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For the way I use my phone (I have an iPad, I have a MacBook, I don't need a phablet), the iPhone 5 form-factor is absolutely perfect. I'm still on an iPhone 5s (I should have upgraded to an SE when it came out but I try not to "upgrade" for no reason), and I love the Apple ecosystem…so if they don't release an updated SE this year, I think I'll try to snag a 2016 SE on the cheap. I'll keep that till the Apple Watch doesn't support the SE. Then I don't know what I'll do.
 
Might buy another shrink wrapped SE "just in case" mine dies or something. Mine hasn't slowed down or anything, but it's outside of its 2 years warranty now and if I lose it or something...

guess there'll always be second hand ones to keep me going

I can see that in 5 years time, Wired, will be writing a story about the ‘SE sub-culture’ where SE users try to keep their phones, services and apps running ‘after Apple abandoned the production of 4 inch phones in 2018 for the 5.8 and bigger phones of today’.
 
iPhone SE 2 Predicted to Be Discontinued in September

This "Update" from MacRumours just confuses me.

Did I blink and miss the release of the iPhone SE 2 sometime in the last year or so?

As far as I know there is still just one model of SE.

So how does something that was never released get to be discontinued?
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There is a big market for up-to-date specs in a SE case size. Apple should not treat this size as second class.
As there is for the Mac Mini… and yet we have seen how they treat that little step child.
 
I hope this doesn't get canned.

I'm getting close to really needing an upgrade, and would like to stick with Apple. What I really DON'T want however, is a massive phone. I love the size of the SE and iPhone 5c.

I also don't need or care for most of the latest features of the iPhone X etc... all I care about is powerful enough specs to keep up with current apps, a good quality camera (not fussed about clever features, just good quality), and good security.
 
I can see that in 5 years time, Wired, will be writing a story about the ‘SE sub-culture’ where SE users try to keep their phones, services and apps running ‘after Apple abandoned the production of 4 inch phones in 2018 for the 5.8 and bigger phones of today’.
They won't stop production of phones smaller than 5.8" this year. The iPhone 8 will certainly be sold for at least another year, the iPhone 7 probably as well. Likely, we will thus see 4.7" iPhone production until 2020 (which would be the date when the iPhone 8 gets discontinued). And there is still a decent possibility that Apple introduces another <5.8" phone until then.
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This "Update" from MacRumours just confuses me.

Did I blink and miss the release of the iPhone SE 2 sometime in the last year or so?

As far as I know there is still just one model of SE.

So how does something that was never released get to be discontinued?
What you 'missed' was the (supposed) internal development work towards an SE 2 (which might not have gotten much beyond the drawing board) that, again supposedly, was stopped.
 
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The iPhone SE's larger cousins feel too big for my hands, especially after handling my spouse 's iPhone SE. He likes it greatly and suggested I wait for the iPhone SE2 to replace my current (flip) cellphone. This rumor is disquieting to me and I hope Apple considers updating the iPhone SE, not discontinuing it.
 
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They don't seem to want any of my money anymore...

I'm on a 2015 MacBook Pro and iPhone SE and iPad Pro 9.7 and I see no reason to upgrade any of them and actively do not want any of their phones now (all too big).
The average lifespan of Apple devices (incl. Macs, but the larger number of iPhones will make their contribution to be more important) has been estimated to be a bit above four years (which however includes the secondary market). Holding on to your phone and iPad for three years and your Mac for six years would place you pretty close to that average.
 
I hope Apple does some proper customer requirements research on this and does not just seek to impose decisions, like they have done so often in the past (removing disc drives, deleting most of the ports on MBP's, removing 3.5mm jacks etc). There is a substantial percentage of folk who don't like to use a Phablet when they want a phone. I don't want to watch video, play games, surf the internet or run an office from my phone. I have Macs and iPads for that. I just want a smart phone, which I can use to access essential information, view contacts and maps, get things like train times and surprise surprise, make phone calls on. The SE is a perfect tool for that but if it is not updated, I will be buying a semi-obsolete device that will not be able to update its OS in just a few years. That is why I want to update the older of my two phones (a 5S) to an SE2.
 
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I am not surprised if Apple discontinued this altogether and begin pushing new and recent models. The SE does have a nice rugged feel as compared to the other current models.
 
I was sort of holding out to buy a new SE... I have one now but want the larger storage. So I'll go ahead and get the 128gb.
 
There is a substantial percentage of folk who don't like to use a Phablet when they want a phone. I don't want to watch video, play games, surf the internet or run an office from my phone. I have Macs and iPads for that. I just want a smart phone, which I can use to access essential information, view contacts and maps, get things like train times

Though web browsing on the SE is mostly very good. Reading news articles is excellent. Turn a webpage sideways and you see it like a 6". When I need to tap something small on a page, pinch zoom works nine times out of ten. And I booked flights for a future overseas trip, overseas in a hotel room on my SE. I'm swiping this on my SE right now.
 
The iPhone 4S was compact and functional. A quite brilliant design the likes we will never see again.

