Demand for iPhone SE is 'Very Strong,' Exceeds Available Supply

[Mac 128]

I have checked every store in LA and can't find me a 16gb space gray T-Mobile iPhone SE. Anywhere. I have even called a crap ton of T-Mobile Stores.

Well, that was at least 3 weeks ago when I first tried to buy my 64GB SE. So its entirely likely now that even the 16GB crowd demand has caught up with Apple's underestimated supply. When the Apple Store didn't have the 64GB in stock, the sales associate tried to get me to buy one of the many 16GB he had in stock, which after I refused he admitted nobody really wanted -- but they were flush with them at the time.

If you are paying cash upfront, there's a 16GB Space Gray ATT model in stock at almost every Apple Store in LA, which will be sold to you unlocked and allow you to put your T-Mobile Sim into it. Exact same phone.

 

[Juicy Box]

Well, that was at least 3 weeks ago when I first tried to buy my 64GB SE. So its entirely likely now that even the 16GB crowd demand has caught up with Apple's underestimated supply. When the Apple Store didn't have the 64GB in stock, the sales associate tried to get me to buy one of the many 16GB he had in stock, which after I refused he admitted nobody really wanted -- but they were flush with them at the time.

If you are paying cash upfront, there's a 16GB Space Gray ATT model in stock at almost every Apple Store in LA, which will be sold to you unlocked and allow you to put your T-Mobile Sim into it. Exact same phone.

Neither 16GB or 64GB Verizon version in any color was available in the Baltimore are as of 2 days ago. My wife wants the 16GB rose gold one to replace her cracked 5s.

 

[billy the fish]

It's really a better size phone and always worked for Apple.
No surprises here.

Define better? What for, fitting in a pocket. Every single other aspect is inferior due to a smaller screen..

 

[martint235]

Define better? What for, fitting in a pocket. Every single other aspect is inferior due to a smaller screen..

Better for holding to your ear and not looking strange in my experience as an ex-Note 3 user

 

[dontwalkhand]

Well, that was at least 3 weeks ago when I first tried to buy my 64GB SE. So its entirely likely now that even the 16GB crowd demand has caught up with Apple's underestimated supply. When the Apple Store didn't have the 64GB in stock, the sales associate tried to get me to buy one of the many 16GB he had in stock, which after I refused he admitted nobody really wanted -- but they were flush with them at the time.

If you are paying cash upfront, there's a 16GB Space Gray ATT model in stock at almost every Apple Store in LA, which will be sold to you unlocked and allow you to put your T-Mobile Sim into it. Exact same phone.

I was hoping to do the T-Mobile payment plan on it as I am on a jump agreement. So I actually would need an official T-Mobile phone

 

[Scottiep94]

after holding an SE, I remember why I thought the iPhone 5 felt like the sweet spot for me. From the 1st gen 'til now, I've held and typed with one hand and this is just too awkward with the 4.7 in. design. Plus, being a man, mine typically stays in my front pocket and the 4 in. just feels so much better.

I really think I'd like to drop down to the smaller size, but I do think I'd miss the barometer for tracking flights of stairs I climb. I've not had 3D touch, but I do find it intriguing. These two things plus the screen contrast, aren't deal-breakers individually, but when all together it does make it a very difficult decision for me. I understand it is a matter of space inside the tiny package plus a cost one. But if they could someone how find room, I think it would be worth another $50-100 to try to get it closer to the 6s. After all, the price difference in the two models is $250.

 

[dontwalkhand]

I just checked the store at the Americana in LA, and he had my hopes up saying he might have one. They checked and alas none.

This phone is impossible for me to find

I'll check Arizona stores as of tomorrow and we will see and I'll check The Grove in LA next week.

(I live in two states )

 

[LovingTeddy]

I just checked the store at the Americana in LA, and he had my hopes up saying he might have one. They checked and alas none.

