Kuo: Apple to Launch 'iPhone SE 2' in Early 2020 With Similar Design as iPhone 8, A13 Chip, and 3GB RAM

[PickUrPoison]

That's obviously the assumption, but is it correct? Right now, we really don't know because the small-phone option is severely dated and hardly being marketed (compared to Apple's other offerings). It's very possible that people would want small phones if they featured cutting-edge technology and were marketed by Apple as something other than a niche product.

We don’t know, but Apple does. They do a ton of market research and if they saw an opportunity there’s no reason to think they’d ignore it.

Android manufacturers have a market that’s 3 to 4 times as large as Apple’s and there’s no demand for small phones there either.

 

[manu chao]

5s and SE = Same size
SE and iPhone 8 (SE) = Not the same size

People want that 4" form factor of the iPhone 5 / 5s / SE or an all-screen SE like phone. Neither will happen, the market is so small, people are happy with larger 5" - 6" phones.

That was not the argument I was referring to. I answered the question why it could make sense for Apple to offer an-up-to-date phone in the iPhone 6/7/8 shell. It does make sense as long as enough people

1. Prefer that shell to the iPhone X and later shell and/or
2. Are willing to put up with it if it means up-to-date technology for a lesser price.

Passionate SE fans (or if you want iPhone 5/5s/SE shell fans) probably don't think there are many people that would fall into category (1) because the physical size difference to the X/Xs/11 Pro is too small. Though once you mix (1) and (2), ie, people who prefer the 6/7/8 size to the Xr/11 size and aren't willing to shell out the money for an 11 Pro (which is closer in size to the 6/7/8 than the Xr/11), that group might get noticeably larger. Plus their might be some home button and TouchID fans.

In other words, as with the SE, there are two groups, one motivated by the size (or overall shell) the other by the price/performance ratio. It is just that those two groups making the case for an updated iPhone 8 shell don't exactly match the two groups that made the case for the updated 5s shell, even though they have similar motivations.

 

[tech3475]

The reason I bought an iPhone SE in the first place for my mum was because of the size.

Ideally there should be 2 models, the iPhone SE 2 and the iPhone SE 2+.

The SE 2 with a similar size to the SE and the 2+ for those who want a larger 'budget' iPhone.

 

[JGIGS]

This should be called and iPhone 8S or iPhone 8SE. I'm pretty sure at least 70% of SE buyers buy it for the form factor and the other rest for price.

I know small phones are niche right now but I don't know any other company making a phone at this size so at least Apple could own this niche market with very little competition. If no new iphone comes out with a similar footprint to the SE it will be a little disappointing.

 

[manu chao]

That was their intent, but it turned out differently. It's my first iphone, and if they don't make one with similar dimensions, it will be the last too.

What you don't know is how different it turned out. Was it 10% of SE buyers that bought it for the size or was it 50%?

 

[NickName99]

I like this article’s take on why the iPhone SE was too small:

Actually, the Small iPhone Is Bad

A new analyst report says that Apple will release a second-generation iPhone SE at the beginning of next year. Lovers of the old Apple design with its

gizmodo.com

 

[sporadic]

We don’t know, but Apple does. They do a ton of market research and if they saw an opportunity there’s no reason to think they’d ignore it.

I wonder if I should have sent back my XS rather than pass it over. To Apple it probably just looks like a successful sale.

 

[manu chao]

This should be called and iPhone 8S or iPhone 8SE. I'm pretty sure at least 70% of SE buyers buy it for the form factor and the other rest for price.

Funny that nobody so far suggested iPhone 9 as the name. It probably doesn't make sense to give it that much of a marketing position (it shouldn't distract too much from the iPhone 11 generation) and it could be awkward to release an iPhone 9 after an iPhone 11 has been released. But a two-generation newer system-on-a-chip plus possibly a better camera isn't that different to the advances the iPhone 8 had over the iPhone 7.

 

[mattopotamus]

This should be called and iPhone 8S or iPhone 8SE. I'm pretty sure at least 70% of SE buyers buy it for the form factor and the other rest for price.

I know small phones are niche right now but I don't know any other company making a phone at this size so at least Apple could own this niche market with very little competition. If no new iphone comes out with a similar footprint to the SE it will be a little disappointing.

With this rumor, hopefully the 5.4" premium phone rumor is real. If I cannot have a true SE successor, that is the next best thing. I do see a trend back to smaller phones, not quite 4", but any direction down is better than larger and larger.

 

[MrAperture]

iPhone 8SE

 

[dampfnudel]

Apple could call it iPhone 9. I think it would sound better than SE 2.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Eh....most of us think he nailed it. Textbook overcompensation.

Seeing all of those repetitive hand posts reminds me of an expression: Not the sharpest in the shed, but still a tool.

I'm glad most of you make stupid assumptions. Says a lot about you.. but whatever. You mean nothing to me, so do whatever gets you off, I guess.

 

[NickName99]

Funny that nobody so far suggested iPhone 9 as the name. It probably doesn't make sense to give it that much of a marketing position (it shouldn't distract too much from the iPhone 11 generation) and it could be awkward to release an iPhone 9 after an iPhone 11 has been released. But a two-generation newer system-on-a-chip plus possibly a better camera isn't that different to the advances the iPhone 8 had over the iPhone 7.

This reminds me of a conversation I had with my wife the other day. She went from an iPhone 7 to an iPhone 11, but it was only 4 revisions newer, and only 3 CPU revisions newer, not 8 like it would have been if Apple had stuck with their naming formula.

iPhone 7
iPhone 7S - wasn’t made
iPhone 8
iPhone 8S - wasn’t made
iPhone 9 - wasn’t made
iPhone 9S - wasn’t made
iPhone 10 - same CPU as 8
iPhone 10S
iPhone 11

 

[MoreRumors?]

