Especially if no TouchID. That's the whole point of the new SE. Was hoping this would be the SE+
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Prosser: Fourth-Generation iPhone SE to Adopt Same Design As iPhone XR
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I may be wrong on this, but my best guess is Apple stages iPhone SE releases based on the physical wear and tear conditions of a discontinued models’ production line tooling components.
Tooling for mass production is not cheap, and eventually it becomes necessary to replace equipment. Depending on how much original capacity they may have had to produce a specific product, there may be quite a bit of additional capacity to produce a particular SE model for a long time.
The iPhone 5 enclosures were used in devices from 2012 until 2019. While obviously receiving some minor upgrades, there is probably a good deal of overlap between iPhone 6 and today’s SE3.
It would make sense for them to use the iPhone XR /11 designs next, but continue to produce the iPhone 13 mini as a premium product at the lower price point until sales hit the proverbial brick wall, and then release the SE in 12/13 and 12/13mini designs.
Apple’s plan is to produce the iPhone SE at the highest profit margins. The only way to do that is to keep R&D costs down. One does not do that through manufacturing a new device from scratch. If it were to happen, I would expect to see the iPhone 12/13 design in an iPhone SE in another 2 to 3 years.
Tooling for mass production is not cheap, and eventually it becomes necessary to replace equipment. Depending on how much original capacity they may have had to produce a specific product, there may be quite a bit of additional capacity to produce a particular SE model for a long time.
The iPhone 5 enclosures were used in devices from 2012 until 2019. While obviously receiving some minor upgrades, there is probably a good deal of overlap between iPhone 6 and today’s SE3.
It would make sense for them to use the iPhone XR /11 designs next, but continue to produce the iPhone 13 mini as a premium product at the lower price point until sales hit the proverbial brick wall, and then release the SE in 12/13 and 12/13mini designs.
Apple’s plan is to produce the iPhone SE at the highest profit margins. The only way to do that is to keep R&D costs down. One does not do that through manufacturing a new device from scratch. If it were to happen, I would expect to see the iPhone 12/13 design in an iPhone SE in another 2 to 3 years.
Apple needs to be careful...
There's a whole segment of iPhone users who will never buy a smartphone (from Apple or not) w/o a home button.
If Apple wants them to simply hang on to their SE3s until the SE3s die, then switch to JitterBug flip phones, this is a good way to accomplish that... If Apple wants to grow their services business, they need at least one device to keep these users on those services moving forward...
Not every device needs to be completely buttonless and gesture-driven. Even Jobs understood the need for at least *one* button...
As one of my customers likes to say, "I've got a gesture for you Tim! *" (His kids "upgraded" him to an iPhone 12.. he hated it. Now has a SE3. They'll pry it from his cold dead hands.)
There's a whole segment of iPhone users who will never buy a smartphone (from Apple or not) w/o a home button.
If Apple wants them to simply hang on to their SE3s until the SE3s die, then switch to JitterBug flip phones, this is a good way to accomplish that... If Apple wants to grow their services business, they need at least one device to keep these users on those services moving forward...
Not every device needs to be completely buttonless and gesture-driven. Even Jobs understood the need for at least *one* button...
As one of my customers likes to say, "I've got a gesture for you Tim! *" (His kids "upgraded" him to an iPhone 12.. he hated it. Now has a SE3. They'll pry it from his cold dead hands.)
The XR is huge and bulky. Big nope. We are an iphone SE, SE 2, mini 12, and 12 family. Bulky, huge iphones are not our thing.
I'm not really interested in Face ID or the extra gestures required to operate such a phone. However, Android got rid of its physical buttons and it's still much the same to operate with virtual buttons.
I like my 2022 iPhone SE. If I'm looking for a replacement in 2024, I'll be considering more than usual.
Nothing wrong with lighting. Hey I got 3 lightning earphones. My appleTV remote uses it, my Mac mouse uses it, my AirPods 2 uses it, and my iPhone 13 uses it. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
I understand some people are fine with it, but I was mainly wondering if it will have USB-C, because in 2023 many countries are requiring all new smartphones introduced to have a USB-C connection. And then in 2024 even more countries are requiring a USB-C connection.
So unless Apple decides to surprise everyone and release the new iPhone SE with the XR body this year, if they release it next year with a Lightning port they will legally not be able to sell it in some countries.
That's why I'm wondering if they'll throw USB-C on the XR body as it's unlikely the next iPhone SE will be released in 2022.
SE 2 would have destroyed the iPhone 11, which Apple continues to sell. They needed to hold off until 2023, after the 11 has been discontinued.
