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Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

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Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#241

Post by hrktb »

dewey wrote: post #234
hrktb wrote: post #225

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The form factor inherently makes it less expensive to manufacture. Bigger screens cost more etc. Which creates a pricing problem for them. In this perspective it's interesting how their current "lower tier" phone, the Xr, is priced lower than the Xs for instance, but got the bigger screen and better battery. It gives them an opening for marketing smaller phones as more niche models with eventually more engineering…

> In this perspective it's interesting how their current "lower tier" phone, the Xr, is priced lower than the Xs for instance, but got the bigger screen and better battery. But it's about the price not the actual "size", the Xs has a OLED screen vs the LED screen of the Xr which is way more expensive.

We are in agreement I think, I see that material differentiation as another way to get over the hurdle of having a smaller device priced high enough to offer a comfortable margin.

I'm totally fine with Apple coming up with a set of ways to prevent a phone from being perceived as cheap, while keeping a smaller form factor.

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#242

Post by TimTheTinker »

simonh wrote: post #233
RubberbandSoul wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a dangerous strategy considering that an iPhone is the "window" to their ecosystem: App store, Apple Pay, the iOS UX experience, etc. I know many people who love Apple's ecosystem but who won't pay through the nose for a "premium" phone that's way overpowered for their needs.

Then frankly they're not in the Apple target demographic. I know that sucks, but the iPhone is a gateway for customers who are willing to pay a premium for Apple products. The real danger for Apple would be compromising with a budget model at the entry level. It would kill their value proposition on the whole rest of their line. The closest they get is previous-year models and refurbs.

> Then frankly they're not in the Apple target demographic.

I think you’re forgetting about the significant market for used Apple products. There are many people, myself included, who live on used MacBooks, iPhones, iPads, AppleTV, Airport Express, etc., and are perfectly content. I’m typing this out on an iPhone SE that I bought used, and that was the most I’ve ever paid for a phone. My wife is still content with a 5S, and I frankly never notice the difference when I borrow her phone.

Apple (perhaps begrudgingly) cares about us because the used market helps keep the demand high for their new and shiny products.

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#243

Post by csomar »

ericabiz wrote: post #27
trazire wrote: post #9

$249 is still a little overpriced considering alternative options, especially with a refurb/used iPhone 7 going for really cheap. As in, like, $160 on Ebay and more expensive for refurbs and new ones. But hey, that's how they get rid of extra inventory. Not sure why it was delisted in the first place and not just put there, but that's their prerogative.

The iPhone 7/7 Plus is the series I tell everyone to avoid purchasing. We refuse to stock them for resale as well, and it’s gotten so bad we even have customers sign a disclaimer when they bring them in for repair. (Note: We are not Apple authorized, so this is our policy, not Apple’s.) They have a serious manufacturing defect commonly known as the “Audio IC” issue. Apple downplays it, but eventually it hits almost e…

I have an iPhone 7 Plus for two years and never had an issue. Apart from some bugs in iOS here and there; either fixed or brought by updates.

So what should I do? Should I go ahead and replace or I was a lucky one?

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#244

Post by m_mueller »

madeofpalk wrote: post #228
m_mueller wrote: post #221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I went from an SE to a Samsung S10e last week. Android certainly takes a while to get used to and configure the way I want, but I'm starting to like it more and more. Specifically, I can use this phone one-handed for everything I want on the go, without requiring any accessibility mode. Samsung and app developers seem to have improved a lot in making the important things accessible from the lower two thirds of the sc…

Samsung S10e has the same size screen as the iPhone XS - 5.8 inch - no?

Yes. But that's my point - with current software this works out well for me, both on the go and at office / home. I thought it would be a bigger issue when I had the SE.

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#245

Post by unicornporn »

jononomo wrote: post #176

I've had an iPhone SE for about 2 years now and I dread the day that I will have to replace this phone. Is it possible to buy a couple more right now and just store them in a cool dry place for the next 5 - 10 years? Would the battery life, etc, still be good?

In 5-10 years your biggest problem would be no more OS updates and no security updates.

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#246

Post by MrGilbert »

kmlx wrote: post #203
dijit wrote: post #124

I’m going to add to the dogpile here and add: I am really not sure how I can vote with my wallet more than I currently do. I had a 5S; upgraded to a 6S and spent a year with it, but I really hated the size of the phone and realised that small phones were entirely gone by the end of my time with the 6S. I tried Android for a while but it was Samsung’s Android and was not for me, I was frustrated and annoyed after ever…

i was in the same situation. then i tried an iphone x. it solved my problem: - small phone - huge screen - fast

Yepp - I liked the iPhone SE for its form factor, but the display was way too small.

