I think this is right. The iPhone SE isn’t really for the US market. It’s for emerging markets. And in those markets, the only computer the owner has is the phone. Therefore, the bigger the screen, the better.
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iPhone SE 4: Here's What the Latest Rumors Say
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They are pretty popular, in the US, as corporate phones.
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The 6.1 current phones like the 14 have trimmed down all component already meaning there wouldn't be a new price segment with this SE.
IF they did this they would stop making the 13/14 class devices entirely and end up wiht 15 pro, 15 pro max. SE and SE max classifications instead of 15 pro 15 pro max, 15, 15 +/max, and SE (6.1).
That is why it makes no sense for it to be a 6.1 device. There's only 1 situation where it does and thats removing the 15/15+/max classifications and have PRO and SE devices only.
I suspect 1 of 3 things will happen this year when the iPhone 15 launches. Because the 13 mini they currently sell will drop to $499.
edit: 0) Apple kills the 13 mini
1) Apple will continue to sell the same iPhone SE and 13 mini and the 13 mini will likely cannibalize most of the SE sales.
2) Apple will kill the iPhone SE (for now) and just sell the 13 mini at $499.
3) Apple will kill the iPhone SE (for now) and update the 13 mini to be the new SE and give it crash detection and bluetooth 5.3 and small camera improvements to get up to date with the iPhone 14 series and keep it at $499 and drop the 6.1 inch iPhone 13.
I hope for 3 personally. But it will likely be 0/1/2.
edit: 0) Apple kills the 13 mini
1) Apple will continue to sell the same iPhone SE and 13 mini and the 13 mini will likely cannibalize most of the SE sales.
2) Apple will kill the iPhone SE (for now) and just sell the 13 mini at $499.
3) Apple will kill the iPhone SE (for now) and update the 13 mini to be the new SE and give it crash detection and bluetooth 5.3 and small camera improvements to get up to date with the iPhone 14 series and keep it at $499 and drop the 6.1 inch iPhone 13.
I hope for 3 personally. But it will likely be 0/1/2.
the 14 ,13 ,12 ,11 etc class devices do the exact same thing. They reuse as many components as possible.
They are the SE devices of the larger platform. All used as much older tech as possible, all used similar designs to keep costs down etc etc.
moving the SE to 6.1 would be replacing at least 1 of those devices for no real sense. It would be a name change of the 15 basically. so either SE, SE+/max 15 pro and 15 pro max. OR SE(6.1) 15 +/max, 15 pro 15 pro max.
The SE is quite high end in emerging markets.
It isn't even a cheap phone just a less expensive one. I believe it is suited particularly for those that want into the Apple ecosystem and experience the cheapest way possible (including as mentioned corporate phones).
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It could be Apple is waiting for a redesign, perhaps with the iPhone 16 or 17 to better differentiate it from the next SE so you don’t have the two phones looking awfully similar to each other when people see them in the stores. Maybe the iPhone 16 or more likely 17 will get a third camera lens (telephoto) and LiDAR?
Integrated TouchID, iP11 Pro level cameras, USB-C = Instant buy.
No need for FaceID or LIDAR - just a simple phone with a decent camera at a reasonable price and size.
No need for FaceID or LIDAR - just a simple phone with a decent camera at a reasonable price and size.
You don't get multiple profiles on iPhone so sure you can call using your work phone, but you will be using work apps on a personal device and vice versa etc. BlackBerry solved this problem but it was too late for them.
I think the home button is an endangered species so your grandmother may have to learn some new tricks. My mom is in her eighties and she’s pretty good using her iPhone 12 mini.
The SE is the exact opposite of a device for emerging markets for so many reasons.
It's over twice as expensive as a Samsung that has 2x the storage, full-screen design and triple the resolution OLED, a more than fast enough processor, three cameras with a telephoto and ultrawide, and fantastic (way better) physical build quality that simply feels better in the hand. For less than 2 times the price, mind you.
Especially for emerging markets where people will compare specs and truly not care about the brand, as iMessage and reliance on Apple-exclusive services is simply not a thing here, the value is not there. As someone who lives in such a market, I've yet to see an SE in the wild. Everyone would choose such a Samsung if they can't afford to splurge for an expensive iPhone, and not many can.
The SE is, even more than everything else Apple, a very US thing to be honest.
I’m just hoping it keeps TouchID, even if it’s on the sleep button like the iPad Air. It’s faster and more convenient to be able to pull it out of my pocket and have it ready to go by the time I look at the screen. (As opposed to having to first stare at the lock screen and then swipe. Makes a big difference when done dozens of times a day.)
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This model was the pinnacle of industrial design. I still cherish mine deeply.Hard to believe Apple is still selling old iPhone SE models. My all-time favorite iPhone SE design.
Yes that’s one of the area where Androïd is much much better than iOS. You can set profiles and isolate work data from non-work data, so you have work contacts and calendar accessed separately.
iOS is really very poor when it comes to “pro” uses (despite Apple tagging half its offering with a pro suffix).
It's far more likely the SE 4 will be based on the 13 Mini, than the 14, people that buy SE's don't want a large phone!
Rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE have been circulating since just months after the current model launched in 2022. Below, we have recapped rumors about the device, including potential features and release timing.
The latest word comes from UBI Research analyst Dae-Jeong Yoon, who this week said that mass production of the fourth-generation iPhone SE has been delayed until 2025, according to Korean publication The Elec. Other sources agree the device will launch in 2025 at the earliest, including analysts Ming-Chi Kuo, Jeff Pu, and Blayne Curtis.
In April, Kuo claimed that the next iPhone SE would be equipped with an Apple-designed 5G modem and have a similar design as the standard iPhone 14, suggesting that the device would have a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, and flat edges. However, since the device's launch has reportedly been pushed back, Apple's plans could change.
Apple has reportedly been planning its own modem since at least 2018, and acquired the majority of Intel's smartphone modem business in 2019 to bolster these efforts. At this point, it is looking like the modem will not be ready until 2025 at the earliest, with all iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models expected to stick with Qualcomm modems.
The current iPhone SE was released in March 2022 and has a 4.7-inch LCD display, Touch ID, 5G, a 12-megapixel rear camera, and the A15 Bionic chip. Priced starting at $429 in the U.S., it is the most affordable iPhone model in Apple's lineup.
Article Link: iPhone SE 4: Here's What the Latest Rumors Say
Having said that, to predict something 2 years down the line is just guessing & possibly wishful thinking
I bought one a year ago for my son, wish I hadn't, wish I bought him a 13 mini, he feels hard done by, with the fact that we all have full screens and Face ID (I don't blame him) not my best decision, it's also archaic to use 😏Hard to believe Apple is still selling old iPhone SE models. My all-time favorite iPhone SE design.
Contacts can be assigned to each SIM card, it's a one off chore, iMessage can have 2 separate accounts as well. Business data? You can have separate emails & even separate Safari accounts these days.
I guess you just like carrying 2 phones around 😏
Sooner or later an emerging market emerges and starts taking quality & longevity into account (ie; value for money) and then iPhone sales go up, this is already happening in China, India & the Eastern European countries
That is exactly what I thought, I really like my 13 mini.
Best phone I've ever owned. Not in terms of specs, but in terms of my love for the design. Full screen display, dark green color, pocketable size, great battery life to boot. Love it.
