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The SE is a great little phone, but it is important to note these phones on sale are the A1662 models NOT A1723. Depending on your carrier and international travel frequency, this could be an important factor to consider.
 
This is my primary concern as well. Not only that, but will future iOS updates essentially cripple the performance of the SE? With the exception of iOS 12, each update has had a negative effect on performance, even when usage hasn't changed.
Might you or someone else be able to offer an explanation for this? -- the performance boost of iOS 12 specifically targeted most legacy of iPhones.

I mean, the popular posit on the forum is that of "Planned Obsolescence" - which should have meant that Apple knee capped the 5S and SE, locking them onto iOS 11. Then extolled the superiority of iOS 12, allowing others to show the performance advantage of moving to new phone hardware. But they didn't. Instead, Apple kicked out the literal tentpole of Planned Obsolescence. Seemingly these are 'good will' actions that Apple took in wake of "ThrottleGate" but will cost them 100's of -B-illions of dollars. Not to mention that so many got 'genuine apple' battery replacements at an unbeatable price. Extending legacy phone useage even further. And even if you exclude the 5S and SE from iOS 13 you've only just locked them to an excellent OS version. Not to mention that iOS 12 improved performance across all iPhones.

Seriously, Apple could have just claimed mea culpa, offered a lame excuse, provided the toggle, locked the 5S and SE to iOS 11, and continued on with the clandestine operation of Planned Obsolescence.

No reason to burn this much cash, future earnings, and stock value. Their current trouble seem to be entirely self inflicted - and if iOS 13 is a performance turd that will only make it worse.

More generally, this isn't a great deal... it's 2016 hardware for $400 CAD + tax. I love the form factor, but let's not pretend this is a steal.
Sure, but compared to potentially getting a sale on an XS at $1400-1500 CAD phone + tax? or $600-800 on an iPhone 7? Are they trying sell new iPhones or not?

IMO -- These aren't the actions of a company that considers its customers the 'lol sheeple' that the rest of the likes of pundits, Louis Rossman, this forum, fandroids, or genuine Apple critics consider them to be. But, I don't know if they're entirely benevolent or genuine, either. They just seem exceedingly erratic.
 
Despite being a diehard Apple user since before the first Mac was introduced, and despite making much of my living in Mac software development and journalism, I'd never owned an iPhone. Never owned any mobile phone, in fact, smart or otherwise.

About a year ago or so I’d finally made up my mind to take the plunge into this brave new world* and buy an iPhone SE 2 whenever Apple got around to releasing it, and then Apple went and discontinued the SE last September, with no replacement in sight.

I wasn’t about to drop $549 or more on a device I wasn’t even sure I wanted at all, and I certainly wasn’t about to buy a cheap Android phone, so I held off.

As soon as I saw the news here about the first appearance of the iPhone SE on Apple’s clearance store for 33% off, I snatched one up. I suspect it will do everything I might want it to do just fine, but if I do find myself suddenly sucked into the vortex of iOS frenzy, then either I can upgrade to an iPhone Xs, or I can apply the $850 I saved by buying this iPhone SE instead to the cost of an iPad Pro.


* To be perfectly honest, I found The Wand Company’s Star Trek Communicator to be the only compelling reason to buy any smartphone at all:

prod-comm-on-stand-3839x4770px-824x1024.jpg
 
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True. I had no clue until I saw the link here. I ordered one immediately!

It's the only phone without the camera bump on the back. I can't imagine Saint Steve approving the protruding lenses on the current models.

I'd love for Apple to keep this form factor as an option and just upgrade the guts.

Steve would NEVER allow the camera bump design. He didn’t compromise on design like that. The newer iPhones have great cameras but they look ridiculous, it really is a sacrifice on design. The Apple of old would find a way to keep it flush with the back of the device. I love the SE for that...
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I would keep the SE at iOS 11 if you can. I can easily get close to iPhone XR like battery life (7+ hours screen time). The other SE in the house with iOS 12 has about half the battery life.

Same. I get a little more than an hour usage per 10% of battery on the SE on iOS 11. 12 was designed to beef up speed to sacrifice battery and promote upgrades. Literally get almost half the battery life if you upgrade.
 
Seems like they are trying to get rid of inventory. It’s hard to gauge interest when a product is being sold for such a low price

Imagine the really low, low price when trying to get rid of these "overstock" iPhone SE when rumors (true or not) start floating about an actual SE2 in the works.

They do? ... I don’t think Apple does know the demand, and I think they underestimated this phone when it launched three years back.

They always knew the power of this iPhone SE.

They were suddenly trying to gauge how well they can sell the phablets and $1500 iPhones. And, not having the option of the SE as a cannibal made the math simpler.
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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 A9 is a relatively new 64-bit chip that is quite powerful - released in 2015 in the 14nm and 16nm die.

Apple will have to write specific code to make it obsolete. And, even if they do, just not updating the iOS 12 will do. Anything that this hone does now, it will continue to do as long as it can live. There are iPhone 4S running iOS 9 still doing the job.

Yes and iOS 13 is going to age the SE very badly given what's expected this year.

Just don't get it (iOS 13).
 
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Apple has replenished stock of the iPhone SE on its online clearance store for the third time this month. These are brand new, unopened, and unlocked models starting at $249 in the United States. Availability dwindled very quickly in the each of the first two times the iPhone SE was added, so act fast.

iphone-se-clearance-third-800x510.jpg

Apple is offering the iPhone SE with 32GB of storage for $249 and with 128GB for $299 in Silver, Space Gray, Gold, and Rose Gold. Tech specs include a 4-inch Retina display, A9 chip, Touch ID, 12-megapixel rear camera, and 3.5mm headphone jack.

