? They’d also lose the people who bought it because of its size.

I don't think the size was the unique feature of the SE. It was Apple using older, but still decent parts for an entry level price. The next SE, of suck a thing is released, will feature parts that allows Apple to maintain margins at a $350 price. I would venture a guess that a 4.7" screen could make it's way into the SE.

I would also expect to see the 7 go away completely. The 8 has the glass back to differentiate it from the SE.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I don't think the size was the unique feature of the SE. It was Apple using older, but still decent parts for an entry level price. The next SE, of suck a thing is released, will feature parts that allows Apple to maintain margins at a $350 price. I would venture a guess that a 4.7" screen could make it's way into the SE.

I would also expect to see the 7 go away completely. The 8 has the glass back to differentiate it from the SE.

Every single person I know who bought an SE did so because it was small. I’m sure there is an element who did so because it was slightly cheaper than a 6S but I remember the form being the major pull. Perhaps it was developing countries where price was more of a concern but I doubt its popularity in the West was purely price. There was already cheaper iPhones when the SE was launched, most notably the iPhone 6 that was two years old and still available.

 

[The Game 161]

when people say touch ID is dead obviously thats for the flagship products only

 

[44267547]

I don't think the size was the unique feature of the SE.

I would say this is patently untrue. The iPhone SE main attraction is two things, size and portability. Anyone considerably that is interested in the iPhone SE wants a smaller form factor and is not interested in having the latest technology in a 5.5/5.8 iPhone form factor.

 

[newellj]

If there ever is an SE2 (SE X?), it will be interesting to see whether it has FaceID or not - that would tell us a lot about how Apple views the future and uses of FaceID. Apple feels that FaceID is more secure. It's possible that Apple believes that people need greater security for their phones because of they way they're used (banking/financial apps, health data, etc.) relative to iPads. That's a WAG.

I would say this is patently untrue. The iPhone SE main attraction is two things, size and portability. Anyone considerably that is interested in the iPhone SE wants a smaller form factor and is not interested in having the latest technology in a 5.5/5.8 iPhone form factor.

Do we (the public) know anything about the sales distribution and volume of the SE? How are sales in, for example, the US vs. India (to pick a market that's often mentioned with the SE)? I'm wondering if cost really is a bigger issue than we give it credit for.

 

[ftaok]

Every single person I know who bought an SE did so because it was small. I’m sure there is an element who did so because it was slightly cheaper than a 6S but I remember the form being the major pull. Perhaps it was developing countries where price was more of a concern but I doubt its popularity in the West was purely price. There was already cheaper iPhones when the SE was launched, most notably the iPhone 6 that was two years old and still available.

I was responding to your post from Apple's perspective. I was merely indicating that Apple was much more concerned with getting the margins at the right level for an entry level phone. They wanted something they could sell for $350-400 with more up-to-date parts AND keep margins good. The 4" screen was just a result of that, not necessarily something Apple decided on to give users what they want. Plus, at the time, the SE body style gave a nice, distinct differentiation with the other phones in the lineup.

I don't disagree that many buyers opted for the SE due to the size. I know a few folks that bought it mainly because they love that form factor. But the way I read your post "unique selling feature" was from the Apple perspective.

BTW, this is my opinion of what Apple was going for with the SE. Obviously, I have no connections with Apple or any of their decision makers.

I would say this is patently untrue. The iPhone SE main attraction is two things, size and portability. Anyone considerably that is interested in the iPhone SE wants a smaller form factor and is not interested in having the latest technology in a 5.5/5.8 iPhone form factor.

How can an opinion be "patently untrue"? And size and portability are basically the same thing, so that's only one attraction.

Lastly, no one is saying that an "SE" in a 5.5/5.8 size is a good idea. The premise the OP laid out was the SE2 could be put in the 4.7" aluminum body. Put in a mix of iPhone7 and iPhone8 component into the 6/6s/7 body and sell it for $400. That's the thought process.

 

[boltjames]

New iPad 9.7" with Apple Pencil Support

Suggesting Touch ID will be a thing for Apple for another 3-4 years at least.

After iPhone X, I know plenty of people were betting on no new hardware with Touch ID ever again... I wouldn't be surprised if an iPhone SE in some format (maybe even the current 6/7/8 body) with Touch ID were released

It's a dirt cheap iPad for elementary school students.

Their faces change dramatically from K to Grade 12.

That, and Face ID is a unique feature to the products of the highest-level of this luxury brand.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I was responding to your post from Apple's perspective. I was merely indicating that Apple was much more concerned with getting the margins at the right level for an entry level phone. They wanted something they could sell for $350-400 with more up-to-date parts AND keep margins good. The 4" screen was just a result of that, not necessarily something Apple decided on to give users what they want. Plus, at the time, the SE body style gave a nice, distinct differentiation with the other phones in the lineup.

I don't disagree that many buyers opted for the SE due to the size. I know a few folks that bought it mainly because they love that form factor. But the way I read your post "unique selling feature" was from the Apple perspective.

BTW, this is my opinion of what Apple was going for with the SE. Obviously, I have no connections with Apple or any of their decision makers.

How can an opinion be "patently untrue"? And size and portability are basically the same thing, so that's only one attraction.

Lastly, no one is saying that an "SE" in a 5.5/5.8 size is a good idea. The premise the OP laid out was the SE2 could be put in the 4.7" aluminum body. Put in a mix of iPhone7 and iPhone8 component into the 6/6s/7 body and sell it for $400. That's the thought process.

Have Apple explained publicly the main aim being it’s profitability then?

All their marketing is emphasising the fact it’s a small phone with the power of an iPhone 6S.

Around the time it was released there was a lot of media stories and discussion asking for a smaller iPhone so I do actually think they recognised this market existed and used an older design to capitalise. A small phone was the very essence of its incarnation.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

For the general populace, that coupled with the $329 price point (less when retailers start discounting) is a good enough option compared to premium $650+ iPad Pro models (at least if one doesn't wanna go the used/refurb route).

I for one am pleased they produce an entry level iPad and don’t care either way how it unlocks. I tend to upgrade every 4 years and touchID is perfectly sufficient for my uses as the most taxing thing my iPad does is YouTube, Netflix and Facebook lol. No iPad exists for what I need to do in terms of work sadly, but I try to do less and less out of work hours in any case.

 

[chasonstone]

I think it's fairly obvious that Touch ID will be used where it has been used until Face ID makes economical sense. They're not going to put Face ID on their budget/for education/bottom of the lineup iPad, until at minimum it makes it's appearance on the Pro lineup. I don't think many people are surprised by Touch ID's inclusion on this iPad or will be surprised if they release an updated SE with Touch ID. Both of these devices are considered the budget/bottom of the lineup products.