My 87 year old mother has an SE. I shudder at the thought of her dealing with facial recognition.
Given the time frame, it's likely USB-C.
Not to mention it would be cheaper with USB-C. All iPhones with fast charge capability (iPhone 8 and newer) already have a USB-C controller inside.
I've had my M1 iPad Pro for over a year now I think. Use it multiple hours daily. And every single day, I am annoyed by FaceID. Every. Day. I hate absolutely every aspect of FaceID except for the fact that the iPad admittedly looks prettier without the wide bezel needed for a home button. My wife has the Air with the top TouchID, and while that is superior to FaceID, she too finds the lack of home button annoying. I will always prefer an iPhone with TouchID and, preferably, a home button so long as that option is available. Currently using an 8 with a new battery, and will likely be looking for a then-old SE 2022 model once my 8 can't keep up any more (or this battery goes out). The new models certainly look amazing, but there is a limit to how much form over function is worth trading off. And FaceID is certainly a trade-off.
ew disgusting 🤮🤮🤮
i prefer the AirPods case as it is, a thick case with flat sides would look way too boxy
The 12 Mini started off at $699. This year $599. If instead of dropping it off the list completely they went to $499 ... Apple would be pretty close to where they raised the SE pricep point to. Even the SE is relatively expensive for the overall cellphone market.
Not sure folks exactly want the Mini as opposed to the size and the lower price. ( Once all of the device R&D is paid for it should be cheaper. )
Remove one of the cameras , IPD LCD screen (screen tech from SE / XR ) , no mmWave 5G, keep the A15 , and probably could get down to the $429-399 price point. [ They'd have to tweak the chassis design to remove a camera hole. ]
The XR would be more of a choice is just not willing to do anything to the case before stuffing some internals into it. What was left (newer than baseline 8 chassis) that still had just one camera, relatively inexpensive screen , 'already paid for' FaceID system ,etc.
Part of the SE3 problem with sales probably has to do with Apple raising the price. (at least as much as 'nobody' wants a small screen). The XR is likely a cheaper path to FaceID + relatively cheaper screen than a modification of the Mini. IF Apple is aiming to get back down under $400 ( $349 , $329) then XR might make more sense.
P.S. The XR started off at $749
"... iPhone XR will be available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB models in white, black, blue, yellow, coral and (PRODUCT)RED starting at $749 (US) ... "
Apple introduces iPhone XR
Apple today announced iPhone XR, integrating breakthrough technologies from iPhone XS in an all-screen glass and aluminum design.
www.apple.com
It was only several years later that is was $499
iPhone XR: Still Worth Buying? Everything We Know
Apple's $499 iPhone XR from 2018 is a budget alternative to Apple's latest lineup, featuring a 6.1-inch LCD, a 12-megapixel single-lens...
www.macrumors.com
In a 12-18 months, the Mini design will be several years old also. The XR would be more ancient. If brought it back it would , then I suspect they'd be aiming at something below $399 .
I find it more likely the next SE will either be based off the mini or the iPhone 11. Using the XR body doesnt make sense to me since they would have to reboot old manufacturing processes as the phone has been out of production for awhile. As the mini/11 are still in production, it would be easier and cheaper to convert those to the new SE. and if I recall correctly, the iPhone 8 was discontinued with the release of the 2nd gen SE, so it was a seamless transition.
Personally I'd like to believe it would be based off the mini as one of the main selling points of the SE line has always been that it's a compact option.
Personally I'd like to believe it would be based off the mini as one of the main selling points of the SE line has always been that it's a compact option.
Internals are far too expensive.
OLED, mmWave, stacked logic board, etc. Removing all that would require a significant redesign.
Most importantly, nobody wants the mini. Why would Apple bet on relaunching the mini that they know sold poorly?
The mini has a slightly larger screen than the SE. What are you talking about? People buy the SE because it is miniature.
Nobody buys the SE because it's small. People buy it because of the price. Apple knows this and they clearly advertise it this way to the world.
To build a low-cost device that sells well, there is no way Apple will betting on the mini. The XR and 11 were the best selling smartphones globally in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The mini was the worst selling iPhone in Apple's line up in a very long time.
Darth Tulhu
macrumors 68020
I believe this rumor to be true.
It's just like the iPad Air is the 1st gen 11" iPad Pro without ProMotion nor FaceID.
The Xr is a fantastic phone, so an upgraded version would be nice.
I do feel sorry for small iPhone fans, though.
It's just like the iPad Air is the 1st gen 11" iPad Pro without ProMotion nor FaceID.
The Xr is a fantastic phone, so an upgraded version would be nice.
I do feel sorry for small iPhone fans, though.