iPhone SE (2016) iPhone SE 2 in 2018?

[Beenblacklisted]

I think you’re confusing me with the person you replied to. In any case, I don’t think stating your opinions as facts is going to help him/her.



Can’t improve upon perfection!

I would upgrade from my current SE for any significant camera improvements or increase in storage. Any other additions would be bonus. Speed-wise it’s fine for now.

my statement was based upon reports by apples' factories who had excess parts, form fitted for apples' products.

 

[BiggAW]

Yeah definitely re the 4g modem. I could see a ‘7s’ phone getting an updated modem, losing 3D Touch & getting (hopefully) a slightly bigger battery.

All other components I’d expect to stay the same.

Yeah. Moto and Samsung ship phones with processors that are a few generations old, but they update the LTE banding, and you end up with a $200 phone that can get all the latest bands for it's carrier. That might be the model for Apple's $350 phone, as they don't want to enter the low end of the market, but they also can't live entirely in the $700+ high end, as evidenced by the success of the SE and 6 on prepaid.

Maybe - just maybe - we’d see a version of this scaled down to fit a smaller 4 inch phone, but I’d imagine that they’d have issues fitting in the Taptic Engine into the very packed space of a 4 inch phone.

And if they did, I’d expect just one speaker and no stereo jack.

Sadly, there wouldn't be a headphone jack. I think they should expand it a bit, if only to put a slightly larger battery in. The size of the 1st generation Moto G is quite appealing, and smaller than most phones today, but bigger than the iPhone SE form factor.

So if Apple could start the 7s at $399, you might look at a lot of take up here.

But I’d still be sad about losing the 4 inch screen. I think that was the best size by far & with the home button, the esiest smart phone for ‘regular’ people to operate.

EDIT: maybe, like the regular iPad this phone will simply be called ‘iPhone’ and it’ll be Apple’s two years behind the cutting edge model for regular people who just want a new Apple phone at a reasonable price.

They could take the 7 design and go from there, but what seem nuts to me is everyone talks about how hard or expensive it is to make a new form factor of device, and yet Samsung and Motorola, among others, are constantly making different variations on their designs, year after year, for multiple models, and selling them profitably for $200. If they can profitably make a $200, Apple should be able to profitably make a new iteration of a $350 phone every year that lives in the iTunes/App Store/iCloud ecosystem for people who want that balance of price, features, and ecosystem, and add updated LTE banding with B14, B71, etc, while they're at it.

If Apple could do what they are doing on the regular iPad, which I got recently, with a 4.7 inch screen and price it at $349, or even $399, they would have a winner on their hands.

 

[bluecoast]

Yeah. Moto and Samsung ship phones with processors that are a few generations old, but they update the LTE banding, and you end up with a $200 phone that can get all the latest bands for it's carrier. That might be the model for Apple's $350 phone, as they don't want to enter the low end of the market, but they also can't live entirely in the $700+ high end, as evidenced by the success of the SE and 6 on prepaid.



Sadly, there wouldn't be a headphone jack. I think they should expand it a bit, if only to put a slightly larger battery in. The size of the 1st generation Moto G is quite appealing, and smaller than most phones today, but bigger than the iPhone SE form factor.



They could take the 7 design and go from there, but what seem nuts to me is everyone talks about how hard or expensive it is to make a new form factor of device, and yet Samsung and Motorola, among others, are constantly making different variations on their designs, year after year, for multiple models, and selling them profitably for $200. If they can profitably make a $200, Apple should be able to profitably make a new iteration of a $350 phone every year that lives in the iTunes/App Store/iCloud ecosystem for people who want that balance of price, features, and ecosystem, and add updated LTE banding with B14, B71, etc, while they're at it.

If Apple could do what they are doing on the regular iPad, which I got recently, with a 4.7 inch screen and price it at $349, or even $399, they would have a winner on their hands.

Great post!

Q: I wonder how hard it is to shrink the 7 down to the size of the SE (minus 3D Touch as discussed)?

Has anyone who knows their way around the iphone’s innards ever worked out if this could be possible?

The Taptic Engine looks mighty large for a 2.3 inch wide phone.

Btw I’m assuming that the 7 would be the prime candidate for all of this because of the A10 having the power efficient cores, waterproofing and a home button that doesn’t fail as much as the physical one.

Also, all of this tech being two years old, Apple can probably source it pretty cheaply given that the 7’s phone & component assembly lines have been in operation for a while now.

You’d then have a good product roadmap, as the next time it was upgraded, you could put in the A11 and its camera and keep the same body for the next 2-3 years. Then the next time maybe even add in wireless charging & then whatever processor and camera are going to be in the 9s/9r

Also I think that they’ll have to do this as no matter how much everyone will umm and aaah over tomorrow’s phones there will still be many who prefer the home button and who won’t upgrade to the devices without it just yet.

