The sole purpose of the iPhone SE is to get rid of the remaining parts of old models, in Tim Cook's highly efficient way of managing the company. It is not supposed to be a permanent device on iPhone's line-up. And if there is a risk of it cannibalizing the already not so great sales fo the more premium mini model, then Apple will certainly axe it.
Not true. The SE is to meet a 'price point', and to 'control the market'. Every high end company, save a few, come out with 'door buster' deals and models to allow people that can't/won't spend that kind of money, can still flaunt the brand. It only makes sense. Especially in the competitive arena like cell phones. If Apple only solf top of the line/top of the price range phhones, they would be ceding the largest part of the market to their competitors. They aren't exactly geniuses, Apple management, but they also aren't stupid. Forcing people to pony up the big bucks for a 13 would likely stall sales, and they would be bleeding pockets to the droid, and other vendors. I look at it like the idea of first class on an airplane. It's not exact, but the theory at least goes that the people's butts in the front of the plane subsidize the butts int he seats at the back of the plane. They also subsidize the services that the airline provides, and their in-flight employees. So those buying the top-of-the-line iPhone help subsidize the lower models, and if they stopped selling the lower end models, the price would have to go up on the higher end ones to.
It's just Timmy working smart 😂
Why leave money on the table?
Very true. Leaving parts of the market clamoring for iPhones is stupid. They will buy what they can get.