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

[BugeyeSTI]

if I want a huge device toasting the side of my head, I'll just use my iPad for that, lol. I can't embrace a new phone if it's too big to get my arms around

Have you ever put an SE on top of a 6/6S? It’s a quarter inch talller at each end and a sixteenth of an inch wider at each side when centered... The 6/6S is also thinner than the SE, hardly a huge jump in size

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Reading the posts here, I'm getting the sense that a lot of women like the SE - precisely for form factor, sturdiness, reliability, and size reasons, among others.

Do these women - who want a small, reliable, sturdy, ergonomic phone - represent a "tiny, niche" market, insignificant in numbers in world terms?

 

[fairuz]

The most popular notebooks in the world are branded HP, Lenovo, and Dell.

For Apple, total revenue for Mac represents about 10% for them.

Each of those three sells more laptops in total, but it's spread across models. The MacBook Pro is the best selling model, or one of the best if the stats are different now than a few years back. So they have a valuable position there, and also 10% is not small enough to ignore.

 

[allanfries]

Definitely, still the nicest looking of all the models. But oh well, as long as they replace it with another 4"(ish) one, I'm sure most won't mind.

 

[QCassidy352]

A new SE with iPhone 8 specs would be my next iPhone. Which is probably why they won’t make one - too little margin compared to the more expensive models.

 

[JPack]

Reading the posts here, I'm getting the sense that a lot of women like the SE - precisely for form factor, sturdiness, reliability, and size reasons, among others.

Do these women - who want a small, reliable, sturdy, ergonomic phone - represent a "tiny, niche" market, insignificant in numbers in world terms?

They are niche without a doubt.

More than 2 years ago, a survey done by Strategy Analytics of US and UK smartphone users indicated consumers were most likely to be interested in purchasing a device with a 5.3" or 5.0" display.

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.

 

[arkitect]

As much as I love the SE's design, the handy size is the clincher for me.

Personally, I find it to be the perfect size — even with my aging eyes — one handed use, fits in a pocket with ease.

I would happily buy a high spec higher priced iPhone of similar size.

IMHO the "phablet" sized phones look ridiculous and unwieldy.

 

[dukeblue219]

Have you ever put an SE on top of a 6/6S? It’s a quarter inch talller at each end and a sixteenth of an inch wider at each side when centered... The 6/6S is also thinner than the SE, hardly a huge jump in size

The iPhone SE is 4.87 x 2.31 (11.25 sq in)
The iPhone 6 is 5.44 x 2.64 (14.36 sq in, 28% larger than SE)
The iPhone 6+ is 6.22 x 3.06 (19.03 sq in, 32% larger than 6)

I'd argue that, speaking in relative terms, the iPhone 6 to iPhone SE difference is similar to the iPhone 6+ to iPhone 6, and nobody would ever those aren't a huge jump in size. Holding both the SE and 6 in my hands would confirm that (to me, anyway).

 

[harriska2]

I’m an older lady that prefers the SE size. If it doesn’t fit in my pocket, it’s a no-go. Same with my hubby and 22 year old butter finger son. Size. Cost. Durability.

 

[bluecoast]

Dieter Ram's classic principles of good design:

https://www.vitsoe.com/us/about/good-design

I'd argue that that these products followed this:

- Ipod & iPod Mini
- Original iPhone up to 5S (and SE)
- Cheese Grater Mac Pro
- MacBook Pro up to 2015
- Apple Watch

Worryingly, for me, the iPhone post 2014 is starting to depart from these principles - it's not durable and increasingly it's not easy to use with one hand i.e. it's impractical.

 

[fairuz]

Have you ever put an SE on top of a 6/6S? It’s a quarter inch talller at each end and a sixteenth of an inch wider at each side when centered... The 6/6S is also thinner than the SE, hardly a huge jump in size

Your width measurement is incorrect, and the height is close but rounded down...
iPhone SE: 4.87 x 2.31 inches
iPhone 6: 5.44 x 2.64 inches
The numbers are hard to tell from anyway. I've held both in my hands and in my pocket. Can't easily use the 6 one-handed, which is partially because of the screen size (vs the device size), and it's noticeably cumbersome in my pocket. I'm not a small person, 6'0" height.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

As much as I love the SE's design, the handy size is the clincher for me.

Personally, I find it to be the perfect size — even with my aging eyes — one handed use, fits in a pocket with ease.

I would happily buy a high spec higher priced iPhone of similar size.

IMHO the "phablet" sized phones look ridiculous and unwieldy.

Agree completely.

