Apple Reportedly Cutting iPhone SE Production Just Weeks After Launch Due to 'Weaker-Than-Expected' Demand

[rembert]

Everyone in my office upgraded to the SE-2020. Some downgraded to it from larger iPhones. Without exception, everyone is happy with it as it can do the required job. No real need for more functionality, better camera, better networking whatsoever. So no one even considers upgrading to the SE-2022.

The SE-2022 is indeed more powerful but to what extend would it help getting our job done? It will be marginally faster. Oh joy. The looks? I don't care that much although I favor a more industrial design (like iPhone 4, 5 and 12 mini). The SE isn't a fashion phone and shouldn't be, it's a tool we use to get our job done. That said, I'd probably buy the next SE when it inherits the iPhone-12 mini design. Until then, the SE-2020 will have to do.

 

[Calle68]

The A15 is used by a 1% of the SE buyers. A12 is more than enough for a 2016 phone like the SE and 150$ would be a fair enough price for such a unit.

 

[ian87w]

Instead of a separate iPhone SE model, Apple should just release a $399 5G iPhone 12 when the iPhone 14 is released. If they can’t release a two year old model for $399 and there’s a problem going on inside Apple.
Something that is two years old design as the base model will work for most and nothing needs to be retooled. When iPhone 15 is released we’ll get an iPhone 13 for $399 and so on.
A lot of us are doing this now using swappa eBay and the such and getting a slightly older model for much less to fit our budget.

Due to the launch price increase, the iPhone 12 would only be at $599 when iPhone 14 is released. That's still far from $399.

 

[Spacedust]

It's the 5G, if they wouldn't block 3G I would get one right away to replace my aging SE 2020. Instead I'm gonna get iPhone 11 Pro the get much better camera.

 

[ian87w]

The A15 is used by a 1% of the SE buyers. A12 is more than enough for a 2016 phone like the SE and 150$ would be a fair enough price for such a unit.

I'm sure Apple using A15 was just to get 5G on the lowest iPhone, so they can have a whole 5G lineup by the end of this year, not because of the performance. It's cheaper to use existing components instead of trying to refit older chips with the latest 5G modem (and the A14+older 5G modem is not as efficient, which would ruin the SE's battery).

 

[erikkfi]

Damnit just keep the iPhone mini as the SE. Two cameras, run it behind by 1-2 gens in terms of CPU, memory and connectivity.

 

[allenvanhellen]

I want a smaller phone but I don’t want it to be super-not-premium. My iPhone 4 is glass and steel. My iPhone X is nice but it’s too big to be used comfortably with one hand and looks silly in certain coats, jackets, and pants.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Damnit just keep the iPhone mini as the SE. Two cameras, run it behind by 1-2 gens in terms of CPU, memory and connectivity.

And that could very well happen. I forgot where I read it but it appears the Mini will be dropped this year so that might be a good time for Apple to drop the SE and replace it with the Mini and increase the price to $499 for 64GB.

 

[Havoc035]

Apple will of course want to differentiate between the SE design and the other iPhones. So I think we'll see a notched SE design (like the current min's) next year when the other iPhones will go either pill shaped cutout or behind display FaceID.

 

[Macative]

I get the whole "I just need a smaller iPhone" crowd, but I think it's foolish on Apple to count on that small audience without at least having a design refresh. Totally expected

That's not who the phone exists for. This phone exists to be the cheapest iPhone, and Apple just raised the price of it for no reason to a very unattractive price point.

 

[Macative]

LOL @ every single comment in this thread thinking the iPhone SE design has anything to do with its lower than expected demand.

The iPhone SE was $399. The most affordable iPhone, with a very attractive price point. It is now $429, which is a hideous price point from a marketing perspective, and makes the value proposition seem much, much lower than it really is.

Apple gets what they deserve for raising prices on a product that exists solely to serve a low end market segment.

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

This is the first SE to launch since the 12 mini and 13 mini. I bet those phones served some of the same target customers as the SE.

 

[Shanpdx]

LOL @ every single comment in this thread thinking the iPhone SE design has anything to do with its lower than expected demand.

The iPhone SE was $399. The most affordable iPhone, with a very attractive price point. It is now $429, which is a hideous price point from a marketing perspective, and makes the value proposition seem much, much lower than it really is.

