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Other So is the XS/X size the smallest phone Apple will make from now on?

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Anthony T

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Jul 10, 2008
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Last year's new set of phones consisted of the XS (5.8" display, same size as the X) and XS Max (6.5" display), along with the XR (6.1").

The iPhone SE has been discontinued, and the only recent smaller phone that Apple has released is the 4.7" iPhone 8 in 2017. There are no reliable sources indicating that Apple is making a phone smaller than the XS in the near future.

Is 5.8" the new 4.7"?
 
My gut tells me the introduction and life cycle of the SE was the period for the holdouts of larger screens, now that it's over who knows.

I could see them maybe doing something like iPhone, iPhone Max, and iPhone Mini one day. But I wouldn't assume an SE size for the mini. But really it's all speculation at this point.
 
No one really knows for sure like C DM said....But one can speculate that this is the new norm based on how the mobile phone industry is trending. I just don't think there is much of a demand for smaller screen phones, despite what a few folks on this forum would have you think. I personally could never go back to using such a small screen, but I also recognize that everyone has different needs and preferences.... I don't find the 5.8" form to be that huge of a phone but to each their own I guess.
 
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How about an Xr size flagship with high pixel density?

Seems like an obvious gaping hole in the lineup.

I'd like to see asmaller phone for those who want it, but I doubt it will happen.
 
Small phones are out of fashion.

Expect phones to get even bigger and heavier with foldable phones, especially if they find that people are willing to pay $2000 for one.

The SE was NOT a resounding success, despite having internals identical to the 6S. If it had outsold the 6S 3:1, maybe Apple would have thought differently.

So yes, the X/XS is likely the smallest phone Apple will make from this point on. Most people who had an 8 are totally fine with the size of the X/XS. They just balk at the price.
 
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Seanm87 said:
Careful. The 4 inch phone brigade will be absolutely furious with some of these responses!
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Because it’s a very difficult reality for those to accept that a 4” iPhone is _no_ longer of interest to Apple at this current point, which in fact, likely will be the same for the 4.7 inch iPhone moving forward given the transition to displays like the 5.8 and up.
 
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cableguy84 said:
The 4 inchers need to accept reality. Small phones are dead.
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Eh....I remember a time where iPhone users had to accept the “reality” that they would never get a large screen phone:

https://www.engadget.com/2010/07/16/jobs-no-ones-going-to-buy-a-big-phone/

You can prognosticate all you want, but the only reality is that no one knows if Apple will ever again service the people who want smaller phones than those that exist in the current lineup. And NO ONE is clamoring for a new phone with a 4 inch screen.....it’s the size of the case that matters. Apple could easily fit a 4.7 inch screen in a case the size of an SE if it were bezel-less, and it’s quite possible that one day Apple will introduce folding or rollable phones that start the size and weight of an SE when folded. SE users aren’t anti-large screen people..... we just don’t want to sacrifice the size, weight, and pocketability to get a large screen.
 
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In all likelyhood, the X design will be the only design going forward. The Home Button iPhones will just go away.

With that said, the Xs is pretty much the same size as the iPhone 6 design. It just has a much bigger screen.

I suspect your question is really more along the lines of whether Apple will produce an SE sized phone in the future. My guess is that if they do make an SE2, it would be in the mode of the Xr. It'll likely feature an LCD screen (at 328 ppi), one rear camera, and aluminum frame. Price it at $600/650 and there should/could be enough profit margin to be worthwhile.
 
ftaok said:
In all likelyhood, the X design will be the only design going forward. The Home Button iPhones will just go away.

With that said, the Xs is pretty much the same size as the iPhone 6 design. It just has a much bigger screen.

I suspect your question is really more along the lines of whether Apple will produce an SE sized phone in the future. My guess is that if they do make an SE2, it would be in the mode of the Xr. It'll likely feature an LCD screen (at 328 ppi), one rear camera, and aluminum frame. Price it at $600/650 and there should/could be enough profit margin to be worthwhile.
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No, my question wasn't really about the SE. I'm just asking for people's thoughts/predictions as to whether Apple will introduce any new phones in the near future with a display smaller than 5.8".
 
dcpmark said:
Eh....I remember a time where iPhone users had to accept the “reality” that they would never get a large screen phone:

https://www.engadget.com/2010/07/16/jobs-no-ones-going-to-buy-a-big-phone/

You can prognosticate all you want, but the only reality is that no one knows if Apple will ever again service the people who want smaller phones than those that exist in the current lineup. And NO ONE is clamoring for a new phone with a 4 inch screen.....it’s the size of the case that matters. Apple could easily fit a 4.7 inch screen in a case the size of an SE if it were bezel-less, and it’s quite possible that one day Apple will introduce folding or rollable phones that start the size and weight of an SE when folded. SE users aren’t anti-large screen people..... we just don’t want to sacrifice the size, weight, and pocketability to get a large screen.
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Back in 2010, Apple bet on iPad. They were expecting every consumer to buy a small iPhone and a big iPad. When iPad sales stalled and fell off a cliff in 2013/2014, Apple launched their phablets. Small phones aren't coming back as long as consumers have an appetite for large displays.
 
