Can I buy an SE Now, or should I wait till September?

[MarcusH]

Hi

I was going to buy an iPhone SE this weekend, but then I read about the launch of the iPhone 7 in September. I don't actually want a 7, but I wondered if changes at the top of the range might have any implications for the SE at the bottom of the range.

Might the iPhone 7's launch coincide with other changes or launches? Is Apple likely to change the spec of the SE any? Maybe a 32GB minimum? Maybe change the SE's price? Might they tempt me to buy a 6 by lowering its price?

If these are possibilities, then I guess I should wait till September. Or on the other hand, if the answer to the above questions is No, then I guess I should go-ahead and get my SE this weekend.

Would be interested to hear your thoughts.

MH

 

[Phil A.]

No-one knows for certain but I'd be very surprised if they make any changes - it's only been out a few months and they've only just overcome the low supply issues

 

[617aircav]

There won't be a new SE for another year.

 

[BLUEBLASTER]

Wait till September it might decrease in price

 

[bufffilm]

You can wait to be safe, but the SE price won't drop in Sept.

It will not happen.

 

[Beenblacklisted]

There won't be a new SE for another year.

no new SE , The SE was made because there were more than expected iphone 5 shells and leftover iphone 6s internals , due to apple not meeting predicted sales forecasted for the year. The 5c never got a refresh nor will SE, no reason to.

 

[BeeGood]

I say but it now.

It's already nicely priced and It's only been out 6 months so I doubt there will be a price decrease.

 

[agentsmithone]

I agree, it's unlikely to change.

 

[agentsmithone]

no new SE , The SE was made because there were more than expected iphone 5 shells and leftover iphone 6s internals , due to apple not meeting predicted sales forecasted for the year. The 5c never got a refresh nor will SE, no reason to.

Or, a considerable customer base still wanted the smaller 4-inch screen with modern components. The iPhone SE is still sold out with waiting list as recently as 3 weeks ago.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

You can wait to be safe

No you can't. Waiting "to be safe" will apply in September too if no SE update launches (which seems highly likely). Then it will be "wait for a potential updated SE in the spring". By spring it will be "wait for the 10th anniversary- it's going to have everything including a kitchen sink- phone in the Fall". By that Fall it will be "wait because the SE hasn't been updated in almost 2 years so there's almost certainly a new one coming in the spring." And on and on.

Basically OP, if you want a piece of hardware, buy it now. If you worry about having latest & greatest, you'll worry forever because whenever you do buy, the next latest & greatest is already on the way. If you are really locked in on buy now OR buy this Fall, the rumor mill is pretty good at pretty much laying out what is coming this close to launch date. In other words, there's typically not many surprises of substance this close to the launch. So you know what you get with the SE and you likely know what Apple will announce this Fall. Let that be your guide.

Counterbalance to worrying about missing out on something "latest & greatest" is the benefits of enjoying use of something between now and whenever "latest & greatest" actually shows up. One other strategy is to buy when you need (or really want) and then sell if "latest & greatest" comes out with something you just must have. That way you get the benefits of enjoying current greatest now and can hop along whenever you like should something come out you must have. In short, you "rent" time with current greatest but can easily hop to latest should it be something you must have. The cost of that "rental" is not that great and you basically have your cake and eat it too.

 

[Tom G.]

You can buy anything you want whenever you want providing you have the requisite funds to do it. You need no ones approval except to buy items that are regulated or illegal, iPhones do not yet fall into either of these categories.

 

[mattopotamus]

Or, a considerable customer base still wanted the smaller 4-inch screen with modern components. The iPhone SE is still sold out with waiting list as recently as 3 weeks ago.

probably a combination of what you said and the person you quoted. IIRC, over 30% of iPhone users were still using 4" or smaller iPhones.

 

[Beenblacklisted]

Or, a considerable customer base still wanted the smaller 4-inch screen with modern components. The iPhone SE is still sold out with waiting list as recently as 3 weeks ago.

depends on location, im in south florida, all models and all stocks available .

 

[bufffilm]

No you can't. Waiting "to be safe" will apply in September too if no SE update launches (which seems highly likely). Then it will be "wait for a potential updated SE in the spring". By spring it will be "wait for the 10th anniversary- it's going to have everything including a kitchen sink- phone in the Fall". By that Fall it will be "wait because the SE hasn't been updated in almost 2 years so there's almost certainly a new one coming in the spring." And on and on.

