Amaya Toman Apple stopped selling the iPhone SE with definitive effect this year. It was historically (so far?) the last Apple smartphone with a four-inch display, a design from the iPhone 5s and equipment from the iPhone 6S. The cheapest iPhone, along with the iPhone X and 6S, was among the models that had to make way for a new generation this year. However, the question remains whether Apple made a mistake by "killing" the iPhone SE.
One of the most appreciated advantages of the iPhone SE by users was its low price, which, combined with great features, made it one of the best smartphones in the affordable price category. It was also welcomed by those who did not want to switch from the small iPhone 5S to a larger phone. The arrival of the iPhone 6 was a real revolution on the part of Apple - for the previous six years, the diagonal of apple smartphones did not exceed four inches. The first five models (iPhone, iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4 and 4S) had a display with a diagonal of 3,5 inches, in 2012, with the arrival of the iPhone 5, this dimension increased by half an inch. At first, disinterested glance, it was a minor change, but application designers, for example, had to adapt to it. The iPhone 5S and the cheaper 5C also had a four-inch display.
The year 2014 brought a huge leap in display size, when Apple came up with the iPhone 6 (4,7 inches) and 6 Plus (5,5 inches), which had – in addition to a significantly larger display – a completely new design. At that time, the user base was divided into two camps - those who were excited about the size of the displays and the related expanded options, and those who wanted to keep the four-inch screens at all costs.
Even Apple itself highlighted the advantages of a small display:
What was the surprise of the latter group when Apple announced in 2016 that the iPhone 5S would after all see its successor in the form of the iPhone SE. It became not only the smallest, but also the most affordable smartphone with a bitten apple logo, and was very popular among users. In 2017, Apple could boast of its historically widest range of phones, both in terms of price, size and performance. The Cupertino company could afford something that few manufacturers could: instead of one model a year, it offered something for everyone. Both fans of high-tech models and those who preferred a smaller, simpler, but still powerful smartphone got their way.
Despite the relative success, Apple decided to say goodbye to its smallest model this year. It is still available at authorized dealers, but it definitely disappeared from Apple's online store in September. The position of the smallest and most affordable iPhone has now been occupied by the iPhone 7. Although many are shaking their heads in disbelief at the end of sales of the smallest and cheapest model, it can be assumed that Apple knows very well what it is doing.
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Lukáš Čambala But what do the numbers say about the iPhone SE? The Cupertino company sold a total of 2015 million four-inch iPhones in 30, which is a respectable performance considering the arrival of new, larger models. Technology is one of the fields in which progress is moving forward at breakneck speed and the demands from users are also increasing. But even today there are certainly a number of those who would prefer sharp edges, a four-inch display and a design that fits perfectly even in a smaller hand over Face ID, haptic feedback or a dual camera. At present, however, it is very difficult to estimate whether Apple will ever return to this design in the future - the probability is not very high.
Do you think the presence of a four-inch smartphone in the current iPhone product line would make sense? Would you welcome a successor to the iPhone SE?
The only reason people in my area bought SEs was the price. Given that, for example, the I7 fell to the price of the SE (when it was introduced), a successor to the SE would be nonsense.
If they introduced a successor - an iPhone X(S) in the size of an iPhone SE, I'd go straight for it. There are many people who would appreciate a smaller phone. It disappeared from their offer. If it also had a favorable price, it would be a hit again like the SE. iPhones type 7 and 8 have no future.
There are plenty of people who want a decent compact phone. I don't have the fingers of a pianist either, and I certainly don't need to carry a paddle in my pocket. SE is a very nice choice for me and a lot of people. Hopefully the boys will realize that a small device is needed to make a phone call and they will make something acceptable for us. A Mac is enough for everything else.
For example, I bought the SE mainly because of the size, just like everyone I know. Just last week, a friend bought a new SE because size was critical. Just throwing it in your pocket and reaching with one hand from corner to corner of the display is priceless, and I think that for some lucrative price the next generation would certainly be sold, at least I would buy it.
I have an ip7 and I also carry it in my pocket and control it with one hand. So what are you talking about?
APPLE FINALLY REALIZED THERE IS NO VALUE TO MANUFACTURE OLD STORES.
SELLING A FELICIA WITH A PEUGEOT ENGINE IS NOT TERNO
THAT COULD HAVE ATTACKED THEM. JUST LÚZA IS COMMENTING HERE THAT SHE WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO HAVE AN APPLE
I use the SE because of the grippable size and I appreciate the fairly decent repairability. I can't think of anything that is functionally lacking compared to newer models. I don't know what to do next when it expires :(
Exiting the Apple system doesn't make sense, nor does using current models, so I don't know.
I have to say that after the 6 Plus, 6S Plus, 7Plus and 8Plus, I switched to the smaller X, which fits well in my hand, and I wouldn't want a Plus or Max format phone again, I recently got my hands on an SE and today I feel like the operator is too small, I am still in favor of keeping it, and I completely understand the choice of compact dimensions over a giant display, a device with dimensions between SE and 4.7" could remain in the menu, but as Petr Mara said in one of his videos, Apple will push forward devices with more display, more content, more consumption, more services, more advertising, more money
Currently, the SE is the only usable iPhone. All the new heavy and big shovels are awful.
I myself have had an SE since the beginning of the sale and like one of the comments below, I don't know what I will do when it expires. I'll have to get a bigger display :-/ I've always bought new models. But until the size of the iPhone increased as it did with the iP6. I have to admit that I also bought an X this year (I only use it abroad, where I often stay). It's a beautiful phone with a large display. But when I have them both, each in one hand, the weight and size of the X is pointless. The compactness of the SE is great, and I don't miss the speed or other advantages of the X at all. I myself am a supporter of a phone that I can comfortably and easily put in my jacket or shirt pocket. And above all, a phone that I can comfortably hold in my hand. This is a feature that is definitely missing from the X-ka. Either I'm on the phone, and then I want the smallest, thinnest and lightest phone possible. Or I "surf the net", and then I open my iPad or Mac. The trend of increasing the size of displays sometimes often goes against the logic of usability. I really wish there was a new SE2!
I would wait until spring with the dying one. After all, a new factory was built in India because of SE, wasn't it? I would see it as a compromise between the old size and the new design - if the "pre-piece" is used, the display size can be increased by some percentage. But don't exaggerate the total: as a few smart people here are saying that everyone buys it just because of the price, so for me NO NO and NO. I'll pay more, but I don't want a big paddle! I'd rather migrate to the Xperia XZ4 Compact (and that would hurt a lot after the 10 years I've owned iPhones).