The original iPhone SE was not as successful as expected, but when Apple decided to clear stock by drastically lowering its price, it ended up becoming one of the best-selling terminals within its range, and its price range. It was totally understandable, as in the end in terms of performance it offered solid value, and I vividly remember that became available for $249a very good figure at the time since it had the same SoC as the iPhone 6s, an Apple A9.
It was a very curious case, especially since at its initial price of $399, the iPhone SE was a notorious flop, but when it was “resurrected” a few years later at a price of $249, it was enormously accepted in the market, and was key for Apple decided to make it a central pillar within its catalog of smartphones. The fact is that, with subsequent launches, its success has been mixed, and according to the well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo the 2022 model, also known as iPhone SE 5G, It has not been well received.
In the end it is understandable. Kuo talks about lower-than-expected demand in the mid-range and low-end of Apple’s catalog, but doesn’t touch on important issues like the continuity of Apple and the endless repetition of designs who have been with us for many years. To put a bit of context, it is enough to remember that the design differences between an iPhone 12 and an iPhone 14 are minimal, and that the iPhone SE 5G repeats the design of the iPhone 8, a smartphone that hit the market five years ago.
Said analyst has highlighted that, due to this drop in demand and the increase in costs that Apple would have to assume to shape the future fourth-generation iPhone SE, the apple company could postpone it or even cancel it, especially since would not be guaranteed a significant return if I decided to launch said terminal. On the other hand, its cancellation would fit with Apple’s policy of abandoning expensive and unprofitable product developments.
The fourth-generation iPhone SE was going to be the first to introduce the full-screen format in said family of terminals, and according to the latest information we had seen, it was emerging as a simple adaptation of the iPhone Xr. With this in mind, I find it difficult to understand the issue of production and development costs, since in the end it would be an iPhone Xr with a more powerful chip, without more. Nothing has been decided yet, since as we have said its future is up in the air, so right now it is Apple that has the last word.