It wouldn't make sense for people who are using iPhone 8 and want to buy a smaller phone to buy a new SE if the form factor of new SE is using iPhone 8.

The way it is written, it is sounding like it is more an 8 than a SE. This article has generated much mudslinging amongst members here for one which I am going stand on the sidelines. I am eager to see it officially announced and see the specs and price so who knows if this will be my next upgrade or wait until the next announcement in September 2020.

 

[iZac]

You know when politicians invent their own motivations for voter discontent then use it to sell their own vision of what they think voters want?

This feels like that.

 

[dampfnudel]

My mom needs to replace her 5s next year and this would probably be the best option for her (she doesn’t like the size of the iPhone 11).

 

[Merode]

A “small and premium iPhone” (which is not what the SE was) would be such a niche product that Apple would need to be very stupid to make one.

With iPhone X like edge to edge display? I think you'd be surprised. You could probably fit iPhone 8 screen there. With AMOLED it would be feasible to sustain its power needs.

 

[sir1963nz]

SE was always sold from a price perspective, not size.

THAT may have been Apples reasoning, the buyers however bought it for its size.
Since the SE, Apple has not produced a phone I would buy.
I am keeping my SE until it dies, and by then either Apple has produced another iPhone the same size as the SE, or Android will be "Good enough" and I will shift platforms.

Already because of the garbage keyboard Apple has on its laptops I know I will be going the Hackintosh route for my laptop replacement.

 

[B4U]

It seems like the problem stems from Apple designer not pushing the boundaries of iPhone SE form factor.

If they did try, that would be the only one in the market and would dominate.

 

[manu chao]

THAT may have been Apples reasoning, the buyers however bought it for its size.

That at least is the reasoning of those who bought it for its size.

Whether 10% of iPhone SE buyers bought it for its size or 90% did, I don't think we have any way of knowing (unless somebody bothered to do polling on this question, well Apple might have, but they are not telling).

 

[Elitegate]

The SE launched 3 years ago when the flagship iPhone was 4.7” and the largest phone available was 5.5” - it was neither small nor premium, it was cheap (being small was a collateral). Plus it was half the price of the 6S.

Now the flagship iPhone is 5.8” or 6.1” (depending on who you ask) and larger phones are the norm.

Apple would simply replicate the formula - phone from 2.5 years ago + updated internals = iPhone SE. As a collateral, 4.7 is the new “small”.

Yes but the current 5.8" is still smaller than the 5.5" at the time because of the all-screen design.

 

[manu chao]

With iPhone X like edge to edge display? I think you'd be surprised. You could probably fit iPhone 8 screen there.

Just compare the side bezel width of the 5/5s/SE with that of the X or Xr.

5: case width: 58.6 mm, screen width: 49.1 mm (x 87.1 mm) -> bezel width: 4.75 mm
X: case width: 70.9 mm, screen width: 62.9 mm (x 136.2 mm) -> bezel width: 4 mm

Thus, you'd get a 1.5 mm wider screen on that iPhone 5/5s/SE chassis width. The iPhone 8 screen width: 58.8 mm (x 104.6 mm). Adding that 1.5 mm to 49.1 mm doesn't get you anywhere near 58.8 mm.

You'd get closer in total size because the top and bottom bezel would be much smaller (I'll let you do the math) but if screen reachability is the key parameter than adding screen on top probably wouldn't count as much as adding screen width (by reducing the side bezels).

 

[ThisBougieLife]

SE fans: We liked the SE because it was small. We want a small iPhone.

Everyone else, including Apple: No, that's wrong, you liked it because it was cheap. You want a cheap iPhone.

 

[Elitegate]

Do you also believe iPhone 5c wasn't intended as a low-cost phone because the press release didn't mention price? Apple thought people wanted plastic instead of aluminum?

Apple Introduces iPhone 5c—The Most Colorful iPhone Yet ​

​

All-New Design, Packed with Incredible Features in Five Gorgeous Colors​

​

CUPERTINO, California—September 10, 2013—Apple® today introduced iPhone® 5c, featuring an all-new design, packed with incredible features in five gorgeous colors—blue, green, pink, yellow and white. iPhone 5c is built on a foundation of features people know and love like the beautiful 4-inch Retina® display, blazing fast performance of the A6 chip, and the 8 megapixel iSight® camera—all while delivering great battery life. iPhone 5c comes with more LTE bands than any other smartphone in the world, a new FaceTime® HD camera, and iOS 7, the most significant iOS update since the original iPhone.​

​

“iPhone 5c is everything iPhone 5 was and more, in an all-new design packed with great features,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPhone 5c is designed with a beautiful polycarbonate enclosure that looks and feels so solid in your hand.”​

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Really. See above.

Don't tell me you also think Apple doesn't believe in profits just because none of their marketing literature or keynotes mentions "profits."

Come on.

Say what you want, but the SE was intended for people who liked small (4") phones. It was also pretty cheap at launch, yes. 399$ for 16 GB, and 499$ for 64 GB, 6 months later in Sep 2016 they doubled it to 32 & 128 GB.

March 2016 Keynote says it all:

Even if Apple released it with a budget price in mind, the SE is still loved by many today because it is small. If you ask me it's an outdated form factor and people should just stop whining and get the 4.7" iPhone 8. How is the iPhone 6/6s/7/8 too big? It's barely larger than the SE.

 

[msp3]

What "small phone" extremists fail to understand is no one cares about what you think about size, the SE has and always was a way to get rid of old parts (the sort of parts and bins supply chain thinking that is a hallmark of Tim Apple). The iPhone 8-based SE is the clear logical result.