Prior to being pulled, the iPhone SE was available with 32GB and 128GB of storage for $349 and $449 respectively, so Apple is offering $100 to $150 off. The device was originally released in March 2016 and was popular among fans of smaller smartphones and those who preferred the iPhone 5-like design.

(Thanks, Bob!)

Article Link: iPhone SE Makes Third Appearance on Apple's Clearance Store at $249--Act Fast
cur
[doublepost=1549003149][/doublepost]thanx for the tip. was able to buy one for my daughter who prefers the smallness. I am curious, I could not find the “special” section if I went to apple.com myself. could only find it using your link. is there some way other than your link to get to this special page listing the iphone se?
 
cur
[doublepost=1549003149][/doublepost]thanx for the tip. was able to buy one for my daughter who prefers the smallness. I am curious, I could not find the “special” section if I went to apple.com myself. could only find it using your link. is there some way other than your link to get to this special page listing the iphone se?

Scroll to the bottom of the Apple home page. Under Apple Store, click on Refurbished and Clearance. Then click on Clearance.
 
Scroll to the bottom of the Apple home page. Under Apple Store, click on Refurbished and Clearance. Then click on Clearance.

The link at the top of this article works better. Several steps from the AS.

It appeared 5 minutes ago - again. No 128GB grey, I bet it disappeared in 20 seconds, but all others colors in 128GB are available this second.
 
The link at the top of this article works better. Several steps from the AS.

Yes, but that wasn’t the question :D

I actually wondered myself how to get to the Clearance Store, as I didn’t even realize there was one.
 
Scroll to the bottom of the Apple home page. Under Apple Store, click on Refurbished and Clearance. Then click on Clearance.

thank you. I needed one more step ....had to tap “ see all” then I can look down list to tap clearance. thanx again.
 
Yes, but that wasn’t the question :D

I actually wondered myself how to get to the Clearance Store, as I didn’t even realize there was one.

The Refurbished and Clearance Store has always existed at the bottom of Apple Store - a combo, no separate Clearance or Refurbished Sections. There never is a Special Section there.

The first line of this thread has the link that goes directly to the Special deals part of the Refurbished and Clearance section for just two available products - the iPhone SE and the MacBook Pro currently sold there.

That is why said that this is a better link - one-click link. Night Owls may be able to get the Gray 128GB, all the best:cool::D!

Edit - All 128GB except Gray now available.
 
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I'm more willing to bet a cache of unsold stock that they had returned from vendors.

I doubt Apple is opening up supply chain/ manufacturing for such low volumes of SE's judging by how fast they've sold.

Selling them off this way helps as well prevent an inventory write off should they sit too long in inventory without being sold. Inventory write ofs have massive affects on a companies bottom line.

I expect you're right on all counts.

That said, I love my 6S still but was ready to buy an unlocked XS or XR as I need a phone that can do CDMA when in the USA. I was less than thrilled about having to buy one of the new models because I really think they've gone way over the top in terms of price, I don't really care for the design, and don't see any advantages over my 6S other than the fact that I made the mistake of buying a 64GB, a size that isn't big enough for my needs.

When the first load of SEs came available at the Apple Store, I was quite bummed to miss them (by hours) as I've always loved the form (the 4 was my favourite design by far, and I'm really glad that my iPad has brought back this design).

This morning, however, I saw 128GB in silver had come available, and having bought it, despite being rabid about tech and a notorious early adopter, I have no buyer's remorse about my new phone. If Apple comes up with something compelling, I can always upgrade then, but I just know I am going to love my little phone, and I'll get better battery life and be able to use it all over the world.

This probably was clearing the channel, and not testing the waters, but I bet they've taken notice in Cupertino that people are talking about this little discontinued phone resurfacing, and buying them as fast as they appear even though they're buried in a section not linked to from any of the many iPhone or retail pages.
 
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How would you optimize use of an SE/128 while also holding a 7/256 (battery just replaced in November)--make the SE the primary and let the 7 "rest" for a few months, or try to sell the 7 in the aftermarket now?
 
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.

I use a leather case with mine - a lovely piece of leather work from the Spanish company Piel Frama.
 
I do not get why is soo special about SE? It is a tiny phone that is not even suitable for kids anymore. For a bit ofer $100 i wod rather get iphone 7 refurb. The iPhone 7 refurbish is a much better deal/value compared to SE while not being all that much bigger.
 
I do not get why is soo special about SE? It is a tiny phone that is not even suitable for kids anymore. For a bit ofer $100 i wod rather get iphone 7 refurb. The iPhone 7 refurbish is a much better deal/value compared to SE while not being all that much bigger.

Because there are many people who use their phone primarily as just a communication tool. that's calls, messages and low use for other things. They're not looking for the fanciest, highest end portable entertainment unit. They don't need a 100" quadrupple retina blah blah blah.

They just want a phone. that's good quality. Look good, functions great, but can do "smart" things when wanted. And they want it in a small, easy to pocket and use one handed device.

and right now, Besides the SE, NOBODOY. even in Android land is making this class of device anymore. EVERYTHING now is 5+" in display size. today's "small" phones are the S9 or standard size iPhone Xs. these 5 years ago would be considered midsize or large devices.

I think Apple would have a massive success, sure, maybe not their 1-3rd most selling device, but it would sell very well if they made an SE-2 with n otched front. similar case size, but a 4.5" edge to edge display.
 
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