For me, the iPhone X has the perfect size-to-display ratio. And as it's already a discontinued product, you can get it for an "okay-ish" price at around 690€ on your favourite auction website here in europe.

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#247

Post by cstross »

RubberbandSoul wrote: post #205
AnthonyMouse wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Selling a new small phone is a market problem for Apple. The form factor inherently makes it less expensive to manufacture. Bigger screens cost more etc. Which creates a pricing problem for them. If they price it like a small phone (i.e. lower price) they cannibalize sales of larger phones with higher total margins, and lose money. If they price it with the same total margin as the larger phones, it'd still be the lo…

That's a dangerous strategy considering that an iPhone is the "window" to their ecosystem: App store, Apple Pay, the iOS UX experience, etc. I know many people who love Apple's ecosystem but who won't pay through the nose for a "premium" phone that's way overpowered for their needs.

The iPhone is the gateway drug these days, but I didn't start out with one: I started out with an iPod Touch. The iPod Touch is a great companion device for a non-iPhone that supports tethering -- it lets you dip a toe in the iOS ecosystem for a fraction of the cost of buying an iPhone. Also, with the TV app and an Apple TV is works as a controller for their TV ecosystem -- an evolved iPod Touch could be positioned as a luxury controller/media store device for the Apple TV, at any rate.

However, the iPod Touch has been neglected for several years: it's all but an orphan product at this stage.

(One ray of hope: Apple just refreshed the iPad Mini with a two-generations jump in CPU and a few nice-but-overdue tweaks -- double the storage, 1st generation Pencil support, and a TrueTone display. I hope they're planning on doing the same for the iPod Touch.)

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#248

Post by unicornporn »

miqkt wrote: post #125

Timely announcement. The battery on my (year old) Sony Z5C running LineageOS has recently decided to start failing. I had a Z3C for two years before it too decided to start failing on touch input (you'd think I'd learn my lesson by this point). I lament the absence of compact Android phones with long-term security updates. Maybe it's time I just bite the bullet.

I've had one at work since it first got released, but I'm used to Lineage at home. I feel like I'm in a straitjacket when I try to use my iOS. Simple things such as transferring files to and from the device is a pain in the a.

I would never consider choosing it as an every day device. Depends on what you do with your phone though. I prefer a near FOSS device and I use F-droid software with two or three apps sideloaded.

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#249

Post by marmaduke »

CalChris wrote: post #146
dijit wrote: post #124

I’m going to add to the dogpile here and add: I am really not sure how I can vote with my wallet more than I currently do. I had a 5S; upgraded to a 6S and spent a year with it, but I really hated the size of the phone and realised that small phones were entirely gone by the end of my time with the 6S. I tried Android for a while but it was Samsung’s Android and was not for me, I was frustrated and annoyed after ever…

I had an SE for two years and cracked the screen. It turned out that Apple didn't repair the screen anymore. So for slightly more ($115?), they gave me a new 64GB SE. My only complaint was that I hadn't recently backed up my old one but that was on me. The 4" SE is the perfect size for me. It's the best cell phone I've ever had.

How did you crack the screen if I may ask? My kids have thrown my SE across the room without cracking

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#250

Post by RubberbandSoul »

simonh wrote: post #233
RubberbandSoul wrote: post #205

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a dangerous strategy considering that an iPhone is the "window" to their ecosystem: App store, Apple Pay, the iOS UX experience, etc. I know many people who love Apple's ecosystem but who won't pay through the nose for a "premium" phone that's way overpowered for their needs.

Then frankly they're not in the Apple target demographic. I know that sucks, but the iPhone is a gateway for customers who are willing to pay a premium for Apple products. The real danger for Apple would be compromising with a budget model at the entry level. It would kill their value proposition on the whole rest of their line. The closest they get is previous-year models and refurbs.

I think they run a real risk of diminishing returns. To use a car analogy; first they were the BMW of phones, then the Ferrari and maybe soon the Bugatti.

Along the way consumers will start to tap out and leave Apple's ecosystem altogether.

Maybe that's already set in motion, people are keeping their phones for much longer so it will take a while for the effects to be noticeable.

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