iPhone SE Sales Forecasted as 'Lackluster' Over First Weekend

[dejo]

My wife tried to pick one up over the weekend in the Denver area. No luck. No Apple Stores had them and the nearest 50 AT&T stores were out of stock. So, she ordered online and still has to wait a few weeks for delivery. Lackluster, huh?

 

[Rogifan]

Nobody's talking about the fact that this is the first phone released after AT&T stopped subsidizing them. Paying full price is a big deterrent.

People aren't paying full price, they're paying in installments. AT&T doesn't even advertise the full price on their website.

 

[EatingApples]

While it appears that Apple has elected not to share first weekend sales numbers for the iPhone SE, as it has done in the past for some flagship models, multiple analysts have forecasted that sales of the new 4-inch smartphone were "lackluster" during its first three to four days of availability.

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I am in a 4inch phone market and have an Iphone 5s. I have no incentive to upgrade though as my phone works just fine. Maybe in a few years when I've dropped my phone in the fishtank or whatever.

 

[bdhokie]

Just spoke with an AppleCare rep and she seemed to backup this report. She said that it was "pretty slow" since launch day, although this morning things were picking up.

 

[white4s]

If that's the case why is my SE not shipping until the 18? WTF =P

damn that's late, mine came on friday

 

[MH01]

Where are all the people that wanted a new 4 inch iPhone?

I assume they ordered from apple.com which is not reflected in these stats.

 

[white4s]

Why would anyone buy a phone that has last year's technology, cheap (sort of) as it may be? I think it's highly likely that there will be a 4-inch 7 in September, leaving the lineup as 7+ (5.5"), 7 (4.7"), 7- (4") and 6S+, 6S, SE.

how is it last year's technology if it has the inner workings of the 6s

 

[iGeek2014]

I'm not sure what it's like for others dotted around the world but here in the UK the iPhone 5s is still available from 3rd party retailers (either outright or on contract/PAYG).

Whilst it's early days yet and already established markets are likely the least of Apple's concerns I can't imagine having the iPhone 5s still readily available will help early day sales.

 

[coolfactor]

Right here. I'm one of those people who wants a new 4-inch iPhone. And until one is released, I'll continue to use my iPhone 5s.

The SE is a new 4-inch phone. Reviews are positive. The phone is a screamer. Or do you want every release to outperform the previous, even if performance is already top-notch?

 

[69Mustang]

I think the more important note from that pie chart is the 18% using a 5S. That is a potential window for longer term viability for the SE and it's future iterations. I'd imagine the die hard 4"ers would chose an SE model when they decide to upgrade. Judging the success of the SE based on one week is 😵. Someone above mentioned that, outside of tech circles, the gen pop probably has little to no idea about the SE. Apple hasn't even advertised it. Not sure if they will since the design isn't cohesive with their current iPhone/iPad lineup.

 

[macduke]

Apple launched the iPhone SE last Thursday on the same day as Tesla began accepting reservations for its lower-cost Model 3, and consumer excitement was unsurprisingly geared towards the highly-anticipated electric vehicle. In fact, many Tesla locations in the U.S. and Europe had longer lineups than nearby Apple retail stores.

I'm really not sure why the writers here keep comparing the iPhone SE to the Tesla preorder. It's like comparing Apples and loose meat sandwiches. Apple will sell tens of millions of iPhone SE before the year is out and Tesla won't even ship a single Model 3 until a year later. I get that some of you are excited about your Model 3 and it really is great news and I'm happy for you, but it really has no bearing on anything to do with the iPhone, and is only of passing interest in general as Apple is many years away from competing in that space.

Here's the thing about the iPhone SE that people need to realize: Apple is going to sell a lot of these things, but it's going to be a grind over time. The type of people who buy a phone like this aren't the ones who first rush out to upgrade. Sure, there will be some, especially among those clamoring for a new iPhone in a small form factor. But at that price with a few reduced features, you're not going to get huge day one sales. You're going to get solid, sustained growth over time. Especially in emerging markets. My wife is in the market for this iPhone. I asked her if I should preorder it, and she said "No, I'll upgrade to it at some point, just don't worry about it for now." And she's still using an iPhone 5. So whatever, up to her. She was glad that they made it and she's going to buy it, she just doesn't have this need to get it right away? That's something that people around here need to understand. Normal people just don't care as much. And why should they? It's just a phone.

It was really hard for me to type those last two sentences, lol. But it's true for most people.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

16gb for $399 = No Sale from me
32gb for $399 = Would of had a sale from me
64gb for $499 = Not interested in paying that much for a 4 inch phone.

Apple skimped out on the only option I would have purchased.

 

[2457282]

I find the comments here amusing. Just because it. Has the same body of a 5s does not make this old. It is a new phone with significant upgrade over the 5s. The reality is that folks like me that are on the 6s are not going to down size 6 months into a new phone. And really I can't see anyone that is on a 4.7" or larger will go back to the smaller phone. This phone was released for those that wanted a smaller phone. So for Apple this will be incremental sales. New users and pre-6 users that were holding out.

 

[coolfactor]

Apple didn't even try. They could have eliminated the bezel and made this a 4.3'' brand new phone.

