iPhone SE 2 Predicted to Be Discontinued as Rumors Remain All Over the Map [Update: Corrected]

[bluecoast]

What I really hope is going to happen is that the iPad of 2019 basically becomes the last iPad Air but with an A11 chip.

Then I hope at the same time, we get an update of the SE with nothing changed except the processor gets updated to the A11 too, the camera gets the cameras of the 8 and the screen is updated to that of the last Air too. No force touch.

Apple could even say that it’s only going to be made in India (good PR there).

 

[manu chao]

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.

My point was that you hanging on to products for Apple products for more than two years is actually normal behaviour.

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..

Nobody is saying they don't last well beyond 4 years (they actually do). It's just that demographics for 4+ year old iPhones isn't large enough to absorb all the used models (and/or that a significant number of people don't sell them and just put them in a drawer when they get something newer).

..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.

Stop making better models so your users don't buy new ones and keep using their older models for longer. iPhones get software support significantly longer than Android devices.

So, you accuse Apple of not making their new products appealing enough to you while at the same time accusing them of making them too appealing such that people buy new models?

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.

So, if Apple were just to release a modernised small phone, you'd be happy and all of the above was just venting anger because that last point really bothers you?

 

[827538]

I sincerely hope this is wrong.

My wife finds the size of the iPhone SE perfect. It's also the best design of iPhone they've ever made.

All it needs is a spec bump. New camera, new SoC, new modem and it's good for another few years. Maybe add waterproofing. Doesn't need FaceID, doesn't need dual cameras. It's a great entry level iPhone.

I fear Apple has forgotten itself and is instead chasing maximum profit at all costs.

 

[Danoc]

-

 

[jml12286]

If an iPhone SE sized phone came out with iPhone X specs/bigger screen, I would immediately buy it and toss my X away for some doll hairs.

 

[Magerquark]

A couple years ago I decided to give the Plus series a try with a iPhone 7 Plus. I love the portrait-mode camera and I like that in landscape Safari gives me actual tabs.

But I don't like the thing in my pocket. It's too big and heavy. I was planning to get an iPhone SE 2 because when I'm out I don't need a large screen; this rumour is disappointing.

Seriously Apple, just put an A11 in the current model and call it a day. Everyone will be happy.

Exactly, Just the A11 and a better front camera and it is my next iPhone (I bought the 64GB iPhone SE in autumn 2016).

Don't need a better display, don't need a better rear camera. The design is still awesome!

 

[Freakonomics101]

The Mac mini is a 2010 design packed with 2014's technology in 2018... So there's at least another year before the iPhone SE gets discontinued?

I love my iPhone SE. I have the 32 GB model. The 2 GB of RAM makes a big difference when it comes to iOS 11 and 12. iOS 12 has improved the overall performance of the iPhone SE. I’m not surprised they’re discontinuing it but it’s still a great entry level iPhone in 2018. It’s my secondary iPhone as well as being used for music at work and it’s perfect for me.

 

[Freakonomics101]

This kind of wants to make me buy an SE right now before they are gone forever...

Carriers offer them at a discount. Verizon prepaid has the 32 GB model for $159.

 

[dewski]

I'm going to be devastated if there is no new small phone in September. My SE battery is starting to go and I've been dealing with a garbage screen replacement for months.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Man is it nice to have the ignore feature on this forum..

 

[Val-kyrie]

If it actually sold like crazy, Apple would be updating it every 6-12 months and showing it off every September.

The fact that it's a 2.5 year old phone tells you otherwise.

That is quite the wild assumption!

There could be many reasons why Apple has not updated the SE including a desire to shift consumers to more recently updated, higher priced models in order to attain a higher ASP (average selling price) of its iDevices, the desire to maintain high profits on a device with older lower cost hardware, etc.

 

[JPack]

That is quite the wild assumption!

There could be many reasons why Apple has not updated the SE including a desire to shift consumers to more recently updated, higher priced models in order to attain a higher ASP (average selling price) of its iDevices, the desire to maintain high profits on a device with older lower cost hardware, etc.

If Apple wanted to move customers up their product stack or maintain margins, they wouldn't have lowered the price of SE from $399 to $349.