I love the form factor, and would also happily purchase a high spec higher priced phone (though I'm perfectly content with the one I have) of similar size.

 

[wallysb01]

I wish they’d stop thinking that the 6.1” LCD is the replacement to the SE. That’s not true in either size or price.

Yeah, there is no way the 6.1 LCD iPhone X style phone is going to come into the ~400 or less price range. I do think the current 4 inch form factor will die though and the current SE is so dated I'm guessing Apple really wants to EOL it. With current rumors, the best I could hope for is the next generation iPhone X, X plus, and LCD-X out in Sept, then maybe in 6 months a smaller LCD-X comes out. Currently the rumors are a 6.5, and 5.8 iPhone X, then the 6.1 LCD-X. Given the edge to edge abilities, we could see a ~5.4 inch display in a device of similar size as the iPhone SE.

 

[FunkyTang]

Yet the finest iPhone that Apple released was the 4S and that was smaller than the SE.

4S was the best. Still have mine.

 

[wizard]

I wish they’d stop thinking that the 6.1” LCD is the replacement to the SE. That’s not true in either size or price.

Size is the big issue, some of us prefer small. Unfortunately the SE has a common problem with a lot of Apple products and that is the lack of meaningful updates. After awhile you either need to lower the price or upgrade internals.

 

[nottorp]

Your width measurement is incorrect, and the heigh is close but rounded down...
iPhone SE: 4.87 x 2.31 inches
iPhone 6: 5.44 x 2.64 inches
The numbers are hard to tell from anyway. I've held both in my hands and in my pocket. Can't easily use the 6 one-handed, and it's noticeably cumbersome in my pocket. I'm not a small person, 6'0" height.

I can't use the 6 (or 7, or 8) one handed period. Or you call "sliding your hand up and down so you can reach both edges" merely cumbersome?
I could probably still use a 4.5" screen one handed, but no more than that.

 

[Wandering Wastrel]

I hope this rumor is incorrect. If I stay in the Apple ecosystem, I was going to get an SE as my next phone. Now that I'm retired, I don't need mobile connectivity as much since I'm a homebody and can use my actual computer for almost everything. I have no need for a large screen on my phone.

I'd like the SE size more than the 6 I have now. But then, I liked skeuomorphism, so what do I know?

 

[splitpea]

Apple isn't getting any money from me for a phone that can't be used one-handed. I'll hang onto my SE until the battery can't even be replaced any more and then go back to a flip phone if that's what it takes.

 

[kazmac]

Dang, I hope they do not discontinue it. I would love a smaller size (and even though it is lower resolution, the SE is much easier on my eyes).

Perhaps I will pick one up next month and just keep this 7+ in reserve.

I do not need or want a giant screen, or all the bells and whistles. For those who own one, how is it running with 11.4.1?

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Your width measurement is incorrect, and the heigh is close but rounded down...
iPhone SE: 4.87 x 2.31 inches
iPhone 6: 5.44 x 2.64 inches
The numbers are hard to tell from anyway. I've held both in my hands and in my pocket. Can't easily use the 6 one-handed, and it's noticeably cumbersome in my pocket. I'm not a small person, 6'0" height.

I’m just saying people argue how huge a 6/7/8 (not the plus size) is compared to an SE and as far as using a phone one handed, I personally never have even when I had a 5S

 

[madKIR]

As someone who doesn't care about the SE at all, I'm gonna say that the decision like that would be totally wrong! I have many friends and relatives who are still using it and pretty happy with it. They should keep it as an entry-level iPhone. The 6.1 one or whatever it's going to be is not in the same category.

 

[CouperWoods]

To me the design looks a bit outdated. They should at least look like iPhone 6/7/8.

Sorry the new designs are awful, slippy in the hand, can’t stand it up without support, ugly lump on the back (never buying something with a camera bump ( if you need more depth boost the battery life, which frankly is pitiful)). Definitely think Johnny Ive has lost the plot.

 

[FunkyTang]

4" replaced by 6.1" phone? Thats so so wrong. SE with iPhone X style screen would have been really good.

Except for the fact that the SE cheapskates would never buy a phone at the price that the no bezel SE would cost to make.

 

[Seppentoni]

I think at this point Apple hates me and doesn't want me as a customer anymore.

 

[arkitect]

I think at this point Apple hates me and doesn't want me as a customer anymore.

I feel the same way.

I speculated in another thread that the SE is going to go the way of the Mac Mini…

A much loved design, useful, decently priced and loved by a sizeable proportion of users.

Left to wither and die on the vine.

Sometimes I do wonder about Apple's odd decisions.