So like with the current iPad (glad you are enjoying yours) I suspect that the home button is here for a good while longer on the lower priced iOS devices

I.e. I suspect that next year’s iPad will turn into a revamped iPad Air and see a few more years of processor upgrades on that body.

 

[Unami]

The Taptic Engine looks mighty large for a 2.3 inch wide phone.

I guess, if they can fit one into the watch, a phone should be fine.

I‘m also hoping for a new SE in Spring 2019. Preferably in a smaller form factor than the 7. Just give me a shrunk down X that kind of looks like an ipod touch 2g.

 

[bluecoast]

I guess, if they can fit one into the watch, a phone should be fine.

I‘m also hoping for a new SE in Spring 2019. Preferably in a smaller form factor than the 7. Just give me a shrunk down X that kind of looks like an ipod touch 2g.

Haha yeah, good point!

Ok, there’s no excuse for a retooled iPhone 7 and an ‘iPhone 7 SE’.

C’mon, Apple - get to it!

 

[BiggAW]

Great post!

Thanks!

Q: I wonder how hard it is to shrink the 7 down to the size of the SE (minus 3D Touch as discussed)?

Which parts? The iPhone SE is almost as fast as the current iPhones due to it's smaller screen size. They could certainly put a generation or two faster processor in it, although there might be a slight hit to battery life.

Btw I’m assuming that the 7 would be the prime candidate for all of this because of the A10 having the power efficient cores, waterproofing and a home button that doesn’t fail as much as the physical one.

Also, all of this tech being two years old, Apple can probably source it pretty cheaply given that the 7’s phone & component assembly lines have been in operation for a while now.

You’d then have a good product roadmap, as the next time it was upgraded, you could put in the A11 and its camera and keep the same body for the next 2-3 years. Then the next time maybe even add in wireless charging & then whatever processor and camera are going to be in the 9s/9r

Also I think that they’ll have to do this as no matter how much everyone will umm and aaah over tomorrow’s phones there will still be many who prefer the home button and who won’t upgrade to the devices without it just yet.

I don't think Apple is sympathetic to the "I need my home button argument". People like my Dad, who chose the 8 over the X when offered either one at work, will eventually have to move away from the home button. After playing with both in the store, I can say that the X is definitely the future, even if some are waiting out the first-gen product.

I think the bigger issue is price point. There is only so much phone market at $600-$700. The SE was at a $349 price point, and was often offered much lower on prepaid carriers, so that reached a whole different market segment, as well as younger buyers, and brought them into the iOS ecosystem. I think they need a 4.5-4.7" device to fill that role and hit the $349 price point more than they need a 4" device for the small but fervent following that the SE has based on size alone.

So like with the current iPad (glad you are enjoying yours) I suspect that the home button is here for a good while longer on the lower priced iOS devices

Thanks! I agree on that. I think the home button has it's place, and it's a familiar way to interact with the iPhone that can serve to differentiate the higher end models while not making the mid-range devices feel "cheap", since it's such a part of the iPhone tradition since the OG.

I.e. I suspect that next year’s iPad will turn into a revamped iPad Air and see a few more years of processor upgrades on that body.

Yeah, I don't see much reason to make too many changes to the regular iPad. I'd predict an A11, new LTE banding, and not much else. For the price it's at, there's not a whole lot of new tech that would make it any better.

 

[neoelectronaut]

But look at the competition around Apple, they are almost all offering 6 inch smart phones at a _lower_ price point under the iPhone X. Apple is trying to broaden that spectrum by competing in that segment, that’s why they’re likely offering to 6.1 LCD iPhone, then of course if they do lower the price of the 5.8 X from $999 to $899 as suggested, then there obviously they are trying to gauge the market in both form factor and cost to the consumer.

I like the 4" form factor though. 6" is just ridiculous big.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It's killing me that they won't make something "new" that's smaller than the X.

I really think it would sell more than they think.

The entire line up size is now "big", "huge" and "ridiculous"

 

[floling]

phablets everywhere..
i know lots of people who would go for the whole 4 inches.. instead of huge, huger and hugest.. pffff!!!

 

[dj1891]

And that’s the end of the SE folks. Resiculous pricing for the new phones.

 

[neoelectronaut]

And now the iPhone SE is dead completely. What a bummer.

I just want an iPhone that is unassuming, does the handful of things I need it to, and slips into my pocket.

 

[dj1891]

And now the iPhone SE is dead completely. What a bummer.

I just want an iPhone that is unassuming, does the handful of things I need it to, and slips into my pocket.

Yep. One important thing that Apple is over looking that also made the SE a success and the 5c was pricing. People liked cheaper iPhones with decent internals. Both now dead

 

[JPack]

Given the SE was always a low-cost phone for price sensitive markets, it's no surprise. But I would expect additional $0 down and gift card options to push this entry level phone from participating retailers.

The SE will continue to live on in developing markets like India and Africa.

