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Questionable Rumor Says Apple May Introduce New iPhone SE at Event in Late August
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I thought that, too, as I was typing it. But I've come to accept some things I intensely dislike, personally. One is what you just said--unless Apple and the industry as a whole have a change of heart for some reason. Frankly I think we will head into foldable displays and chassis before we ever go back to making small candy bar phones with flagship specs.
The other is that the 3.5 mm headphone jack is done and gone on iPhones.
My dream phone would be one that you can fold up and easily slip into even a woman's front jeans pockets. It would be able to unfold into a size about like what the Plus is now. Full screen display. When folded it would be so sturdy you could drop it on the street and it would be fine. It would accommodate a decent sized battery that at least double the use we get on a current Plus charge. I personally would have a standard headphone jack on it since I'm the one dreaming it up. If I were an Apple engineer though, I'd tow the company line and leave it off for a lot of reasons that would make this post TL/DR
The iPhone 6s is also a "more" affordable option, and so it works for ALL older models, no matter the size, wherever.
Nothing sad about that.
As for targeting the Indian market with a smaller phone, it will be cheaper only because it will be assembled in India.
Most Indians get by with basic phones that have text and talk only. So the bigger market is present, and the Chinese phones dominate that market right now, and will do so even after >5 years of iPhones (made in India) being available.
I was disappointed when the iPhone 5 screen got taller. I had just gotten on the iPhone 4s and found steve jobs right: the screen size was the absolute biggest it could be while still being a comfortable one handed device. The iPhone 5 screen size increase made it difficult to reach the top of the screen using one hand. I started having to do a slight shimmy. So if it's already too big, I don't want it any bigger, because that means more shimmying. That little bit (4 to 4.7) more screen space is just not worth it for me in the end because to me a smart phone is not meant to try to compete with my other devices for consumption purposes, like a phablet. For that I have my iPad and MacBook and tv. For me, a phone is like a little utility tool. Always with me, very useful, but as non intrusive as possible. That means portability is of the utmost importance, meaning I will always be against any (further) compromise of one handed use.
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Eh?? I'm not sure I follow your point. The point I was trying to make was that it's sad someone can't get a first rate citizen small phone these days. Apple seems to think if you want a small phone you must want a cheap phone. I don't, I want an expensive small phone. Well, you know what I mean.
I'm not sure why you bring up the 6s as a counter to my point, nor even what your counterpoint is. But I'm also running on little sleep.
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Foldable phone would be very nice. But would it only be usable when you fold it out big? What about one handed use? Maybe you're more about pocketability than one handed use. For me I'd like a small one handed phone that could occasionally fold out into a nice ereading size device, like 6.5-7" (that's about the biggest I think it could be while still being able to grasp it comfortably with one hand).
I was shocked to hear that Android doesn't have updated 4" phones. Well, you may need to revert to a flip phone. Hopefully Apple will keep the SE form factor going. I've given up on iPod Touches getting a 4.7" screen, but surely the popularity with the 4" on iPhones is strong enough.
Only true if they went with 6x/7x style rounded edges. It's quite easy to hold the 4x/5x models without holding or covering the bezels.
Where did you read the event for the 7s and 8 will take place the third week of November?
That's Apple philosophy.
You want the cheaper option? You have the smaller display.
This is true for the iPhone, iPad, iMac, Macbook pro.
Was it "sad" that large and expensive had to be grouped together?
Before the SE, there were no choices other than large+expensive and larger+expensive.
And now it's large+expensive+no_headphone_jack.
What is the market for small and expensive iPhones? Do you think it is larger than small and inexpensive? My gut feeling is that it isn't.
Just get the 7sc/8c.
Seriously, I can't imagine a "6sss" in September/October if there really is a one-sized overpriced Pro/Editon/8/X/whatever-OLED phone not ready for mass production and everyone else gets the same huge bezel design as it has been available three times by now already, expecially if the latter two won't get OLED.
Maybe the new ones get a slightly smaller new designed housing with the same or similar display size (like 10.5" iPad) and the non Plus is also available in a cheaper version may it be before in August, September/October, March or even June.
Could be just with internals from last year's 7, or even include a specced down A10X (what already got the die shrunk to 10nm before the A11), named A10SE.
