The "mini" was significantly overpriced. For a hundred more, you were able to get a lot more phone. If they had priced it like the SE, it would've sold like crazy.
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iPhone SE 4 Likely to Use Modified iPhone 14 Chassis
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mrat93
macrumors 68020
Yeah, it was always awkwardly sandwiched between two other notably larger phones. If they used the mini form factor for SE 4, it would be the best selling SE, no doubt.
I only went from 12 mini to 13 Pro because of the 120hz screen. Way easier on the eyes. I would happily pay $1k for a Pro mini.
I’d be very curious to see which phones mini owners had before they bought the mini. My theory is that the mini brought down the average selling price because of people like me who downsized. Were the mini owners primarily SE, XR, and 11 owners who spent more for a smaller phone? I tend to doubt it.
Frankly by the same logic the mini sold not enough the SE also doesn't sell enough as its sales numbers are marginally better than the 13 mini was. I think it's perfectly fine to cater to 5% of your audience if that means that audience keeps buying new phones. I guess folding that 5% SE audience and that 5% mini audience into one product would have been a pretty smart idea.
SE buyers so far were fine with a smaller phone with less battery. Mini buyers were fine with compromising on some features and battery as well. I'd wager it's mostly the same audience - just that the SE crowd is more price conscious.
SE buyers so far were fine with a smaller phone with less battery. Mini buyers were fine with compromising on some features and battery as well. I'd wager it's mostly the same audience - just that the SE crowd is more price conscious.
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There is no A17 only a A17 Pro which is only in the 15 Pro models. Apple won't use a Pro chip in the SE just like they aren't carrying it over to the standard 16 next year. I'm thinking the next SE gets either A16 in 2024 or the A18 in 2025.
adb1973
macrumors regular
I keep on crying, i love the mini for it's size and the fact that it's a fast phone. There's nothing wrong with that size and it would sell like hot cakes if the next SE would use that chassis or the iphone X size.
adb1973
macrumors regular
Mostly agree with what you said in your post but i really have no clue why it seems to be only Americans complaining.
I'd love to see (relative) sales figures on that too.
To me the whole explanation is that mainly Asian markets demands bigger phones but mainly western customers like the smaller form factor?
maerz001
macrumors 68030
Im not everyone. Was yesterday again in the shop trying a 15. but it’s just to wide to use.
I also see not the point in another 6.1“. If u want you can buy them in multiple price points. 12, 13, 14, 15, and the pros.
Apple use the mini in a polycarbonate shell with touch id in the power button for $400-500
JPack
macrumors P6
iPhone 17 will be 6.3-inches with 120Hz in 2025. The older models will be the iPhone 16 and 15. SE4 basically replaces iPhone 14. If someone still wants a single camera with notch, the SE4 is for them.
bousozoku
Moderator emeritus
If they replace Touch ID with Face ID, the price will go up, also, and probably quite a bit.
They could use Touch ID the way the Android-based phones do, or put it in the Power Button, as iPad has it.
Still, enlarging the phone to save money, to make more money, while pushing away current iPhone SE users sounds like a great plan.
Who will buy the phone, if current iPhone SE users are holding on to their phones?
Wanted797
macrumors 68020
one more
macrumors 603
Because most people preferred larger iPhones to smaller ones, like in sales numbers.
Just because it "doesn't sell well" doesn't mean no one wants it.
I prefer Touch ID with a small size.
For my taste, the SE 3, aside from the normal upgrades, would only be missing USB-C.
MacFarmer
macrumors 6502
I see a lot mini complaints. I wanted to buy mini 13, but paying 800 Eur for 3 year old phone - no fricking way! I love the small form factor, and can see quite a few in the wild. But saldy I had to settle for iPhone pro 11. At least I got it for 200eur with 256, so thats okey.
I have iPhone 14 for work, and the battery last days! if the new SE has the same battery life (3 days or more), then it is going to be a great phone!
I have iPhone 14 for work, and the battery last days! if the new SE has the same battery life (3 days or more), then it is going to be a great phone!
This will be a great loss for me. iPhone SE for me:
- Compact size and lightweight.
- IPS screen without flicker. I can't use the flickering OLED screen on my iPhone.