In other markets like India, the SE sells for $259 (inclusive of import taxes).

 

[aknabi]

Simplified lineup: iPhone 7, iPhone 8, iPhone 9 (with faceID), iPhone X.

Here's a even more simplified one: iPhone X. Done... but you see simple doesn't mean meeting market segment needs (and the 7/8/9/X are frankly crowding each other from a segment point)... you'd be better off with this simplified line up: iPhone SE, iPhone *, iPhone * Pro.

I personally dislike the larger phones. As an iOS dev I have every model from a 5 on up... The SE is my fav (as it is for several of the devs here)

 

[phusaicr]

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.

iPhone SE can and does still outsell both iPhone 8 and 8 Plus over the last few months in some markets:

iPhone 8 Plus: 12%
iPhone 8: 22%
iPhone SE: 32%
iPhone X: 34%

That’s a share of sales breakdown for select iPhone models since release of the iPhone 8 and X (september ‘17, that is) that I happen to have access to. Not for a few dozen units, but over a sample size of several thousands of sold phones (to both private customers and businesses). I obviously can’t disclose specifics publicly, but suffice to say, that’s from a market with some of the highest purchasing for electronics in the world (as the comparably high percentage of iPhone X sales should indicate), so price is really not much of an issue in absolute terms there...

I wouldn’t claim or think these figures are in any way representative in the grand scheme of things. But to me, it’s an indication that the iPhone SE can and is still popular with some customers even though and when they could afford other, pricier options.

Though from my gut feeling and observation, I do believe the SE is more especially popular with price-conscious customers, who, even though they could afford it, often just prefer to spend less on a phone and aren’t too keen on getting the newest tech. Older people on average. Rarely power users but rather people who are less likely to flash (or even use at all) their phone in public. The products you see and notice on the street or on public transport aren’t always exactly representative of actual sales market shares.

 

[JPack]

iPhone SE can and does still outsell both iPhone 8 and 8 Plus over the last few months in some markets:

iPhone 8 Plus: 12%
iPhone 8: 22%
iPhone SE: 32%
iPhone X: 34%

That’s a share of sales breakdown for select iPhone models since release of the iPhone 8 and X (september ‘17, that is) that I happen to have access to. Not for a few dozen units, but over a sample size of several thousands of sold phones (to both private customers and businesses). I obviously can’t disclose specifics publicly, but suffice to say, that’s from a market with some of the highest purchasing for electronics in the world (as the comparably high percentage of iPhone X sales should indicate), so price is really not much of an issue in absolute terms there...

I wouldn’t claim or think these figures are in any way representative in the grand scheme of things. But to me, it’s an indication that the iPhone SE can and is still popular with some customers even though and when they could afford other, pricier options.

Though from my gut feeling and observation, I do believe the SE is more especially popular with price-conscious customers, who, even though they could afford it, often just prefer to spend less on a phone and aren’t too keen on getting the newest tech. Older people on average. Rarely power users but rather people who are less likely to flash (or even use at all) their phone in public. The products you see and notice on the street or on public transport aren’t always exactly representative of actual sales market shares.

We already have credible data without the need to rely on murky figures. If the sales mix of iPhone SE were >30% as you're suggesting, Apple would spend the resources updating the phone every year.

The iPhone SE has relied on heavy promotional support since day one. In the U.S., consumers can purchase an SE today for $139 from Walmart. Yet the sales mix of iPhone SE is about 10% and that's in a country where brand loyalty to Apple is the highest. Is that an indication of demand for the SE due to price or form factor? Given how heavily the phone is being subsidized, the reason is likely price and not love of the 4-inch form factor.

Globally, where most consumers purchase devices outright, the SE at $300 is a tough sell against competitors like Xiaomi and Samsung which offer much larger displays and more features.

 

[Sensa2004]

if they don't update the SE they may lose me as an iPhone customer and I haven't bought a non apple product in the past 30 years...i don't need or want all the bells and whistles nor do I want a bigger form factor.

 

[scoobydoo99]

...
In that case, the iPhone 7 would likely shuffle down the lineup to become Apple's lowest priced smartphone, taking over the $449 price point currently held by the iPhone 6s, ...

