iPhone SE Overview Updated May 22, 2017
When Apple replaced the 4-inch iPhone 5s with the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and 5.5-inch iPhone 6s Plus in 2014, it effectively stopped making a model with modern specs that could be easily used one-handed. Fast-forward to March 2016 and we have the iPhone SE. It features a strikingly similar design to the iPhone 5s — save for matte edges, a rose gold option, and an SE stamp replacing FCC markings on the back — but the internals are all upgraded to nearly match the flagship iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models.
iPhone SE is available in space gray, silver, gold, and rose gold with 16GB ($399) and 64GB ($499) storage options. iPhone SE introduces Apple Pay, Live Photos, 4K video and much more to the 4-inch iPhone.
Check out our top stories on the iPhone SE below:
iPhone SE Stories May 22
AAPL: 153.99
While not Apple’s latest and greatest, the iPhone SE has topped the most recent American Customer Satisfaction Index data for May 2017. The data shows a customer satisfaction rating for the iPhone SE of 87 out of 100, putting it 1 point ahead of the iPhone 7 Plus and Galaxy S6 Edge+…
iPhone SE Stories May 17
AAPL: 150.25
In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, Apple has confirmed that its manufacturing partners in India have started domestic production of iPhone SE. Up to now, Apple produces almost all of its iPhones in China (although some older models have been assembled in Brazil). Presumably, the devices will bear an ‘Assembled in India’ label on the hardware. Apple is pushing hard into India as it looks for new markets to grow iPhone sales.
The report says that the iPhone SE devices are being made in Bangalore and will ship to customers later in May, with the first domestically-produced phones appearing on store shelves next week. Pricing is unknown …
iPhone SE Stories February 20
AAPL: 135.72
There was a supply-chain rumor toward the end of last year that Apple was working on a new red color option for the iPhone 7, and Japanese blog Macotakara cites a Barclays analyst supporting this.
It’s possible that Barclays has heard from the same supply-chain source as earlier reported direct by Macotakara, so this may not be independent corroboration of the idea, but the fact that it is still being suggested a couple of months later does at least lend a tiny bit of weight …
iPhone SE Stories February 17
AAPL: 135.72
India’s Economic Times reports that Apple will begin assembling iPhones in India whether or not the government agrees to the incentives it has requested. The report also supports a recent report that the location of the first plant will be in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Apple will kick off its India manufacturing plans by initially assembling 3-400,000 units of its iPhone SE model at the Karnataka plant being set up by contract manufacturer Wistron, as the maker of the iconic iPhones looks to take a deeper bite of a key market amid slowing global smartphone growth […]
A person in the contract manufacturing industry said Wistron is ready to start assembling the phones. “The duty concessions are not connected to the plant,” the person added.
Apple is said to be keen to press ahead with the plan without delay for two reasons …
iPhone SE Stories September 6, 2016
AAPL: 107.70
New Q2 data from both Strategy Analytics and Kantar shows that the iPhone 6s is the best-selling smartphone in both the USA and worldwide. The 6s accounted for 4.2% of global smartphone sales, says SA, with the iPhone 6 taking second place at 2.5%, just ahead of Samsung’s Galaxy S7 at 2.4%.
“Apple’s iPhone 6s is currently the world’s most popular smartphone,” said Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics. “The iPhone 6s is wildly popular in dozens of countries globally, due to its attractive hardware design blended with rich features such as 4K video, large multi-touch display and fingerprint security.”
Kantar’s U.S. data concurs, the company noting that iOS market share was also up …
iPhone SE Stories July 7, 2016
AAPL: 95.94
Could the iPhone SE get even cheaper with the iPhone 7 launch?
When Apple launches a new iPhone, it usually maintains pricing for the top models as the previous generation models get price reductions and possibly discontinued. It typically bumps the oldest models out of production entirely, keeping four to five models for sale including the new flagships.
With the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus introduction, for example, Apple kept the iPhone 5s and an 8GB iPhone 5c around at reduced prices. With the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, it discontinued the 5c and kept the 6/Plus, 6s/Plus, and 5s at reduced price points until ultimately replacing the 5s with the new 4-inch iPhone SE in March.
But this year there are some questions about what Apple will do with the iPhone lineup following the iPhone 7 launch this fall. Reports of increased storage options and a new “Pro line” for iPhone 7 could change Apple’s usual approach if true, not to mention the new iPhone SE, now the only 4-inch device in the lineup, was a rare mid-year iPhone release earlier this year.
Can iPhone SE get even cheaper with iPhone 7 launch? Will Apple keep the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus around or discontinue those models while offering discounted 6s and 6s Plus models only?
