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iPhone SE - updated every year?
- Thread starter akm3
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Your guess is as good as anyone's. I guess it depends on how profitable it's been.
I would assume if they're toying with the idea of a 3 year cycle for the flagship the SE will be at least that
I'd bet it all that the 4" model won't be updated next month. I also think it's unlikely it's updated next spring.
My guess is the current SE is sold at its current price until at least September 2017. At that point, anything can happen (and it probably depends on sales): updated, dropped entirely, or left to languish.
My guess is the current SE is sold at its current price until at least September 2017. At that point, anything can happen (and it probably depends on sales): updated, dropped entirely, or left to languish.
It's $150 less than last year's model and $250 less than the flagship. That's significant.
It definitely won't be updated next month. It's what, 6 months old? The question is will it even be updated in 2017.
Depends what they find lurking around out back in the warehouse scrap heap ... heck, this iteration was assembled from spare parts, production over-runs, and cast-offs.
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It'll probably be a 2 year cycle phone. Someone who only wants the cheapest iPhone will generally be someone who doesn't need the latest and greatest and will upgrade slower..
Since iPhone 3GS, Apple has kept the previous model at $100 cheaper than the current model. When the iPhone 5S came out, they decided to do away with this tradition and instead come up with the iPhone 5C, likely to squeeze some more profit margin on the low end.
Today, Apple had gone one further than that by introducing an even lower tier of iPhone. This is of note during the recent earnings calls as Apple's ASP has trended downward because of the introduction of these lower cost models. The line up right now looks like this.
- 6S Plus - $749
- 6S - $649
- 6 Plus - $649
- 6 - $549
- 5SE - $399
So iPhone now ranges between $399 to $749. I think that spread in iPhone prices likely will not narrow down given that Apple's focus is now towards developing nations like India (hence the downward trending ASP, I think partly financed by the outrageous $749 6S Plus). So there's likely going to be a $399 iPhone going forward. The question is now, which model?
I think the 6 is likely not going to take the place of the SE next year given that the SE is actually in some ways an upgrade. Apple is pushing Force Touch, it's plausible that the 6 will be discontinued. I think that it is unlikely for the 6S to take that $399 spot given that the natural progression would be for the 6S to take the $549 spot currently held by the 6. Apple wouldn't and should sacrifice that potential margin.
What I think will happen...
1. Year 1: Apple introduces iPhone 7 Pro, on top of the iPhone 7 plus at $849. Apple cuts the price of iPhone 6s to match current iPhone 6's prices and discontinues iPhone 6. iPhone SE receives a $50 price cut. This widens the range of prices to $349 - $849. I think this is ideal.
Year 2: Apple introduces iPhone 8. iPhone 7 line receives a $100 price cut and iPhone SE is updated with iPhone 7 internals.
I think the SE will have an 18 month lifespan to begin with but I do think that going forward, it will be an annually refreshed phone to be competitive in developing markets.
Today, Apple had gone one further than that by introducing an even lower tier of iPhone. This is of note during the recent earnings calls as Apple's ASP has trended downward because of the introduction of these lower cost models. The line up right now looks like this.
- 6S Plus - $749
- 6S - $649
- 6 Plus - $649
- 6 - $549
- 5SE - $399
So iPhone now ranges between $399 to $749. I think that spread in iPhone prices likely will not narrow down given that Apple's focus is now towards developing nations like India (hence the downward trending ASP, I think partly financed by the outrageous $749 6S Plus). So there's likely going to be a $399 iPhone going forward. The question is now, which model?
I think the 6 is likely not going to take the place of the SE next year given that the SE is actually in some ways an upgrade. Apple is pushing Force Touch, it's plausible that the 6 will be discontinued. I think that it is unlikely for the 6S to take that $399 spot given that the natural progression would be for the 6S to take the $549 spot currently held by the 6. Apple wouldn't and should sacrifice that potential margin.
What I think will happen...
1. Year 1: Apple introduces iPhone 7 Pro, on top of the iPhone 7 plus at $849. Apple cuts the price of iPhone 6s to match current iPhone 6's prices and discontinues iPhone 6. iPhone SE receives a $50 price cut. This widens the range of prices to $349 - $849. I think this is ideal.
Year 2: Apple introduces iPhone 8. iPhone 7 line receives a $100 price cut and iPhone SE is updated with iPhone 7 internals.
I think the SE will have an 18 month lifespan to begin with but I do think that going forward, it will be an annually refreshed phone to be competitive in developing markets.