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Ming-Chi Kuo Casts Doubt on iPhone SE 2, Expects Few Changes Should New Model Launch

I want a new iPhone C to replace the SE (7c? 8c? Xc? lol). Plastic. One of the most original iPhone designs of recent years. I loved my white 5c while I had it. Beautiful phone. Also plastic was a great way to differentiate the lineup between pro and affordable.

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diego said:
I want a new iPhone C to replace the SE (7c? 8c? Xc? lol). Plastic. One of the most original iPhone designs of recent years. I loved my white 5c while I had it. Beautiful phone. Also plastic was a great way to differentiate the lineup between pro and affordable.

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A whole new model, even using a plastic shell, would be pricier and more demanding to develop than just dropping in a new chip to the SE design.
 
CreatorCode said:
The SE is already on the level of the iPhone 6s, just one notch behind the 7. It would be silly to update an already long-in-the-tooth phone just to give it a slightly-less-old chip.
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"No spare resources" LOL!
Best news if there is to be an SE Mark II.

My take:
Keep Ive's grubby hands away from this classic.
Let him tinker away with the "premium" line, yet leave the SE's classic looks untainted.
 
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Falhófnir said:
A whole new model, even using a plastic shell, would be pricier and more demanding to develop than just dropping in a new chip to the SE design.
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I'm pretty sure the richest and most valuable company on this planet can afford to develop a new model of an affordable phone.
 
I suspect many would-be SE 2 buyers are fine with iPhone 5 design and Apple will have no trouble selling them provided that:
  • Priced at current price of $349 with double the storage (64 GB) or reduced to $299 with 32 GB.
  • Same camera and processor as iPhone 8.
  • 2nd generation Touch ID.
  • 3D Touch.
  • New colors.
Having said that, I would prefer that SE 2 moves to wireless charging. Although wireless charging has its minuses, it is so frigging convenient to me.
 
Was it ever suggested that the SE2 would be a mini X? Frankly, the A10, iPhone 8 camera, 2nd Gen Touch ID, wireless charging, and 3D Touch will do it. I don’t know if putting 3D Touch in the 4-inch screen cost much development money, as the technology is in its third year, so I would think implementing it in LCD screens is cheaper than it was in 2015. One thing that probably won’t wont be in it is the new LCD display tech that’s rumored to be in the new non-OLED iPhones. Apple may be showing their hand a bit if they release an SE 2 with it in June, although it would further future proof the SE 2 nicely. It’ll still sell like hot cakes for teens and folks who don’t want a bigger iPhone.
 
People that don’t want se to change much : the screen is really outdated

Not it’s size but the contrast
 
A couple of iPhone camps developing. One interact with the iPhone screen extensively and the other, iPhone becoming more of a manager of resources. I am drifting more and more towards the iPhone being a manager of resources thus, not needing as many of the screen interaction tools. Example, my Apple Watch and Siri now consuming more of my interaction with apps like phone, music, messages, activity, workouts, notifications, to name just a few. My iPhone stays in pocket or bag longer with each new generation. The need for cool things like screen quality, size and Face ID, with their added costs are less and less attractive. I see this trend excellerating, as the Apple Watch, Siri, and new devices gain functionality. iPhone not going away anytime soon. Maybe the hub that holds together the echo system.
 
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I'd be very happy with an updated SE in the same form factor. A screen that fills more of the front would be nice, but certainly doesn't have to go to the extremes that it requires a notch. But just updated internals would be fine.
 
adamdport said:
All I want is 3D touch with the 5 form factor.
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To retain the price point of the iPhone SE two, I doubt Apple would be implementing 3D Touch. It also depends if that's there goal is to continually make it affordable as they did the first generation iPhone SE.
 
MacRumors said:
If there really is a so-called iPhone SE 2 on Apple's roadmap, Kuo expects it will have few outward-facing changes. He predicts the device would likely have a faster processor and a lower price, rather than iPhone X-like features like a nearly full screen design, 3D sensing for Face ID, or wireless charging.
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Bring it on, I'm perfectly fine without any of those "features".

SE = Apple's best phone.
 
nutmac said:
I suspect many would-be SE 2 buyers are fine with iPhone 5 design and Apple will have no trouble selling them provided that:
  • Priced at current price of $349 with double the storage (64 GB) or reduced to $299 with 32 GB.
  • Same camera and processor as iPhone 8.
  • 2nd generation Touch ID.
  • 3D Touch.
  • New colors.
Having said that, I would prefer that SE 2 moves to wireless charging. Although wireless charging has its minuses, it is so frigging convenient to me.
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Replace 3D Touch with a better, updated display on par with the 8’s screen, and I’m in. The display is terrible on the SE.
 
diego said:
I'm pretty sure the richest and most valuable company on this planet can afford to develop a new model of an affordable phone.
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They could afford to make a 4" iPhone X and price it at SE levels, but they'd not make money on it. Its about margins and profits with Apple. If there's not a good margin on it, they won't make it.
 