Anthony T said:
No, my question wasn't really about the SE. I'm just asking for people's thoughts/predictions as to whether Apple will introduce any new phones in the near future with a display smaller than 5.8".
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I am betting no but there are still rumors of a new SE.

If they do not re-introduce the SE then 5.8" will be the new standard from Apple for small.
 
Anthony T said:
No, my question wasn't really about the SE. I'm just asking for people's thoughts/predictions as to whether Apple will introduce any new phones in the near future with a display smaller than 5.8".
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If you think about it, if you believe that the X-design will be the only design in the near future ... then any new iPhone with a screen smaller than 5.8" would be an SE sized phone. Not sure what an SE chassis with a full screen would come out to in screen size though.
 
JPack said:
Small phones aren't coming back as long as consumers have an appetite for large displays.
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Most likely true, but I believe that iPhone sales are significantly down from 2017, and I don’t think Apple is happy about it. True, they can and will cut prices to spur sales, but it seems the smartphone market itself is stagnating as phones are reaching the peak of what they can do vs price to upgrade. It’s just not worth it to most people, even people who can easily afford it.

You think cell phones will continue to grow much more in size? Not me....I think we are at the outer range now as we approach 7” tablet size. Apple has to find new ways to get people to upgrade, whether it’s folding/roll up display phones, or perhaps creating a smaller premium phone for those who want it and can afford it. Yes, it would be a niche market for sure, but they need to generate new iPhone revenue streams somehow. I would gladly pay over $1000 for a premium iPhone that’s smaller than the 6/7/8/X, just as I would gladly pay $2k for a folding iPhone that was smaller than the 6/7/8/X when folded.
 
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dcpmark said:
Apple has to find new ways to get people to upgrade, whether it’s folding/roll up display phones, or perhaps creating a smaller premium phone for those who want it and can afford it.
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Didn’t Tim Cook already comment how Apple would revamp their strategy moving forward for 2019? (Rhetorical) He said something along the lines they will focus on services and trade-ins. [Which could mean multiple things.]They don’t necessarily need to introduce another phone, when they can restructure their pricing, re-gear their marketing strategies and offer various services with more lucrative trade-ins coupled with carrier cooperation.

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/01/03...get-more-people-to-upgrade-their-iphones.html

I don’t necessarily think the answer is by introducing another smaller phone or a folding iPhone, not when their intentions are to continue to improve services, and instigate iPhone users who are retaining older models, and provoke them to want to upgrade, which clearly Apples focus is on the XR and XS. The question is/should be, does Apple change their pricing strategy moving forward starting in 2019.
 
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Relentless Power said:
Didn’t Tim Cook already comment how Apple would revamp their strategy moving forward for 2019? (Rhetorical) He said something along the lines they will focus on services and trade-ins. [Which could mean multiple things.]They don’t necessarily need to introduce another phone, when they can restructure their pricing, re-gear their marketing strategies and offer various services with more lucrative trade-ins coupled with carrier cooperation.

https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/01/03...get-more-people-to-upgrade-their-iphones.html

I don’t necessarily think the answer is by introducing another smaller phone or a folding iPhone, not when their intentions are to continue to improve services, and instigate iPhone users who are retaining older models, and provoke them to want to upgrade, which clearly Apples focus is on the XR and XS. The question is, does Apple change their pricing strategy moving forward starting in 2019.
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True....they don’t necessarily need to introduce any more new phones. But I refuse to believe they won’t jump on the folding phone bandwagon.....late, of course, just like the move to larger phones.

Tim seems to think everyone isnt upgrading because of cost, but that’s simply not true. Without a folding phone or an updated smaller phone, Tim may never get me to upgrade to his existing iphone products. My Apple Watch keeps getting better and better, and when paired with my truly wireless bluetooth earphones and my Mini doing 95% of my usage already, i might never upgrade. :D
 
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