It’s looking increasingly likely that we won’t get any iPhone SE4 – and that has cast doubt on the overall future of the series, with apparent doubts about its popularity and profitability leading Apple to reevaluate its status as the cheapest iPhone.
This comes from a respected analyst Ming Chi Kuo (opens in new tab) (about MacRumors (opens in new tab)), who is mostly correct when it comes to predictions from Apple. According to Kuo, Apple has informed its suppliers that the iPhone SE 4 will not be released in 2024, or even a year from now.
It’s not the most surprising development: there have already been been rumours that the next version of the iPhone SE wasn’t guaranteed to arrive, and it sounds like the handset’s fate is now sealed.
5G chip switch
There’s a subplot here, which is that according to Kuo, Apple was planning to use the iPhone SE 4 to showcase its own 5G chip, which was developed in-house. However, there are “concerns” that the chip’s performance “may not be on par” with the Qualcomm chips Apple is currently using in its phones.
That leaves Qualcomm as the big winner of the iPhone SE 4 cancellation as it can continue to supply Apple with 5G chips for the foreseeable future. The iPhones, of course, use processors already developed by Apple, including the A16 Bionic iPhone 14 pro.
With the iPhone SE (2022) When the third in the line came out last year, we didn’t expect another until 2024. Now, however, there’s serious doubt that we’ll ever see a refresh of this budget iPhone again, despite Apple’s tendency to keep older models of its flagship phones on sale for a less expensive alternative.
Analysis: Is anyone buying the iPhone SE?
We have heard rumbling (opens in new tab) iPhone SE (2022) sales aren’t as high as Apple had hoped, which is arguably the main reason the future of the range is in jeopardy. Apple won’t make and sell an iPhone SE 4 unless it thinks a lot of people will buy it.
It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what’s not appealing to consumers about the iPhone SE. It might be the dated design (complete with home button), or the small screen, or maybe the limited single-lens camera setup.
On the plus side, though, it’s very affordable, uses the latest Apple chipsets, and does everything the flagship iPhones can from a software perspective. Its starting price is almost half of that iPhone 14 – and that’s a big saving.
It’s possible that the second-hand market for used iPhones at lower prices will hurt iPhone SE sales, and it’s also worth noting that Apple doesn’t seem to be promoting the handset as extensively and frequently as its other iPhones. Whatever the reason for the low sales, it could now be the end of the road.