Indeed. While I am admittedly an 8+ user I have many friends with the SE. If my eyesight were better I'd prolly have an SE. SE users are an extremely dedicated base, and there are millions of them. I don't see Apple tossing it. :apple:
 
To me the design looks a bit outdated. They should at least look like iPhone 6/7/8.
Still the best phone design ever, IMO. If they would have refined it over the years, maybe make it ever so slightly thinner and removed the bezels, it would be a true work of art.
 
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The great thing about the SE/5S is that they really are a fantastic mix of form and function.

First up, they look great. They’re heavy enough that you feel it in your hand but not so much that you fear dropping it as it’s weight will likely damage something on impact (seven if it’s in a case) - Plus and X, I’m looking at you.

As to function - well understood home button (one of THE key UI inventions on any device), Touch ID is a simple way to secure your phone. Apple Pay is great too (on the SE). No Force touch, making it more expensive and heavier.

Nice enough camera (back!) - and a headphone jack!

At this point it’s only really the screen that makes the 5S and SE feel old.

At this point, I’d just be happy enough with a processor and camera upgrade (oh and screen) and I’m good.

But I suspect that the 7 and 8 series will hang around for a while to provide the classic iPhone experience, not the SE...
 
To me the design looks a bit outdated. They should at least look like iPhone 6/7/8.
To me the design is the most beautiful phone ever made,
and the 6/7 seem like a huge downgrade in design.
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The only remaining market for the SE is India, Africa, and other emerging markets. Even the Wistron plant in India is starting to build iPhone 6s.

Apple will probably continue manufacturing iPhone SE for select markets. But hardly anyone wants the SE except for those looking for a cheap phone. The 2-3% of consumers who want a small phone isn't going to convince Apple to build an updated SE when the vast majority want 6" or larger.
You’re dreaming. Check the stats:
these larger models are for Android switchers. Most people who have owned 4” models (exisiting Apple customers) prefer them. Steve did, too.
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It's 2018 and when you consider preferences in Asia for larger phones, it really shows how out of place the SE is in today's world.

The preference in Asia is because they spend so long on trains watching video.
 
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I can only pray that this means that the speed bumped version got nixed and that they’re going ahead with a full redesigned one.

Either is good, I just need one!
 
The average lifespan of Apple devices (incl. Macs, but the larger number of iPhones will make their contribution to be more important) has been estimated to be a bit above four years (which however includes the secondary market). Holding on to your phone and iPad for three years and your Mac for six years would place you pretty close to that average.

Sorry - I don't care a lick about "average lifespans". That's a cop out.
That's total bollocks that any of us are accepting of that and even encouraging it on Apple's part.

They are building to a high quality level and charging through the nose. There products should be lasting and working well way beyond 4 years, by design..

..especially from the "green company" that shoves their "we are so Eco" crap down our throat all the time.

Are you Eco-Friendly Apple?
Stop making disposable appliances that can't be upgraded if you really want to be eco-friendly here.
[doublepost=1531322653][/doublepost]Man this rumor is so frustrating - I hope it's wrong.

or at least I hope they have an X-Inspired next gen "small phone" design to fill this niche.

Every time I'm at an Apple Store I go play with the current 4.7/5.5/X phones and I hate them, on size alone.

I just refuse to have a larger device than my SE.
It is so freakin' perfect for me and how I use it.
 
Sorry - I don't care a lick about "average lifespans". That's a cop out.
That's total bollocks that any of us are accepting of that and even encouraging it on Apple's part.

They are building to a high quality level and charging through the nose. There products should be lasting and working well way beyond 4 years, by design..

..especially from the "green company" that shoves their "we are so Eco" crap down our throat all the time.

Are you Eco-Friendly Apple?
Stop making disposable appliances that can't be upgraded if you really want to be eco-friendly here.
[doublepost=1531322653][/doublepost]Man this rumor is so frustrating - I hope it's wrong.

or at least I hope they have an X-Inspired next gen "small phone" design to fill this niche.

Every time I'm at an Apple Store I go play with the current 4.7/5.5/X phones and I hate them, on size alone.

I just refuse to have a larger device than my SE.
It is so freakin' perfect for me and how I use it.

I’d hope that this year’s announcement that 12 will be supporting the 5S (September ‘13) is a not so subtle clue that we can expect iOS update support to last 6-7 years from now on.

Although the mind boggles as to where iOS will be in 6 years time...

I suspect that it’ll look much like what we have now, with a lot of the advances being in ML and Siri being a proper assistant as well as amazing UX graphics - and that these will only available on newer phones with neural engines and Apple GPUs.

Maybe that’s another thread in itself anyway.
 
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I just hope there's "another small phone" coming if the SE design is going away.

I'm willing to take a lot of punishment on this and features if I can just continue to get a "nearly the same physical size as the SE" phone of some ilk from Apple.

If they totally s-can the small phones - I'm just going to lose my mind..
It's just like - freaking insane.

If you don't want to make a new one for us small phone fans, then please just keep making SE's and spec bumping them.

It's like they don't get it - Some people STILL JUST WANT A SMALL PHONE - all the new/other features and gimmicks we don't care about if the size of the damned thing is too big!
 
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