“Apple iPhone SE was a unique offering from Apple, differing in many ways from the company’s flagship devices,” Rishabh Jain reports for International Business Times. “It had budget pricing, at least by Apple’s standards, and unlike the 5.5-inch devices which have become the standard for the company, it had a 4-inch size.”
MacDailyNews Take: Standard for the company? That’d be the 4.7-inch iPhone 7, which still edges out sales of the 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus.
“According to China-based analyst Pan Jiutang, the iPhone SE might not be refreshed, making it a one-time product from Apple,” Jain reports. “‘If you are nostalgic about the small screen, buy a iPhone SE or iPhone 5c now. The future Apple iPhones should not be less than 5.5 inches, and the iPhone SE will not have a newer version,’ he posted on Weibo Sunday.”
“Apple has been mum on the future of the iPhone SE. In fact, it has actually set up a plant in India to manufacture the handset for the local market. Since that is a fairly recent development, chances are that the analyst might be wrong,” Jain reports. “Jiutang might have indicated that the device might not be available in markets where more premium handsets like iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are more popular, such as the U.S.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We’re going to need much stronger confirmation than a sole China-based analyst posting to Weibo before we believe iPhone SE — a very popular, very well-reviewed iPhone with very high user satisfaction — will be discontinued. Perhaps it will be discontinued in all but emerging markets, but, for now, we consider even that to be a stretch.
Take this report with a truckload of salt.
SEE ALSO:
Apple iPhone SE tops smartphone user satisfaction, just ahead of iPhone 7 Plus – May 25, 2017
Apple begins manufacturing iPhone SE in India – May 17, 2017
CNET reviews Apple iPhone SE one year later: ‘Still a nice little speed demon, totally holds its own against newer iPhones’ – May 2, 2017
Apple introduces iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition; iPhone SE doubles storage for same price – March 21, 2017
IT PRO reviews Apple’s iPhone SE: The small phone bursting with big features – March 20, 2017
3 features Apple may bring to the next-gen iPhone SE – November 8, 2016
How Apple’s iPhone SE converted me from hater to believer – August 29, 2016
About the success of Apple’s 4-inch iPhone SE – August 11, 2016
4-inch iPhone SE looks like a winner for Apple – July 22, 2016
Demand for Apple’s iPhone SE still outstripping supply – June 16, 2016
Apple’s ‘boring’ iPhone SE is paying off – June 16, 2016
Slate reviews Apple’s iPhone SE: ‘Simple, functional, and iconic – love it’ – May 31, 2016
AnandTech reviews Apple’s 4-inch iPhone SE – May 16, 2016
Ars Technica reviews Apple’s iPhone SE: An apology to big-phone haters everywhere – April 6, 2016
iPhone SE event led to website traffic spike in China and India – April 5, 2016
Daring Fireball’s Gruber reviews iPhone SE: ‘Feels the best in hand’ – April 1, 2016
Macworld reviews iPhone SE: ‘It’s a pocket-size powerhouse’ – March 31, 2016
TIME reviews Apple’s iPhone SE: ‘The perfect smaller smartphone’ – March 30, 2016
Mossberg: Understanding Apple’s iPhone SE and 9.7-inch iPad Pro – March 30, 2016
Wired reviews Apple’s iPhone SE: You’ll use it differently – March 29, 2016
USA Today’s Baig: Apple’s iPhone SE is like a cute, adorable baby – March 24, 2016
The Daily Mail reviews Apple’s iPhone SE: The ‘perfect first time iPhone’ – March 24, 2016
WSJ reviews Apple’s iPhone SE: ‘Smaller gets smarter with better battery life to boot’ – March 24, 2016
Apple tries to stimulate growth with the powerful 4‑inch iPhone SE – March 23, 2016
Why the tiny 4-inch iPhone SE will be a gigantic hit for Apple – March 22, 2016
Apple just put a Mac mini in your pocket (with keyboard and screen) – March 22, 2016
Apple’s got millions of reasons to make the smaller iPhone SE – March 22, 2016
The new iPhone SE finally makes a small phone feel powerful – March 21, 2016
Apple unveils iPhone SE, the most powerful phone with a four-inch display – March 21, 2016
16gb should have never shipped, it condemned the model to not sell, the 64gb model was far more popular
My wife loves her 4-inch iPhone SE. She would not buy a bigger phone, she says, it perfectly fit her needs. However, a version with 128 GB oder 256 GB and a faster processor one day would be very welcome. Apple would do wrong to discontinue it.
