The likelihood that there won’t be an iPhone SE 4 is growing, which has raised concerns about the series’ viability and appeal. As a result, Apple is rethinking the position of the least expensive iPhone.
This information is provided by reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (opens in new tab) through MacRumors (opens in new tab), who consistently predicts Apple events correctly. According to Kuo, Apple has informed its suppliers that the iPhone SE 4 won’t be released in 2024, or for that matter, in any year.
It’s not the most surprising development: there had already been rumors that the next version of the iPhone SE wasn’t guaranteed to appear, and it sounds as though the fate of the handset has now been sealed.
5G chip switch
A side story to this is that, according to Kuo, Apple intended to utilise the iPhone SE 4 to introduce its own, internally built 5G processor. The performance of the processor “may not be up to pace” with the Qualcomm chips that Apple presently employs for its phones, according to “concerns,” though.
This means Qualcomm will continue to provide Apple with 5G processors for the foreseeable future, making it the main winner from the cancellation of the iPhone SE 4. Of course, Apple already uses its own CPUs in its iPhones, like the A16 Bionic found within the iPhone 14 Pro.
We wouldn’t have anticipated another until 2024 after the release of the third in the series, the iPhone SE (2022), last year. Though Apple does frequently keep earlier models of its flagship devices on sale for a less costly option, there are now significant doubts that we’ll ever see a redesign of this affordable iPhone.
Analysis: is anyone buying the iPhone SE?
There are rumors(opens in new tab) that the iPhone SE (2022) sales are not as strong as Apple had hoped, which is presumably the major reason why the range’s future is in jeopardy. If Apple doesn’t believe that many people will purchase an iPhone SE 4, it won’t produce and market one.
It’s hard to narrow down exactly what it is about the iPhone SE that people find unattractive. Perhaps the archaic design (complete with home button), the little screen, or the constrained single-lens camera arrangement are to blame.
On the bright side, it is extremely inexpensive, is powered by the most recent Apple chipsets, and can do all software-related functions of the flagship iPhones. Its starting price is about half that of the iPhone 14—a significant cost reduction.
Sales of the iPhone SE may be suffering from the availability of cheaper old iPhones on the secondary market, but it’s also important to note that Apple doesn’t appear to be heavily or regularly promoting the device. Whatever the cause of its poor sales figures, it could now be beyond repair.
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