- Touch ID. I'm nearsighted and I hold the screen close to my face. Is the focused radiation from the FaceID laser safe for eyes at close distance, especially at night?
- Compact size and lightweight.
- IPS screen without flicker. I can't use the flickering OLED screen on my iPhone.
- Touch ID. I'm nearsighted and I hold the screen close to my face. Is the focused radiation from the FaceID laser safe for eyes at close distance, especially at night?
I had a 13 mini. Swore I wouldn’t get a bigger phone. Caved and got a regular 15. The size increase is not that much, it’s fine really. I think the issue I had was actually weight, specially the 12 pro I had before the 13 mini.
robertosh
macrumors 65816
Mini lovers would need to assume that "size matters" finally... and jump to a bigger device. It's a pity that they don't use the mini chassis for this, but I totally understand because is too costly for an entry level product (mini screen is still the one with more ppi ever created by Apple) and it's true that the masses prefer big screens.
I’m 1.5 years into 13 Mini ownership and had hoped the next SE would be around the same size.
Evidently not, so I’ll hold out longer to see what happens.
I did hold the iPhone 15 (normal) in the Apple Store recently. It felt surprisingly holdable and usable despite its bigger size. Probably something to do with that shift in the centre of gravity they talked about.
Evidently not, so I’ll hold out longer to see what happens.
I did hold the iPhone 15 (normal) in the Apple Store recently. It felt surprisingly holdable and usable despite its bigger size. Probably something to do with that shift in the centre of gravity they talked about.
robertosh
macrumors 65816
Same boat for me. But the panorama on other manufactures is not better regarding small screens, there are not much options there.
I'm not a shareholder so I don't care about Apples profits but this seems like a bad decision. The SE would cannibalize a lot of the non-Pro sales.
First of all, no one cares about the ultra wide angle sensor missing.
Secondly, no one (well, no one in their right mind) cares about lack of the 'Dynamic Island'.
From what I gather, those two features are the only things that differentiate the SE from the non-Pro models, except size on the Plus model.
And since Apple does not make bad decisions impacting their profit, this means one of two options is true if this SE, in this form, is released:
The non-Pro models will cease to exist and the SE will get a price increase
or
The non-Pro models will continue to exist and the SE will get a price increase
So regardless, it will get a price increase. I myself would never pay _double_ the price for "Pro" features, if those are only slightly better cameras, 120hz, and under-screen FaceID (vs notch). Few people would.
The magic of iPhone is iOS, the SoCs and the pretty good battery life. Not the other stuff. And Apple knows it. It won't come cheap, I believe.
First of all, no one cares about the ultra wide angle sensor missing.
Secondly, no one (well, no one in their right mind) cares about lack of the 'Dynamic Island'.
From what I gather, those two features are the only things that differentiate the SE from the non-Pro models, except size on the Plus model.
And since Apple does not make bad decisions impacting their profit, this means one of two options is true if this SE, in this form, is released:
The non-Pro models will cease to exist and the SE will get a price increase
or
The non-Pro models will continue to exist and the SE will get a price increase
So regardless, it will get a price increase. I myself would never pay _double_ the price for "Pro" features, if those are only slightly better cameras, 120hz, and under-screen FaceID (vs notch). Few people would.
The magic of iPhone is iOS, the SoCs and the pretty good battery life. Not the other stuff. And Apple knows it. It won't come cheap, I believe.
Yes and if you ever walked into a carrier's store, I bet the salespeople never mentioned the word "mini" or "se".
szw-mapple fan
macrumors 68040
You should reread my comment. I said the SE always got the chip in the latest base iPhone at time of release, not that the SE would get the Pro A chip. In mid-2025 the iPhone 16 would be the latest base iPhone and it will have the A17 (and the iPhone 16 Pro would have the A18 Pro). So if Apple keeps to the SE release convention so far, if they release it in 2025 it would have the A17 chip, just like the iPhone 16.
The whole point of keeping the iPhone 14 on the A15 last year was so that Apple can start putting the A(n) Pro chip on the Pro model and the non-Pro A(n-1) chip on the base model. I very much doubt the regular iPhone 16 would skip a generation and get the A18 in 2024. The A18 should instead be in the iPhone 17.
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