A 128GB version is available (I think it came out with the 7).
No idea if it’s going to be updated or not. Apple’s a real mystery with those.
Seems illogical to manufacture a phone of that size but then restrict its market so substantially. Mind you Apple has been illogical in recent times so not impossible (though they are seemingly trying to eliminate that perception) but surely even by their standards it would be screwing as much money from their customers one step too far.
It might not be refreshed at the time when the other iPhone models are refreshed, but it’s also worth bearing in mind that it wasn’t launched at the same time of the year as other iPhones are.
It’s quite likely that Apple thinks of the SE models on a different cycle to the other models and it will be refreshed at a different time of the year and not necessarily annually. It’s not a model that needs annual refreshes, just a new model every so often tho keep up to speed with other models and to incorporate newer features as appropriate.
Perhaps a reduced bezel 2018 iPhone with a screen size close to 4.7 inches, but overall dimensions close to the SE is in the works. That would be the best solution and sell like crazy.
To be honest although I have an iPhone 7 the SE is interesting. I use my phone as a phone, for in car streaming and little else.
Prefer not to squint at an iPhone with either a Mac or iPad available.
I would love it if Apple and the carriers would let an iPad function as a full iPhone- complete with plan and apps like Health that are not on the iPad. An Apple Watch and a nearby iPad would negate the need for an iPhone completely for many people.
I love my 64GB iPhone SE, hated the 6S which was too big and constant fear of dropping it. I be heart broken if the 4 inch future successors of the SE dont exist. 😥 Apple, please keep the SE in production with the same form factor and just do incremental upgrades like better processor, battery and camera
RIP SE.
Revived and reunited with the new Apple offering this fall. 3 models. New look for the entire family.
Apple realised that they’re the only one with a powerfull 4″… that sells
It’s only RIP if Apple says that it’s discontinued, otherwise it’s just a rumour.
Analysts take small nuggets of information and extrapolate it to create something to talk about. We don’t know exactly what information the China-based analyst used as a starting point, so we can’t judge how reliable this rumour might be.
My hunch is that the SE form factor is too successful to be abandoned and as it was launched independently of the other iPhones, I wouldn’t expect the SE to be updated in sync with it’s larger siblings.
Interestingly… the physical dimensions of the iPhone SE is about 4.7″ diagonally… if they got rid of the home button and stretched the screen.
Would be foolish! Too many people love 4″ iPhone.
Maybe Apple can stop with “SE”, but certainly not with a smaller sized phone as the too large 7 or even 7s.
I just found a 64Gb and it’s perfect.
Love my SE – good looks, handy square edges, fast enough, decent cam, 64 gb, fits any pocket easily.
Keep a small model in production, I can’t stand the thought of looking like a hipster who needs to flash a bigger one for status.
Besides it fits my pocket, and thats more important to me, its an enhanced phone as opposed to a mini-computer. I have plenty of them.
I’ve been very happy with my iPhone SE 64GB, previously owned a 5S. I love the size of it, I don’t like the larger phones, they’re too big and bulky, they don’t fit into pockets well. I hope Apple continues to update it in the future!
I absolutely LOVE my SE and using it to type this post. It would be another MAJOR mistake by Cook and company to abandon this truly amazing product with the smallest footprint and yet amazing features. Simply remarkable in performance this tiny Titan iPhone is our only hope against a pocket busting and slab holding big ass phone …
“This is our most desperate hour. Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.”
— Princess Leia
Why kill a market niche that is doing well?
The smart thing for APPLE to do is apply the latest and greatest technology to a 4″ device and raise the price. I happen to like the 4″ size. I didn’t buy it because it was cheap. I bought it because of its SIZE. …BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE!
If you must, keep making the current SE and lower the price, if that is what you want to do. I have no complaints. But I would argue that there is a market for small phones, quite apart from their low price. Add a 4″ to the regular lineup, increase the price and I think you will see it do well in the market because of its small size.
I do not want to carry a big honking phone, not bigger and not extra bigger.
Same here. Love my SE …