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How long before an upcoming iOS version won't be compatible with the aging A9 chip? I don't see much life left in these, in the long run...

The iPhone 5S that came out in 2013 is still supported by Apple. Expect at least three more years of software and security updates, and five more years of service support for the SE. You have nothing to worry about.
 
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They were still available a few minutes ago, when I ordered a 128GB iPhone SE. Good luck and I hope you find one, too.
 
A heartfelt THANKS to MacRumors for continuing to post when Apple has more of these to sell. I finally managed to pick up a spare and would have picked-up 2 spares if I felt I could drop $600 right this moment. (And if I had any confidence that Apple would continue to support them far into the future rather than discontinuing SE support for future iOS versions far sooner than is technically necessary. That's something I fully expect to hear from Apple sooner rather than later. Hope I'm wrong though, as this may be the last great phone in a small form-factor and a headphone jack.)
 
How long before an upcoming iOS version won't be compatible with the aging A9 chip? I don't see much life left in these, in the long run...
These SEs will likely receive iOS 13 and iOS 14 (based on how long other iPhones are supported for iOS upgrades). That means it will be "current" for 2.75 more years at a minimum, unless Apple makes a radical change for one of the next 2 iOS versions.
 
At this point, the size of that screen is comical. I get the impression that people want the physical phone size, but the larger screen size. So, an iPhone SE of those dimensions, but with a full-face screen (pun intended) would be hard to keep on the shelves.

The size is actually sufficient for me. I find the larger phones kind of comical. You compromise on everything. The screen is still too small to watch movies, read books, etc. yet it’s giant enough that you can’t use it with one hand and the damn thing is also quite heavy. I have a laptop, iPad, tv if I want a larger screen.

However, I understand that some people like it so apple should continue making it. They should also make a small phone though.
 
Interesting how many people laugh at the SE because they take for granted that Apple knows what they are doing. Just a couple days back Tim Cook actually said they will adjust the price of iPhones in many markets after checking worldwide economics just now in January 2019. They didn't check those worldwide "funny facts" back in June or July just before announcing it and setting a price all over the world? They, indeed, are a mess.
 
FINALLY got it this time around...thank you so much for the heads up!

My current phone is a beat up 5s. Cracked screen and basically unusable back camera are my main motivating factors for getting a new phone. I guess I could have gotten a 7, but I really like the smaller size of the SE. How much of a difference do you think I'll see moving from 5s to SE? I actually don't have many issues with my current phone on iOS 12, minus the aforementioned defects. I would have liked to have some of the more recent features like Portrait Mode, and Hey Siri (which I surprisingly use a lot on iPad for Home stuff), but the newer phones are huge and expensive. Although I must say, if they make an SE2 with FaceID, I'd jump on that at any price point lol.
 
No, it is not "comical"; actually, perhaps surprisingly, bigger is not always better, and some of us find it - the iPhone SE - just perfect for our needs.

It is a lovely, portable, reliable, phone with a terrific battery life.
Agreed. What I want is an iPhone with the form factor of an SE, but the screen size of an XR. But physics and engineering haven't quite made stretchy screens practical yet, so I'll be content with my iPhone 8.

I recently passed on a chance to get the XR, and went with the 8, precisely because of the size (and, weirdly, because Apple doesn't make a silicone case for the XR - their clear case is too slippery for me - a silicone case might have swayed me to the XR). But I know a number of people who are really attached to the SE form factor, and I think that's a quite reasonable position.
 
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I had a 5s before the SE. You should see much better performance (better proc, 2 GB vs 1 GB RAM) and the rear camera is also much improved.
 
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Based on what? The phone has much better single-core performance than the Galaxy S8.

It's still an extremely capable device, regardless of its age. Unless Apple seriously drop the ball on software optimisation, there's no reason it shouldn't run iOS 13 smoothly.

I no longer have my SE but it ran iOS 11 much better than my X... I guess because of the smaller screen estate and display technology there was less demand on the OS?
 
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How long before an upcoming iOS version won't be compatible with the aging A9 chip? I don't see much life left in these, in the long run...

Well we still have the 5s supported I think. So you're looking at basically 3 more years of active support (OS updates and security fixes) for the SE.
 
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It’s amazing to see the excitement around this phone. Pretty cool actually. Everyone loves the little thing.

I’m not into it, but I hope they make a new 1.

I do a lot of hiking/backpacking/cycling/kayaking and the weight, longer standby, smaller size, and cost make it the priority phone for taking it with me. I used to have one and when I upgraded I sold it regretfully. So now I can swap the SIM between my X and SE and still keep an enjoyable experience.
 
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I got an SE in the first round of clearance; if I could even come close to financially justifying it, I'd get another one now. Because even if Apple eventually comes out with an SE2, I doubt it will have a headphone jack. Well, I also doubt that sitting in the box for three or so years, while I use the first one, would be at all good for it.
 
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Wow it truly is the McRib of the phone business. Act fast-to buy a seriously old phone. Pure genius to make something with little demand into something highly sought after.

The phone lasts all day, battery life is amazing on the SE because of the power draw on the A9 and the smaller screen size. The phone is 3 years old and runs as fast as the iPhone 7. It’s an amazing device. They were very dumb to abandon the design and I think they’re figuring that out now.
 
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