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8 Page in and no one has even pointed out the what I thought was obvious.

How is a low cost devices with 2019 hardware sitting in the line up priced below the iPhone 8 with 2017 hardware?

Hopefully at least this mean Apple understand there is an important market in $399 to $499.

I think this "low cost" ( By Apple Standard ) iPhone will be a new design, with On Screen Touch ID ( After Patent settlement from Qualcomm ), and skimming cost on Camera and 4G Modem Speed ( Apple's own Modem on trial ). It could be a 4.7" iPhone in a iPhone SE Size. As a 4.7", 19.5:9 Ratio Display would have the same width as 16:9 4" Display.


View attachment 856056

So depending on how you view it, it is a $499 entry level iPhone, or a much more expensive iPhone SE size with new design.

And just in case you are wondering, this leaves Apple the option to introduce a bigger SE in 2021. ( They could then discontinue the iPhone 8 ) And incidentally a 5.5" 19.5" Ratio Display also have the same width as a 4.7" 16:9 Display.

View attachment 856057


Edit: One of the good thing about this rumours is if it were true, the chances of Apple Dropping iPhone 7 this year is high and having iPhone 8 Starting in $499, and 8 Plus $599.

And in case the question arise of why Apple don't put FaceID in these model

1. FaceID is expensive.
2. FaceID component isn't going to shrink in half, there is no way to fit FaceID in those Width.


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I wish that is true, but it is not. It is certainly not peanuts by any standards, Fabbing in Leading edge node is expensive. But the Camera cost is definitely increasing faster than any other component.

Well it’s cheap enough to put in a new SE.
At the time they fitted the latest available CPU in the last SE at launch.
But they could fit an A12 and any new SE would fly along!
Kinda keen to see what happens here with a new SE.
 
If this comes to fruition next year, I may get one. I use my iPad mini 5 for most everything now. Having a big iPhone is no longer part of my modus operandi, and a smaller phone might be work very well. A little too early to get excited much less commit to anything.
 
Speaking of plastic phones: the iPhone 5c - "unapologetically plastic," in the words of Jony Ive - is a stunning piece of design, and still a perfectly functional item. It's the only iPhone with a completely flush camera - nothing protruding, nothing recessed. Watch Ive's beautiful video at the 5c introduction.

The 5c just wasn't what people expected from an iPhone. It's an expensive luxury item, status symbol etc... or atleast it was back in 2012 / 2013 with the iPhone 5 and 5s. NO Android really could compete with that one. Both 5 and 5s were super popular.

For a plastic phone the 5c was perfect, yes. Build Quality was amazing. Main issue was that it was priced to high - it was only 100$ less than a 5s. Last year's model (it was nothing else but an iPhone 5 in a plastic shell) being only 100$ cheaper than the fancy new 5s that brought "forward thinking" technology (as Apple marketed it). And i agree. Gold color turned out to be super popular, Touch ID, 64-bit much faster A7 chip, Camera improvements, True Tone flash etc. Now i miss my first iPhone, i had the gold 5s and i loved it so much. Fantastic phone and i can't believe it still runs iOS 12.

But why do i even bring this up? Everybody knows that. I'm sure it was discussed a lot when it released.
 
Looking at stats for the iOS version of the app at work (USA only, 32k devices) less than 1% of our users on on 5/SE sized phones. I think they folks who have them love them but my numbers show very little usage.
It depends on the type of app of course, but regardless I'm not surprised. They're becoming rare in the wild now, even though the SE even runs iOS 13.

BTW, I have two 4" iPhones actually, but they're just to be used by the kids as iPods and cameras. One is an iPhone 5 I recaptured from a friend before it went to the recycler, and one is an SE my mother-in-law had no use for after we gave her our hand-me-down 6s.
 
The iPhone 8 is already a great phone. The processor is fast enough for its screen size.

I guess though if Apple wants to break into India, having it as an Indian made only phone makes sense. As does updating the internals.

It’s a shame that Apple isn’t going to make an ‘XR-SE’ though.
 
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Never said that. I am fine with a basic one lens camera, standard SE screen, no Face-ID. Just a larger screen in a smaller body with a newer chip and I’m good.
Apple isn’t going to spend loads on R and D to design an entirely new device for a small segment of people. Not something Apple would ever do.