Again MacRumors perpetuating the idea that the iPhone SE is a "budget" phone. It is not. What will "shuffle" down Apple's lineup to be the new 4" iPhone (since that is its real selling feature)??

The SE happens to be Apple's flagship, with the best design, ergonomics, and materials of any iPhone. Apple just happens to inexplicably price it lower than the other iPhones. Personally, i would pay $1000 for a new iPhone SE in its current form (without FaceID, without 3D Touch, and with a real home button) with updated internals. All other iPhones are inferior, cartoonishly large, overly delicate, and bloated with useless design "features". The iPhone SE can actually be held without "rocking" between the fingers, the lock button is not opposed to the volume buttons (so you don't inadvertantly actuate one or the other), the camera lens doesn't protrude, it still has TouchID (so it can be unlocked while removing from my pocket, before FaceID would even have a chance), and it still FITS in a pocket.

I tried the 6 when it came out and promptly returned it due to the poor quality/cheap feel and the oversized form factor. I guess I'll hold on to the last SE for as long as possible, then go on a search for a non-Apple 4" phone

 

[AppliedMicro]

We already have credible data without the need to rely on murky figures.

Oh, do we?

Of course cause it's been quoted often enough on the rumor sites, so it must be very good.
Why don't you quote the source of your colorful little chart?
Let me do it for you:

"CIRP bases its findings on its survey of 500 US Apple customers that purchased an iPhone, iPad, or Mac in the US in January-March 2018 period"

https://www.cirpllc.com/blog/2018/5/11/legacy-iphone-sales-squeeze-new-models

Just wondering how they did that survey and where they got these people from (selection bias). Could it even be online, where I'm quite sure there would be a selection bias?

As I said above, my figures are real sales figures over thousands of sold phones. Which, for obvious reasons, I can't disclose the source. But feel free to believe whatever you want.

The iPhone SE has relied on heavy promotional support since day one. In the U.S., consumers can purchase an SE today for $139 from Walmart.

That's, please correct me if I'm wrong, with a carrier lock. So not a "real" price but actually a subsidized one. For just one carrier that might not even have coverage where one lives.

 

[Jimrod]

A quick look at the market says no. Which other manufacturer is selling a 4" smartphone product in 2018?

There are "a lot" of supporters yet no other manufacturer has capitalized on this gold mine? Even Apple has left the SE stale.

Either every other smartphone manufacturer is stupid or the market is really too small to deserve an update.

Or maybe no-one buy small phones because the only good options are the SE and... possibly a Sony? The SE is an old form factor with relatively small screen for the size, an update to something a similar size with more up to date form would be popular, but that all got lost in the race to make bigger phones. Many iPhone users I know have SE's or 5's still, they (and me) want to upgrade to a new version but there isn't one - the X doesn't interest me purely because of the size.
[doublepost=1531387163][/doublepost]

Lots of people I know are very irritated at the trend of smart phone sizes. They would prefer smaller phones but it’s simply impossible to find top specs and camera in a small device. For me personally, small size trumps any features a larger phone may have.

That's also a reason for lack of interest/sales for smaller phones - even when one comes out it is using older or substandard tech. If Apple released a smaller X, with all the specs, for the same price - I'm sure it would sell massively.

 

[JPack]

Oh, do we?

Of course cause it's been quoted often enough on the rumor sites, so it must be very good.
Why don't you quote the source of your colorful little chart?
Let me do it for you:

"CIRP bases its findings on its survey of 500 US Apple customers that purchased an iPhone, iPad, or Mac in the US in January-March 2018 period"

https://www.cirpllc.com/blog/2018/5/11/legacy-iphone-sales-squeeze-new-models

Just wondering how they did that survey and where they got these people from (selection bias). Could it even be online, where I'm quite sure there would be a selection bias?

As I said above, my figures are real sales figures over thousands of sold phones. Which, for obvious reasons, I can't disclose the source. But feel free to believe whatever you want.

Because you lack fundamental understanding of statistics and proper sampling, you automatically assume the sample is small? Doubling the respondents from 500 to 1,000 would reduce the margin of error by only a couple of percentage points and significantly increase survey costs.

If anything, your internal sales figures would be automatically discarded due to non-random sampling.