This phone is impossible for me to find

I'll check Arizona stores as of tomorrow and we will see and I'll check The Grove in LA next week.

(I live in two states )

It is amazed to me that you guys living in US could not find iPhone SE, where you can pretty much walk into any Canadian Apple Stote to get SE easily. I brought 2 SE without any effort, hop to Apple Store in Waterloo, Ontario, grab iPhone SE.

I changed 3 iPhone SE because of Samsung chip and finally got one with TSMC chip. They have stock every single time.

 

[GoCanes]

It is amazed to me that you guys living in US could not find iPhone SE, where you can pretty much walk into any Canadian Apple Stote to get SE easily. I brought 2 SE without any effort, hop to Apple Store in Waterloo, Ontario, grab iPhone SE.

I changed 3 iPhone SE because of Samsung chip and finally got one with TSMC chip. They have stock every single time.

how do you find out what chip is installed?

 

[dontwalkhand]

It is amazed to me that you guys living in US could not find iPhone SE, where you can pretty much walk into any Canadian Apple Stote to get SE easily. I brought 2 SE without any effort, hop to Apple Store in Waterloo, Ontario, grab iPhone SE.

I changed 3 iPhone SE because of Samsung chip and finally got one with TSMC chip. They have stock every single time.

I have called every Apple Store in Los Angeles and Phoenix areas and NOTHING .

I rotate between LA and Phoenix week by week so I can check both locations all the time but no luck in either city! This is ridiculous and I even tried lots of different t mobile stores.

 

[GoCanes]

I have called every Apple Store in Los Angeles and Phoenix areas and NOTHING .

I rotate between LA and Phoenix week by week so I can check both locations all the time but no luck in either city! This is ridiculous and I even tried lots of different t mobile stores.

Ive been chacking Miami, San Francisco, LA, Las Vegas and San Diego areas, no luck yet

 

[ouchiko]

Surely this headline only means something if we can understand supply? IF they made 1,000 phones then obviously but if they made 10,000,0000 phones and supply is gone it's a completely different story.

 

[GoCanes]

got lucky and got SE space grey sim free 64gb. no rattling, no yellow screen, no samsung chip. it was worth to wait for 2 weeks to get it. best of luck for those who trying to get one

 

[ghanwani]

End of May now and still supply issues. This phone must be doing very well for Apple.

 

[Juicy Box]

End of May now and still supply issues. This phone must be doing very well for Apple.

Or Apple managed the supply very poorly.
I plan on buying 2 of these phones once there in my area.
One to replace my wife's 5s with a cracked screen.
And a 64GB one for me to replace my 6s Plus 128GB. I wished the SE had 128GB, but I guess I will make due with the 64GB.

I want to replace my 6s Plus because in most situations, I do not like having the larger phone. I like it when I am able to sit down, and have 2 hands on it. But, I have found that I use my phone a lot one handed, and I have grown to hate my iPhone.

 

[wunnspeed]

I would venture a guess that it wasn't only the lesser expensive phone but I some are like me don't want/need a bigger phone than the SE. That, to me, is what the iPad mini is for. The bigger phone resembles a modern Miami Vice shoe box phone.

Sadly, the supply in Europe still seems to be exhausted. I ordered my SE on April 7 and it's still not arrived. I went to the Swiss Com shop yesterday to ask about a potential delivery date and they said that they have absolutely no idea as they constantly receive conflicting delivery dates.

 

[Jg75]

A bit harsh. Had they launched iPhone 6 with 4" - then the overall margin would have suffered as fewer would have jumped onto 4.7 or 5.5; nor could they get away with the price charged.



Relying on 4" as a mainstream product in 2016 - is a bit risky. Especially when you're up against 5.1/5.5" SAMOLED S7 with a 4" phone - it's like showing up for a gun fight with a knife. Imo the SE was pretty spot on. It's a temporary patch while the 7/8 gets the hype back.