It’ll end up being an iPhone 8 like device most likely.
 
The one issue with your point is that even a 5.5 16:9 screen is longer - too large to use single-handedly, and that's a large part of the appeal of the SE.

I don't think SE was ever about Single Hand usage, it is more of an Entry or Cost saving model, or Affordable as Apple would likes to call it. And by releasing in March, Apple would have two cycles in a year, September cycles for Flagship and Mainstream. Affordable 6 months later.

But then I think most of this is my wishful thinking.
 
I don't think SE was ever about Single Hand usage, it is more of an Entry or Cost saving model, or Affordable as Apple would likes to call it. And by releasing in March, Apple would have two cycles in a year, September cycles for Flagship and Mainstream. Affordable 6 months later.

But then I think most of this is my wishful thinking.

That is how Apple defines the SE. But not for the customers and SE lovers, they simply value the SE not only because it is fairly cheap but also because that phone is so compact and you can use it one-handed.
 
I have small hands, but I too believe it's unlikely there will be another 4" iPhone. The writing is on the wall. It's not popular and developers are moving away from that target. It's yesterday's technology and is being left behind.

Think of the 4" screen as equivalent to 1024x768 monitors for desktops. Nobody wants those anymore, even though they were extremely popular at one time.
Except... it wasn’t „being left behind“ when Apple could have done so. To the contrary, their other 4" iOS device just got refreshed three months ago, (iPod touch on 28 may 2019)

I‘m not saying the touch is a big seller. And surely they didn’t spend much development cost on it. It might not even get much dedicated developer support.

But why didn’t Apple just silently cancel it, if they were really serious about „leaving behind“ these small screens? If anything, that might indicate Apple want to keep the display size around, even without currently having a phone in their lineup?
 
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So why did Apple refresh their other 4“ iOS device (the iPod touch) just three months ago, on 28 may 2019?

Cause it‘s left behind and nobody’s developing for it anymore?

Simple. Because they had to. It's because of iOS 13. Apple doesn't care about the iPod touch anymore. Neither do they focus on it. But Apple doesn't want to fully discontinue it yet. It somehow still sells. I mean, it's a great music player for the car or for the gym or for the kids. Also it's the cheapest iOS device you can get and some iOS developers use it to test their apps (if they otherwise use an Android phone).

The previous 6th gen iPod had the Apple A8 and 1 GB of RAM (It released in mid-2015 and that wasn't too bad for it's time). That hardware can't just support iOS 13 (primarily it's because of the RAM, the iPad mini 4 also gets iPadOS and that one also has the A8 chip but 2 GB of RAM)

So Apple just went ahead and upgraded the logicboard. They replaced the old A8 with the A10 chip but underclocked it (giving it the performance of the A9 chip), i guess because of the bad battery life. Battery life absolutely sucks with the iPod. They also added another GB of RAM and a 256 GB storage option.

Same look. Same colors. Same display. Same old iPhone 5-like homebutton. Same camera. It's the same thing as the 6th gen. Except for the refreshed chipset. So it can support iOS 13 and Apple can keep it in their line-up. You can't call that refresh a development.

Apple spends more time developing accessories like the HomePod or AirPods. The last real development of the iPod touch was with the 5th gen. For the 6th gen they done a little bit more work and atleast gave it fresh new colors and a slightly improved camera with 8 MP and Slo-Mo Video. I think that was it. Apart from the CPU refresh of course.

The iPod days are over. Every other iPod (shuffle, nano, classic etc) already got discontinued. And so is the 4" SE. I mean, it's still my favorite iPhone look. iPhone 5 / 5s / SE style. They were amazing for the time. But those days are over. These things are so tiny. And while it fits in your pocket and it's very compact, and very small phone also means a tiny screen. And that's the problem.

I loved my 5s when i had one. Now i have the 8 Plus. And to my surprise my local Apple Store had plenty of new iPod touches 7th gen for display when i walked it a couple months ago. I held one in my hands and i couldn't believe how tiny and light-weight they were. It felt like i was holding a toy. Like a chinese fake or a demonstration product Apple would give away for free to companies. It's crazy.
 