Yah, you should totally work for Apple. You know better than them. I'll send Tim an email and tell him to fire his staff and replace them with you. 😛

Seriously, if Apple felt that a bezel-less iPhone was ready for market, then we'd have it. We will one day, but today is not that day.

 

[carrrrrlos]

Was looking forward to getting the new 4" iPhone for my wife until the SE came out with the same body style as the 5s. Sure there are improvements, but for strapping on your arm while running, making calls, and checking Facebook the 5s is still perfect.

If handing down old tech from existing iPhones and calling it ‘New’ is Apple’s model moving forward, I expect to see the current iPhone 6s Plus’s camera in the next version of the 6s.

 

[Freida]

I highly doubt that iPhone 7 will come in 4" form. IF that was the case SE wouldn't be released right now.
I'm one of those that wanted 4" form but I'm not going to buy the SE. Why? Simply because I have iPhone 6 now so it doesn't really offer anything to me and I'm not gonna lose money now few months before iPhone 7.
IF iPhone 7 will come in 4" form then you can bet that I will buy that. However, I'm not buying anything that is not in the same league as the flagship one.

Sometimes I feel, that Apple is doing this on purpose just to prove their point. Because 5C was crippled phone so of course it wasn't going to please those that wanted small factor and now with SE the same thing. Yeah, on paper its an ok iPhone that can be almost on par with flagship but its old design and its missing features. Apple do 4; 4,7 & 5,5 and then we will talk numbers. Until then its just pure manipulation.

On the other hand, SE is a great entry iPhone as the price is simply really good but that has nothing to do with size preference if its not on par with the flagship. So, keep SE as entry and bring iPhone 7 in 3 sizes! I'll pay full price for flagship 4" iPhone.

 

[coolfactor]

16gb for $399 = No Sale from me
32gb for $399 = Would of had a sale from me
64gb for $499 = Not interested in paying that much for a 4 inch phone.

If the phone was 4.7inch, would you be interested? I'm confused.

I do agree with you that the entry-level should've been 32GB. But $499 for a phone as advanced and capable as the iPhone is a great price. I think people forget just how much technology is packed into these "simple" devices these days... how many man-hours go into creating them. Apple's margins are slim on the SE, I'm sure of that.

 

[Martyimac]

I will buy an SE when I can hold it, feel it, see it first hand. Here in the Tucson area NOBODY had an SE that I could do that with. My 5S is still a great PHONE and I really don't need to upgrade it but Apple put an attractive price on the SE and filled it with great upgrades, enough to tempt me. But I want to put it in hand before I make my decision. I put very little credence in the report that this thread springs from, for all the reasons already mentioned in other posts here.

 

[Ramchi]

DOA for people who have not slept continuously for 3-4 years

 

[nt5672]

Right here. I'm one of those people who wants a new 4-inch iPhone. And until one is released, I'll continue to use my iPhone 5s.

Agreed, although we are planning on upgrading a 4s which does not work at all well with the newest iOS. We are waiting for it to appear in stores and have no intent to wait in line. New iPhones are just not the next big thing worth waiting in line for.

 

[coolfactor]

However, I'm not buying anything that is not in the same league as the flagship one.

The SE has the same performance as the current flagship. What is confusing about that?

 

[Jsameds]

I find it so strange that people on here will upgrade and positively wet their pants with excitement when the S-cycle phones are released in the same casing as the old (4 --> 4S, 5 --> 5S, 6 --> 6S) but all of a sudden it's criticised and called an old phone when it's 5S --> SE.

Makes no sense at all.

 

[TonyC28]

I wonder what the magic number was for them to release sales figures. "If we sell X phones we'll release the number."

 

[sphexx]

Seems to be sold out in UK.

 

[Mac 128]

considering how infrequently i've heard the request other than on MR forums, i imagine they gobbled them up and are sitting pretty right now. never thought the numbers would be very large, myself..

So when the SE sells 3.4 million phones in one weekend, in just one territory, it's a failure, but when the Watch sells only 3.5 million units worldwide in one quarter, it's an unrivaled success? OK

Why would anyone buy a phone that has last year's technology, cheap (sort of) as it may be? I think it's highly likely that there will be a 4-inch 7 in September, leaving the lineup as 7+ (5.5"), 7 (4.7"), 7- (4") and 6S+, 6S, SE.

So you're advocating that everyone stop buying all iPhones immediately and wait for the 7? There won't be a 4" 7, at least not likely in September. Apple will likely continue its off cycle servicing of the 4" market, just like they don't seem to be updating their iPad models all at once. It unnecessarily spreads their resources too thin to launch so many skus at once. A Spring release gives them a financial boost as well, and another event to launch products, and showcase new seasonal watch bands.

how is it last year's technology if it has the inner workings of the 6s

To be fair, the 6s was released last year, and contains much of the same tech that the 6 had, which was released two years ago.

Apple didn't even try. They could have eliminated the bezel and made this a 4.3'' brand new phone.

And they could have charged $250 more. Choose your poison. Why would Apple redesign the phone 6 months before the new flagship 7 is released?