It’s increasingly likely that we won’t get the iPhone SE 4 — which casts doubt on the entire future of the line, with apparent doubts about its popularity and profitability causing Apple to reassess its status as the cheapest iPhone.
This comes from the respected analyst Guo Mingchi (opens in a new tab) (pass mike rumors (opens in a new tab)), who tend to be right when it comes to Apple’s predictions. Kuo said Apple has informed its suppliers that the iPhone SE 4 will not launch in 2024 or any year.
This isn’t the most surprising development: There are already rumors that the next version of the iPhone SE isn’t necessarily coming, and the phone’s fate seems sealed.
5G chip switch
There’s a subplot here that, according to Kuo, Apple plans to use the iPhone SE 4 to debut its in-house developed 5G chip. However, there are “concerns” that the chip’s performance “may not match” the Qualcomm chips Apple currently uses for its phones.
That makes Qualcomm a big winner in canceling the iPhone SE 4, as it can continue to supply Apple with 5G chips for the foreseeable future. iPhones already use Apple-designed processors, of course, and the iPhone 14 Pro has the A16 Bionic inside.
With the iPhone SE (2022) launched last year, the third in the series, we don’t expect another one until 2024. Right now, though, there are serious doubts that we’ll ever see an update to this cheap iPhone again, though Apple does tend to keep older models of its flagship phones for cheaper alternatives.
Analysis: Is anyone buying the iPhone SE?
we’ve already hear the rumble (opens in a new tab) Sales of the iPhone SE (2022) have not been as high as Apple has been hoping, which is probably the main reason why the future of the series is at stake. If Apple didn’t think many people would buy it, it wouldn’t make and sell the iPhone SE 4.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what doesn’t appeal to consumers about the iPhone SE. That could be the dated design (with a home button), or the small screen, or maybe the limited single-lens camera setup.
But on the plus side, it’s very affordable, runs the latest Apple chipsets, and from a software standpoint, it can do everything a flagship iPhone can. It starts at almost half the price of the iPhone 14 — a big savings.
Lower secondary market prices for used iPhones could hurt iPhone SE sales, and it’s also worth noting that Apple doesn’t appear to be advertising the phone as widely or as often as other iPhones. Whatever the reason for its lackluster sales, it may now be the end of the road.