Apple gets what they deserve for raising prices on a product that exists solely to serve a low end market segment.

yup, A13 based iPhone SE 2020 looks very good now with even more discounts ... that might be lowest end of all, and have iOS updates for next 3 to 4 years...

 

[IIGS User]

Hey! Buy this close to a decade old design.

Well, I mean it's working for Chrysler. They're still selling a bunch of Charger/Challengers....

 

[CrazyForCashews]

Unfortunately what many people don't realize is that the SE is all they need.

 

[KOTN91]

Surprise surprise not many people want an iPhone 8 design in 2022.

iPhone 6 design essentially. The iPhone 8 was very dated even when it was new in 2017

 

[mkoesel]

Due to the launch price increase, the iPhone 12 would only be at $599 when iPhone 14 is released. That's still far from $399.

True indeed. However, the iPhone 12 mini will be $499 in September assuming they keep it in the lineup in the typical fashion. Just $70 more than an SE 2022 for a device that is better in nearly every way except for having a one-generation-older processor. It is almost enough to make one wonder if the 12 Mini might be dropped, leaving:

SE $429
12 $549
13 Mini $599
13 $699

(or something like that)

The other wildcard is the rumored 'SE 2023', rumors about which are still all over the place (including whether it will actually even launch in 2023). There were some reports that the SE 2022 was originally slated to be a Xr/11-based device, and that may be what get for the next SE instead (whether that's as early as next year, or perhaps not until 2024). However, at this point a 12/13-Mini based device starts to seem plausible again, as well. Rather than letting the Mini form factor age out of the lineup completely in a couple years, keeping it around indefinitely in the form of an SE and upgrading it every couple years might actually allow it to capture the biggest possible audience with minimal investment. Unlike the iPhone 6, 7, 8 form factor of today's SE, all you really need to do is add under-screen TouchID at some point (and perhaps even remove FaceID completely) to keep the design fresh for potentially many years to come.

 

[johnhackworth]

I bought my daughter the previous gen SE last year. It felt just about to buy a large-bezel TouchID phone in 2021.

This year I need to buy my son a phone. It's very disappointing that the SE still doesn't have the form factor of a modern iPhone - which itself was introduced in 2017. Not sure what phone I'll buy him.

Tired form factor = poor sales.

 

[dandeco]

Well that's too bad. When I needed to replace my failing Samsung Galaxy Note 4 phone in summer 2020, I opted for an iPhone SE (2nd generation), not just because of the lower price (back when it was $400) but because I, too, liked the older iPhone form factor better, having often used an iPod Touch for digital media playback when on the go (i.e. my iTunes playlists.) And nearly two years later, my iPhone SE is still going strong.

 

[Pilot Jones]

I've never actually wanted an Apple product to fail before, but this one's an exception.

Imagine thinking so little of your customer that you're still trying to swindle them with a 5 year old chassis that doesn't even have the battery life to handle anything it's high-end processor can do. Beyond condescending.

And yes, I get older/non-tech savvy people buying it for the home button. Guess what? They already bought the iPhone SE 2 and are the same demographic that doesn't care for a pitifully minor update like this to change their 1-2 year old phone ?

 

[Coolestdude]

I've ordered about 60 of these so far to replace Iphone 7's and 8's. Mostly 7's. Batteries are getting to the low 80's on health. Time to move all of them along instead of replacing the 1 at a time. On a 1 year contract they cost less than the otterboxes they are going in. No brainer.

 

[DesertNomad]

I still use my iPhone 7 and might upgrade it to the SE for better battery life. I use my phone to make phone calls and that's about it.

 

[krspkbl]

next SE should be based on the 13 or 14. not an old design with huge bezels and a home button

I still use my iPhone 7 and might upgrade it to the SE for better battery life. I use my phone to make phone calls and that's about it.

if you only use a phone to make calls then buy a cheap nokia or something. they have much better battery life than an iphone. why do you need an apple phone if you only make calls?

 

[ZipZilla]

I (and others) called it.

Smaller form factor - good
Touch ID - good
screen way too small - reason for sales failure

They should eliminate the bezels or make the phone bigger. 4.7" is way too small in 2022. At least 5.5".

 

[j_in_tx]

What did they expect? Someone who buys a $429 phone to his $60/month 5G Plan?

No one. Only people who have cheaper prepaid plans like visible. Or people that have to use touch or a small phone. Myself, I hope the 12/13 mini comes back eventually.