 

[dcpmark]

Hmmm......with the ip7 priced at $449, does that leave room for an updated SE2 at $349 in March ‘19??

 

[ghanwani]

Looks like it's RIP iPhone SE -- no longer being sold. 🙁

 

[Lioness~]

Hmmm......with the ip7 priced at $449, does that leave room for an updated SE2 at $349 in March ‘19??

We have to keep hope 🙂

 

[brofkand]

Cricket is still selling the SE for $160 for now. All Cricket customers, be aware.

I am considering buying one to keep in my safe in case my current one dies.

 

[dcpmark]

Cricket is still selling the SE for $160 for now. All Cricket customers, be aware.

I am considering buying one to keep in my safe in case my current one dies.

I just bought a new Verizon 64gb from Ebay for $253..... both my son and I use this phone, and I’ll keep it just in case something happens to one of ours.

I will ride this SE train until I get derailed by Apple. 😀

 

[kazmac]

Looks like it's RIP iPhone SE -- no longer being sold. 🙁

View attachment 780931

🙁

They are available through resellers.

Tariffs or no (and I do not think iPhones were included), the pricing is utterly absurd, 😡 and that is without AppleCare. Looks like I ride the fumes of my 7+ and buy a 7 or an Android for my next phone when that time comes. Shame that essential is not making any more new phones.

These prices do not bode well for future Macs and iPad Pros.

 

[ghanwani]

These prices do not bode well for future Macs and iPad Pros.

They bode well for AAPL which is why Buffet thinks it's still undervalued even at this price!

 

[kazmac]

They bode well for AAPL which is why Buffet thinks it's still undervalued even at this price!

Couldn’t care less about them.

 

[LiveM]

iPhone SE is gone but iPod Touch is still available. F**k you, Apple.

 

[BiggAW]

Hmmm......with the ip7 priced at $449, does that leave room for an updated SE2 at $349 in March ‘19??

No. They wouldn't have killed off the SE if that were the case. They really need a new low-end phone, whether it's an in-between size between the 7/8 and the SE, or a cheaper, retooled 7 form factor, they need something to hit the $349 price point with semi-updated internals.

 

[darkus]

I am honestly shocked Apple doesnt see a market for a 4" phone.

I mean how many threads about an SE/SE2/4" phone has this place seen in the last few years? Theres clearly alot of us...

I wonder if its not a question of market, but a question of production.

For example, in the auto industry, you would think car makers such a BMW, Mercedes, VW, etc.. control the products, but in fact its the suppliers who control the products. When Bosch or ZF come out with a new transmission or steering system and discontinue the old ones, then all the big manufacturers are forced to use the new systems. The entire auto industry for example had to get rid of hydraulic steering systems because noone would produce them anymore, even if the customers still wanted them.

Translating to the iphone, I wonder if its a problem with the Tier 1 suppliers to Apple not wanting to make a 4" screen and take capacity away from other screen sizes that may be shared between iPhones and other phones or gadgets? So apple is stuck upsizing and simply marketing it as an upgrade/upmarket product?

With all this said, I've had my SE for some time now, its been rock solid, i've never upgraded iOS and its performing as well as the day I got it and have 0 complaints. So I'm happy and don't see a need to upgrade right now. But at some point this thing will die, so Apple has to make another 4" please... 🙂

 

[dcpmark]

I am honestly shocked Apple doesnt see a market for a 4" phone.

I mean how many threads about an SE/SE2/4" phone has this place seen in the last few years? Theres clearly alot of us...

I wonder if its not a question of market, but a question of production.

For example, in the auto industry, you would think car makers such a BMW, Mercedes, VW, etc.. control the products, but in fact its the suppliers who control the products. When Bosch or ZF come out with a new transmission or steering system and discontinue the old ones, then all the big manufacturers are forced to use the new systems. The entire auto industry for example had to get rid of hydraulic steering systems because noone would produce them anymore, even if the customers still wanted them.

Translating to the iphone, I wonder if its a problem with the Tier 1 suppliers to Apple not wanting to make a 4" screen and take capacity away from other screen sizes that may be shared between iPhones and other phones or gadgets? So apple is stuck upsizing and simply marketing it as an upgrade/upmarket product?

With all this said, I've had my SE for some time now, its been rock solid, i've never upgraded iOS and its performing as well as the day I got it and have 0 complaints. So I'm happy and don't see a need to upgrade right now. But at some point this thing will die, so Apple has to make another 4" please... 🙂

It doesn't even have to be a 4" phone! I think we all just want a phone the size of the SE, and if they want to stuff a bigger screen inside, fine with us!! 😀
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No. They wouldn't have killed off the SE if that were the case. They really need a new low-end phone, whether it's an in-between size between the 7/8 and the SE, or a cheaper, retooled 7 form factor, they need something to hit the $349 price point with semi-updated internals.

Yep, good point....came to the same realization after I posted.