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Are we going to see a refresh on the iPhone SE next year?
- Thread starter steiney
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exactly. For that reason, I think it will stay on a 2 year cycle. It is a niche market right now, but if it continued to be updated on a yearly basis at this price point, it would almost be silly to buy anything else.
I'd like to consider it the "Stable Edition" and hope they update it once every few years as I am not considering a larger phone in the near or mid-term. While they designed this SE based on the 5/5S design, it would be interesting if they do a refresh with the latest technology when they release the OLED screen phones. If those concepts that show the screen extending to the space currently occupied by the home button and ear piece are possible, they could reduce the form factor of the phone further or increase the size of the screen. I personally prefer the 5/5S design to the 6/6S, but the fact that they created this design probably stemmed from the enduring popularity of the 5/5S once the 6 designs had come out. It was an astute move and likely one aimed at keeping the market going when releasing the 7 series.
Apple released this phone smack dab in the middle of normal iPhone cycles on purpose. I'm sure they will wait and see how many they sell over the first year before doing anything, and any changes will likely be around the same time of year (nothing this fall). They have too many product cycles in the fall to keep that up with everything.
Personally, considering it has the A9 processor and 2GB RAM, it should still be fast for 2 more iOS upgrades, I think it will remain the same for 2-3 years, however, we may see a refresh of some small kind next spring, but, if they do, it will more likely be cell radio, BT or other minor updates (change in space gray color?), I doubt we'll see the processor upgraded, unless they increase the speed of it slightly.
Personally, considering it has the A9 processor and 2GB RAM, it should still be fast for 2 more iOS upgrades, I think it will remain the same for 2-3 years, however, we may see a refresh of some small kind next spring, but, if they do, it will more likely be cell radio, BT or other minor updates (change in space gray color?), I doubt we'll see the processor upgraded, unless they increase the speed of it slightly.
Beenblacklisted, you are partially correct, the form factor is almost, but not exactly the same as the 5/5s, however, they are using electronics currently in the 6 and the 6s. It's not a "resell" type of thing, though, the parts are engineered to fit the 4" form factor (again, almost, but not exactly the same as 5/5s), which is a pretty decent accomplishment considering the form factor is smaller (overall) than the 6 & 6s.
OP: the iPhone SE will not be updated in the fall, nor will the price change. The iPhone SE, IMO, will not likely change for 2-3 years. There may be a minor refresh after it's been out a year, but, probably not in the camera dept. Take your girlfriend to a store that carries the iPhone SE and have her try the camera out for selfies, it might not be as bad as it seems just because of the pixel count.
if the new iphone doesnt get a price boost, this will make the old iphone 6s 549 and the iphone 6 449, the same ballpark price of iphone se , so something will have to change , im actually very intrigued to how this will play out.
Uh, yeah, the 6 & 6+ will be dropped from the lineup with the release of the new iPhone this fall. Prices for 6s/6s+ will drop, as you stated. I don't see apple maintaining 4 different iPhone lines, they've mainly kept only 3, there's really no reason to keep the 6 & 6+ around. I've owned both the 6 & 6s, the 6s is noticeably faster than the 6 in every way, plus more LTE channels, etc., etc., I don't see the 6 being fast with iOS 10 and later. Considering the new iPhone will only be an updated 6/6s, not a complete redesign, it just doesn't make business sense to keep the 6/6+ around. We'll see a redesign next year for the 10th anniversary of iPhone.
It makes sense to keep it around because they will be able to offer a 4.7" & 5.5" phone for $100 less. Now that customers have to pay full price for a phone, there are Android customers out there who want to switch to Apple, but don't because a 4.7" & 5.5" are too expensive. In September they will drop to $449 and $549. I also expect the SE to drop to $299 next Spring as well -- or Apple might even do it in $50 increments every 6 months.
The SE is part of the 6S lineup. It will stick around as long as the 6S is around.
6/6+ will be the bottom of the barrel after the 7 launches. The SE has ~2X the performance of the 6/6+ so it's not so crazy for it to have a higher cost for this last year that the 6/6+ is on market.
My 6+ is no slug on iOS9. I expect it will still run well with iOS 10. With it being the "free on contract" people will still want it and maybe for the larger screen sizes...
The main change I see in the 6/6+ lineup is storage sizes. We'll see less options for those phones after the 7 launches.
The SE will keep its same components and will just continue to drop in price every year. It'll be interesting, due to timing, to see if Apple lowers the price of the SE with the price drop of the 6S or if they hold off a bit for the SE.
6/6+ will be the bottom of the barrel after the 7 launches. The SE has ~2X the performance of the 6/6+ so it's not so crazy for it to have a higher cost for this last year that the 6/6+ is on market.
My 6+ is no slug on iOS9. I expect it will still run well with iOS 10. With it being the "free on contract" people will still want it and maybe for the larger screen sizes...
The main change I see in the 6/6+ lineup is storage sizes. We'll see less options for those phones after the 7 launches.
The SE will keep its same components and will just continue to drop in price every year. It'll be interesting, due to timing, to see if Apple lowers the price of the SE with the price drop of the 6S or if they hold off a bit for the SE.
Simply wishful thinking. _If_ the SE gets refreshed, the price on the v1 won't drop by more than $50-75.
I'd put my money on Apple just dropping v1 altogether if there is a v2.
People who like larger screens. Particularly all the people who flooded this site during the rumors and release insisting that Apple shouldn't release another 4" phone and that anyone who bought it was insane.
Good point.
I'm for one really glad we have options.
Can't let go of my 6s plus but also couldn't let go of SE when I had a return policy on it still
I'm for one really glad we have options.
Can't let go of my 6s plus but also couldn't let go of SE when I had a return policy on it still
Not for a long time. I imagine the SE to have at least a 2 year refresh cycle - if not longer. With the flagship iPhone rumoured to be moving to a 3 year refresh model, it could be significantly longer. It's a really great phone and fits a demographic who won't need a new one every year.
Would be nice to see a 6/6s quality screen next go round with improved contrast on the 4" but when not side by side it's not much of an issue
They need to start shipping them first before they can refresh. That has yet to happen here in Switzerland...
All the people that don't like the size of the SE and want a bigger phone. A lot of people don't want a smaller phone and prefer the 4.7" or 5.5". Plus if the SE is 4" and if it upgrades in size then it wouldn't be the SE anymore would it? It would be the 4.7".
At the moment i think the only issue is se only comes in max at 64. Perhaps a september refresh with 128 option in addition. Will only happen if the 7 comes in 256 i think as to entice buyers for the larger more premium model.
I think (and hope, since I recently switched from the 6S Plus) this would be the case. The design is solid and widely appreciated. I would love to see it updated with new internals and advancements, even if they are coming 2 years later than flagship models (e.g. 3D touch).
Plus recent reports clearly showed that iPhone SE sales have been much better than predicted and helped Apple to contain declining in sales last Quarter.
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Well if you think about, it's the same thing that happened in the past with the iPad Mini cannibalizing the iPad, and with the iPhone 6 Plus cannibalizing the iPad Mini. They are aware on that and Cook stated often that cannibalising their own product is not perceived as bad.
On a side not, going smaller has another positive effect: users will possibly buy/use iPads more.
Maybe an annual refresh it's too much, but every 2 years could be doable, as iPhone SE sales proved there's a decent market for 4 inches phones - plus can sustain sales during low seasons.
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