Basically OP, if you want a piece of hardware, buy it now. If you worry about having latest & greatest, you'll worry forever because whenever you do buy, the next latest & greatest is already on the way. If you are really locked in on buy now OR buy this Fall, the rumor mill is pretty good at pretty much laying out what is coming this close to launch date. In other words, there's typically not many surprises of substance this close to the launch. So you know what you get with the SE and you likely know what Apple will announce this Fall. Let that be your guide.

Counterbalance to worrying about missing out on something "latest & greatest" is the benefits of enjoying use of something between now and whenever "latest & greatest" actually shows up. One other strategy is to buy when you need (or really want) and then sell if "latest & greatest" comes out with something you just must have. That way you get the benefits of enjoying current greatest now and can hop along whenever you like should something come out you must have. In short, you "rent" time with current greatest but can easily hop to latest should it be something you must have. The cost of that "rental" is not that great and you basically have your cake and eat it too.

I agree in principle with what you're saying. But, if he really wanted to make sure...little harm to waiting till September.

I know the price will still be the same come September, but the OP is not me. So it goes.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I understand, but in September the same logic will be suggesting waiting just a few more months to see if there will be an update to the SE. That never stops. The next generation potential is always "just wait a few months to see" away.

 

[bufffilm]

I understand, but in September the same logic will be suggesting waiting just a few more months to see if there will be an update to the SE. That never stops. The next generation potential is always "just wait a few months to see" away.

Well, I hope by then the OP will buy.

There are zero signs of Apple doing an SE2. He might be waiting forever.

 

[mattopotamus]

Well, I hope by then the OP will buy.

There are zero signs of Apple doing an SE2. He might be waiting forever.

While not an "SE2", I feel pretty confident apple will keep around the smaller phone going forward. The SE proved there is a big demand for phone size phones

 

[bufffilm]

While not an "SE2", I feel pretty confident apple will keep around the smaller phone going forward. The SE proved there is a big demand for phone size phones

I hope the 4" makes it back to the yearly lineup.

I bought my 6s before the news of the SE and would welcome the news of a new 4" phone with better features.

 

[aces99]

There is also a new latest and greatest around the corner. If you wait til the iPhone 7 comes out then you will say "Well maybe I should wait a few more months for the SE2". Then if and when a SE2 comes out then you will say "Well maybe I should wait a few more months for the iPhone 8". It is a never ending cycle. It is totally up to you and only you can decide what to do. But if you want a 4" phone then you might as well get the SE but if you want a bigger 4.7" or 5.5" phone and are not in a panic you might as well wait for the new iPhone 7. But that's something that only you can decide what is right for you and what you want to do. Asking what you should do on the net might not always be your best bet and might be a little confusing because if you will get 300 different answers. One person will tell you to buy now, the next person will tell you to wait. The next person will tell you to do this and the next person will tell you to do that. Enough to make your head hurt.

 

[aohus]

Get both. Get the SE as a backup. It's a slick little phone and I personally love it. Couple that with the latest JB and it's the best phone out in terms of compactness, speed, and usability.

I will be getting the iPhone 7 Plus as well.

 

[MarcusH]

Gentlemen and ladies

Many thanks for all your comments, looks like I've little excuse for for further delay.

MH

PS Respect to Phil A. and daughter for raising over £500 for Macmillan Cancer Support

 

[akash.nu]

no new SE , The SE was made because there were more than expected iphone 5 shells and leftover iphone 6s internals , due to apple not meeting predicted sales forecasted for the year. The 5c never got a refresh nor will SE, no reason to.

And you know this for sure from which source?!

 

[Count Blah]

no new SE , The SE was made because there were more than expected iphone 5 shells and leftover iphone 6s internals , due to apple not meeting predicted sales forecasted for the year. The 5c never got a refresh nor will SE, no reason to.

Except for the demand, there is no reason.

I agree

 

[lordofthereef]

no new SE , The SE was made because there were more than expected iphone 5 shells and leftover iphone 6s internals , due to apple not meeting predicted sales forecasted for the year. The 5c never got a refresh nor will SE, no reason to.

I don't know if I follow the logic. They made an entirely new color for the lineup, something not necessary if all you want to do is use old stock. Internals also require an entirely new board deign and manufacturing process even if certain components are the same. I don't think it's as simple as (we have too much left over). The 6s will likely be sold directly by Apple for at least another two years, if their track record holds out. I highly doubt they so severely overmanufactured their components that they have enough to go two years AND add another phone into the mix.

 

[HEK]

Very short time to wait. Unless you are without phone I would wait, price might drop.