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Phone reviews are greatly skewed towards big male hands playing games. That's what iPads for. I need a small-size phone to keep contacts, chat, nfc pay, weather, music, maps, photos. Operated with one hand most of the time. Nothing calls for tablet in my pants.

I bought an iPhone 7+ only because of the dual lens camera. The size is probably bigger than I want but it works. I would likely be happier with a small pocket size phone (with a good camera) and an iPad.
 
iPhone X style with no Face ID, but under screen fingerprint reader.
That would be physically about the size of the SE, with approximately a 4.7” screen. I think it would have to have somewhat of a top bezel, though. I think what you’re talking about would satisfy many of those who want an SE2, there are a few diehards though lol.
 
With iPad Pro taking a similar design to the SE, I’m sure the next iPads will as well. I would love if the phones took that same design. That’s what I like about my S10e, very similar styling although the edges aren’t completely flat and the chamfer is much softer.

I still have my SE and I keep it in an otter box case and use it for light duty in a shipping warehouse. I use it daily actually. New screen, new speaker, and new headphone jack is what had to be done with it since I bought it. Still looks brand new since it’s been in a case it’s whole life.
 
I don't want low-cost. I want small size. Seriously Apple, are you that out of touch?
Apple is in complete touch. There simply aren’t enough of you.

The SE didn’t really sell all that well and most were sold due to it being the lowest priced iPhone, imo. If Apple made an SE-sized XS, it would be $899 and I can’t imagine how few they’d sell at that price :eek:
 
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I would like it to have the latest parts eg A13 cpu, 4gb ram, BT5, etc.
It save cost just make it have a plastic case, make it thicker, LCD, no face ID, button with touchID, headphone jack if possible, a single lens camera but of course improved from the 6S/SE.
 
What I would want: No notch/Face ID, smaller, better screen resolution, and cheaper than XR.

Probably not, but it sure would be nice.

Otherwise, I'll wait for an Android that fits my needs.
I think you’ll get almost all that. Probably not the higher dpi though unless the cost increase from a 326—>401 dpi panel is close to zero. It’s all about BOM cost with this model.
 
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Man, I had an SE for a few years then went to the XR. I travel quite a lot so it's nice not having to reach for a charger very often. But man, it's a btch to carry around. Tempted to go back to an SE and see what it in store next year.
 
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That’s an iPhone 6/7/8. Not an SE.

How difficult is it to simply make an SE with an edge-to-edge screen?

Apple’s entire phone lineup needs to be updated and all bezel-free.
That might make it appealing enough to really hurt sales of the flagship iPhones.
 
Admittedly, I have never tried the SE. But I did have an iPhone 6. And it was a great phone for me to use most of the time. I only have the 8+ because I wanted a bigger screen to type on.

But for 99% of the times i used it, the iPhone 6 was the near perfect size. Could easily use it one handed if need be. And very pocketable. At the same time though, I don't think I would want to go any smaller than that.

But again, that's from someone who has never used an iPhone SE sized phone.

I hope Apple does make this rumored phone. I think there is enough of a market out there to make it worthwhile.

I have used the iPhone SE then upgraded to the iPhone 8. I miss my iPhone SE, it is so compact and very mobile compared to the iPhone 8. iPhone 8 and iPhone 6 do share more or less the same size.

I just enjoy typing on my iPhone 8 more, I agree with you that it is nearly the perfect size.
 
When MKBHD says "give me a bigger phone", my reply is "Yeah, you know, it's just like your opinion man". If 10% of all iPhones are SE and smaller, then 10% more will be happy to switch to a refreshed small phone.

I'm holding SE, and it's a magical size for a handheld device. If Apple does not iterate on the small phone, I will refresh its battery, Apple will get zeros.
10% isn’t enough, especially since those 10% are less likely to subscribe to services, because video and games just aren’t as compelling on a 4.0” screen.

But Apple knows not everyone wants a phablet, and next year the 5.8” is going down to 5.42. It’ll be just slightly smaller than the 8 in height and width, but a little thicker. The “11SE” will be about the same size, hopefully a little smaller for all the SE fans out there.
 
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