A jump from A9 just to A10 seems unlikely for me shortly before, at the same time or a few months after all the other ones already got the A11. It would be 2 generations behind in contrary to the same generation as the with 6s just a few months later.
Or how about using the iPod Touch form factor to keep it cheap instead of using polycarbonate again?
But I fear they just keep the first SE around for a long time, like they did with the 2015 MacBook Air, what just got more RAM in 2016 and a slightly higher clocked CPU in 2017.
As already mentioned by some people the SE already just got a storage upgrade.
Sorry for typos and/or everything doesn't make any sense at all. I am still half asleep...
Was it "sad" that large and expensive had to be grouped together?
Before the SE, there were no choices other than large+expensive and larger+expensive.
And now it's large+expensive+no_headphone_jack.
What is the market for small and expensive iPhones? Do you think it is larger than small and inexpensive? My gut feeling is that it isn't.
You have a good point about large and expensive, although one important difference is it's possible to pay for almost anything depending how far you're willing to go (borrow, etc), whereas it's simply impossible to have a fully featured small iPhone. So you're more stuck if you want a small expensive phone than you would be if you wanted large and inexpensive.
The no headphone jack does kind of suck though for those who need it.
And you're probably right about small and inexpensive being the bigger group, but I don't think the small expensive group is as small as people think. My personal belief is that there was a fundamental reason smartphones were initially made the size that they were, and there are a lot of people who simply get the larger phones because they have more features but all things being equal would prefer the smaller phone. I also believe small phones are going to make a come back someday. But that's just me.
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But the more personal the device, the more burdensome it can be if it's not the size you're compatible with. Makes total sense from a business standpoint though.
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I've only had those pre-6 (and SE) phones and I have to disagree. But I guess it depends on an individual's definition of easy. Yes it's definitely easier than post-6 iPhones, but not as easy as it would be if there was a bezel, in my opinion. I can hold my SE in landscape orientation without using the bezel and its almost as comfortable as holding it with a bezel, but not as secure. Or I can hold in a grip that's as secure but definitely not as comfortable. For me, to get a comfortable and secure grip, I need a bezel.
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The 4" format was abandoned initially and reintroduced as the SE; the USA market volume alone made it a worthwhile product and still does. The "old" internals are made from casts that were not "retired". The manufacturing of the SE in India is basically assembly, and a needed arm for sales in India via its own Apple stores.
iOS updates slowing down the SE is not really a much complained about issue; what is your source on this "problem"?
Not what I'd call a problem yet but I do notice my phone isn't as fast as it was when it was new and running iOS 9. My guess it will slow more with the next update and will start to be more noticeable.
From a manufacturing point of view, if you can manufacture more components then you reduce price due to experience curve, economies of scale etc. So, the SE and the 6S using mostly same components meant greater profit margin on the 6S, plus another offering at little cost as they don’t really compete against each other. the SE uses a design already paid for so the profit on it is probably very good.
But, when the 8 comes in Apple will have two many phones in their line up and they won’t need the 6S- which they will drop. That creates a problem for the SE because then Apple would have to make components just for the SE and in smaller numbers so costs would go up. It would also take away resources in manufacturing from newer products, mean increased inventory etc.
So one of two things will happen:
1. They will drop the SE because it’s no longer profitable
2. If they can shoehorn many components from the 7 into it, then it will carry on with a decent upgrade.
It could go either way but an upgrade is likely if it has turned out to be popular and if it can remain a cash cow.
It might well come in earlier using up components from the 7 as sales will go down when people expect the 8 to be launched. Probably no fanfare though.
But, when the 8 comes in Apple will have two many phones in their line up and they won’t need the 6S- which they will drop. That creates a problem for the SE because then Apple would have to make components just for the SE and in smaller numbers so costs would go up. It would also take away resources in manufacturing from newer products, mean increased inventory etc.
So one of two things will happen:
1. They will drop the SE because it’s no longer profitable
2. If they can shoehorn many components from the 7 into it, then it will carry on with a decent upgrade.
It could go either way but an upgrade is likely if it has turned out to be popular and if it can remain a cash cow.
It might well come in earlier using up components from the 7 as sales will go down when people expect the 8 to be launched. Probably no fanfare though.
I have the 7 now And I do appreciate the size of the screen but I do miss my SE if they just change the screen slight 4.5 and of course give us new specks I am on it. I'm so hype and hope they will/ar doing this! PLEASE!