That's, please correct me if I'm wrong, with a carrier lock. So not a "real" price but actually a subsidized one. For just one carrier that might not even have coverage where one lives.

How about AT&T who currently sells the iPhone SE for $195? Is that a real enough price and sufficient coverage for you?

 

[paultman]

I also appreciate the size/style of the SE, and agree to optimize the display by pushing the edges would have been great in an iPhone SE2, but that's not likely to happen. The SE was easy for apple since they had the 5/5S so it was simply a processor/camera upgrade, nothing changed for the chassis/body. They didn't have to test a new form factor, etc. A display change would mean lots of internal changes to be optimized.

Apple is too busy with focusing on the other new products. Like everyone, I've got my predictions, so here they are:

iPhone 6s $450 -> $400 (the budget iphone, taking the place of the SE, u get the SE, but larger display)
iphone 7 $550 -> $500
iphone 8 $700 -> $600
iphone 9 $700
iphone X2 $900
iphone x2 plus $1000

The SE and X will likely be discontinued, they have enough models in the pipeline to meet all the pricepoints and can convert all X production capacity to the X2.

I've still got a 64GB 6s and could be tempted by the X2 (I always like the 2nd gen models, 3gs,4s,5s, etc). As it will be very similar to the current X, the only thing I'll be looking for is usb-c, though that's most likely the X3, so i'll probably wait another year.

For anyone who was holding out for the SE2, check out the 6s, it's a solid phone and great value. With 2GB ram, and still sold new from apple, it will last a long time.

 

[FunkyTang]

I just hope there's "another small phone" coming if the SE design is going away.

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!

It’s not a small phone unless it’s a Zoolander small phone.

 

[Val-kyrie]

I also appreciate the size/style of the SE, and agree to optimize the display by pushing the edges would have been great in an iPhone SE2, but that's not likely to happen. The SE was easy for apple since they had the 5/5S so it was simply a processor/camera upgrade, nothing changed for the chassis/body. They didn't have to test a new form factor, etc. A display change would mean lots of internal changes to be optimized.

Apple is too busy with focusing on the other new products. Like everyone, I've got my predictions, so here they are:

iPhone 6s $450 -> $400 (the budget iphone, taking the place of the SE, u get the SE, but larger display)
iphone 7 $550 -> $500
iphone 8 $700 -> $600
iphone 9 $700
iphone X2 $900
iphone x2 plus $1000

The SE and X will likely be discontinued, they have enough models in the pipeline to meet all the pricepoints and can convert all X production capacity to the X2.

I've still got a 64GB 6s and could be tempted by the X2 (I always like the 2nd gen models, 3gs,4s,5s, etc). As it will be very similar to the current X, the only thing I'll be looking for is usb-c, though that's most likely the X3, so i'll probably wait another year.

For anyone who was holding out for the SE2, check out the 6s, it's a solid phone and great value. With 2GB ram, and still sold new from apple, it will last a long time.

You miss the whole point of these discussions--FORM FACTOR. If I wanted an iPhone with 6S internals, I would just buy the current SE!

My wife and daughter both need new phones. The next update is the cutoff for us. If Apple nixes the SE, then my days with Apple are over.

 

[FunkyTang]

You miss the whole point of these discussions--FORM FACTOR. If I wanted an iPhone with 6S internals, I would just buy the current SE!

My wife and daughter both need new phones. The next update is the cutoff for us. If Apple nixes the SE, then my days with Apple are over.

I love these kind of posts:

If no SE2 then goodbye Apple.

Good luck finding a 4” phone.

 

[Val-kyrie]

I love these kind of posts:

If no SE2 then goodbye Apple.

Good luck finding a 4” phone.

Mock if you will, but it is not about only the iPhone. Apple is simply moving in a direction I do not want to go, both in its iDevices (FaceID) and in its portable laptops. If Apple doesn't provide what I desire/need, then I will look at all of the options which have slowly been moving me back to Windows and Android.

Please also consider that many of us who have switched can switch back AND we have switched others with us who will also switch back when we advise them. You won't see the effect for another 2-3 years, but the biggest crashes are always preceded by a slow fade. Unfortunately, the Apple I chose to join is no longer the Apple I know.