I don't think Apple makes firm decisions about product releases that far in advance. They'd have an SE and a few other phones under development but they'll decide to release one based on how the sales of their other phones go.
The iPhone SE came out after sales of the iPhone 6s were reported to be lower than expected.
I'm not sure the iPhone 8 and X sold as well as Apple hoped, so hopefully they'll release an SE2 to keep their sales numbers up.
 
npmacuser5 said:
A couple of iPhone camps developing. One interact with the iPhone screen extensively and the other, iPhone becoming more of a manager of resources. I am drifting more and more towards the iPhone being a manager of resources thus, not needing as many of the screen interaction tools. Example, my Apple Watch and Siri now consuming more of my interaction with apps like phone, music, messages, activity, workouts, notifications, to name just a few. My iPhone stays in picket or bag longer with each new generation. The need for cool things like screen quality, size and Face ID, with their added costs are less and less attractive. I see this trend excellerating, as the Apple Watch, Siri, and new devices gain functionality. iPhone not going away anytime soon. Maybe the hub that holds together the echo system.
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Absolutely this. Improved networking, processing and mics for Siri, and camera improvements, are the 2 things I want in phone upgrades, but these alone are not worth £699. Everything else that makes the iPhone 8 £699 is what I want an iPad for: a brilliant display.

AirPods, Watch and Siri are amazing for me. The iPhone is an increasingly unnecessary step between Watch and iPad. Perhaps I’m the perfect candidate for an iPhone Plus?
 
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ackmondual said:
..... That'd be a shame if true (I don't know how accurate this firm's predictions are). These days, phones are becoming more like tables, while tablets are getting to the size that laptops are when they started off.
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I agree. Once upon a time, tech companies thought "form factor" was key (like being able to use an iPhone with one hand). I hate my iPhone 8 (too large) and would happy "downsize" to an SE
 
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cambookpro said:
Glass doesn't spontaneously break, and to say Apple use it so it breaks and people buy new products is an odd criticism to levy against them.
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There are dozens of better materials that Apple (defensively) patented meaning that glass has commercial advantages that they will never admit
 
He predicts the device would likely have a faster processor and a lower price, rather than iPhone X-like features like a nearly full screen design, 3D sensing for Face ID, or wireless charging.
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Sooo exactly what I want. Looking forward to buying a new phone I can actually hold in one hand.
 
diego said:
I'm pretty sure the richest and most valuable company on this planet can afford to develop a new model of an affordable phone.
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apolloa said:
I literally laughed for a minute when I read this, what he is saying, is that Apple, with all its endless billions and billions and billions in cash, more then some countries, and its thousands of workers around the globe are, incapable, of designing more then 2 or 3 phones at a time...

Bbbbwwwwaaahhahahahahahahah
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Ludicrous.
Their programmer is busy with Airport2 and the administrator is doing Eddy's hotel bills...
 
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This is kind of in line with what I would expect. He didn't say no SE 2 this year, just that it wouldn't get a redesign. I wouldn't be surprised to see the current SE updated with a newer chip (A11 perhaps?) and maybe some camera upgrades (although the rear facing sensors from the 7 on are larger and therefore wouldn't be an easy swap, and I don't think OIS is in the cards for the SE, but maybe an upgraded front camera?). At the same price as the current SE it would still be a good option for someone looking for a smaller phone.
 
kiranmk2 said:
Makes sense - stick in an A11, updated camera and 2nd gen TouchID and get it out the door. The whole point of the SE was that because it reused the iPhone 5s frame it had very low development costs so thinking Apple would 'develop' a new phone to be the low-end didn't seem right. I'm sure it's possible that they could make the SE2 using spare iPhone 6(s) bodies and screens, but this might pull too many people away from the high end phones.
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Apple wouldn't develop a brand new phone for the low end market. But Apple does have to develop a new phone destined to replace the aging iPhone 5 design at some point, and they have to do it while they can charge a premium for it to recoup some of their development costs. Now would be a good time to do it, while dropping the SE price even lower. That way in a couple of years, Apple will have a new iPhone design replacement positioned for the low end market to replace the SE which will be a rock-bottom entry level phone for Apple by that time.
 
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