Just bought the SE with 64 gb. I already have a 10" iOS device, but did like the upgraded camera and modernized cpu and networking technologies over my 5s.

 

[Larry-K]

I would venture a guess that it wasn't only the lesser expensive phone but I some are like me don't want/need a bigger phone than the SE. That, to me, is what the iPad mini is for. The bigger phone resembles a modern Miami Vice shoe box phone.

Sadly, the supply in Europe still seems to be exhausted. I ordered my SE on April 7 and it's still not arrived. I went to the Swiss Com shop yesterday to ask about a potential delivery date and they said that they have absolutely no idea as they constantly receive conflicting delivery dates.

Not everybody wants to carry a dinner tray around in their pocket.

If they're smart, they'll continue this form-factor for a while with improved internals.

That being said, it's likely to be discontinued.

 

[Goatllama]

​

Formalities out of the way, I hope they release an updated 4 inch phone so the SE's price will go down! Well, it'll probably go down anyway once the 7s/8 comes out.

 

[rp2011]

Just bought the SE with 64 gb. I already have a 10" iOS device, but did like the upgraded camera and modernized cpu and networking technologies over my 5s.

Love my SE and love my IPhone 7Plus.
I could not compromise with the the regular 7 or 6. They are neither the best of either world.
I could not "make do" with a phone that's too big to carry around and too small to do anything comfortably. It's a sad compromise of a device.

 

[Jg75]

Love my SE and love my IPhone 7Plus.
I could not compromise with the the regular 7 or 6. They are neither the best of either world.
I could not "make do" with a phone that's too big to carry around and too small to do anything comfortably. It's a sad compromise of a device.

I also seriously considered 5.5", I have 1 macOS device, and 2 iOS devices. My conclusion is that 5.5" is too small to work as a pad, so I went with the cheaper phone. I think both the SE and my 2 year old iPad air will last med many years. Also very easy to connect to the internet through the iPhone.

 

[rp2011]

I also seriously considered 5.5", I have 1 macOS device, and 2 iOS devices. My conclusion is that 5.5" is too small to work as a pad, so I went with the cheaper phone. I think both the SE and my 2 year old iPad air will last med many years. Also very easy to connect to the internet through the iPhone.

I thought the same thing but I personally found he iPads, both sizes un-ergonomic. I bought the mini to replace the 9.7 and it's just not a fun device to hold. At home the iPads sit unused. I have found the lightness of the iPhone pro perfect. More practical and far more useful. I would discontinue the iPads except for the larger pen driven one, but only if they could add more functionality and be more of a desktop device than a hand held device.

 

[zorinlynx]

My girlfriend LOVES her iPhone 5. She doesn't want a bigger phone. She likes how compact and lightweight it is.

Not everyone needs a huge screen; not everyone is in their phone for hours and hours every day. Some people might prefer using their laptop, or their iPad, rather than heavily using their phone. We all use devices differently.

I love my iPhone 7 Plus; it's great when I want to show people pics and videos on that big screen. But I can totally get why the SE exists and should continue to be updated. They really should bring it to feature parity with the mainline phones, though. 3D touch is the biggest missing feature.

 

[nburwell]

I love my iPhone 7 Plus; it's great when I want to show people pics and videos on that big screen. But I can totally get why the SE exists and should continue to be updated. They really should bring it to feature parity with the mainline phones, though. 3D touch is the biggest missing feature.

I would love to see 3D Touch supported if the SE is updated. I have started to find myself kind of missing 3D Touch when using my SE. As much as I thought 3D Touch was a gimmick when Apple introduced it, I have begun to use the feature more and more on my 6s and now 7, so when I use my SE I'm finding that I miss that feature.

 

[sracer]

Last week I took my 64GB SE on it's first trip. The battery life is insane on this thing. During a 6+ hour cross-country flight I was watching movies for the entire flight... started with 91% battery and when I landed at my destination, 79%.