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winterquilt

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Original poster
Feb 18, 2008
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Studying Apple's behaviour, what is the likelihood at some point that there will be an SE model utilising the mini's body next year ?
 
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How are minis 13 more “bust” than iPhone SE2022? Minis have a better (and larger) screen & better battery, all in a smaller phone. If you could buy iPhone SE or iPhone 13 mini at the same price, which one would you get?
I think you have to take that statement as personal opinion… @jav6454 Just doesn't like the Mini format at all. Every opportunity they get you'll see a post similar to that. 🤣

Some people have these personal dislikes (for no rational reason)… and they are unable to see past their own personal preferences. The idea that someone else might find a format useful is just not considered. Just look at the opprobrium some posters heap on the SE. I mean, how dare some people want a cheaper smaller iPhone that won't cost them a month's mortgage? 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
How are minis 13 more “bust” than iPhone SE2022? Minis have a better (and larger) screen & better battery, all in a smaller phone. If you could buy iPhone SE or iPhone 13 mini at the same price, which one would you get?
I meant the Mini form factor is a bust. In terms of sales ratios, no one is buying them compared to their bigger counterparts. Hence, I doubt Apple will continue to invest R&D into that form factor.
 
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I meant the Mini form factor is a bust. In terms of sales ratios, no one is buying them compared to their bigger counterparts. Hence, I doubt Apple will continue to invest R&D into that form factor.
Ok so what form factor do you think Apple will use for the next SE? Tim Cook said himself the SE line is for smaller iphone users, so the 3 options available are to continue using the current 4.7 screen, or move to the 5.8” Iphone X chassis or the 5.4” Mini chassis.
 
Ok so what form factor do you think Apple will use for the next SE? Tim Cook said himself the SE line is for smaller iphone users, so the 3 options available are to continue using the current 4.7 screen, or move to the 5.8” Iphone X chassis or the 5.4” Mini chassis.
Likely the same one as we have right now.
 
I meant the Mini form factor is a bust. In terms of sales ratios, no one is buying them compared to their bigger counterparts. Hence, I doubt Apple will continue to invest R&D into that form factor.

Well, I deliberately bought it compared to their biggest counterparts. ;) In fact I downsized my screen size from iPhone 11 I was using before.

Apple does not need more R&D into minis, same as for SE. My guess is that Apple will continue selling 13 mini after iPhones 14 are out, most likely at a lower price. Then at some point they might just replace current SE.

There were also rumours of a new SE with a 5.7” screen and Touch ID in its home button. Might happen, yet it will be another iPhone model, IMO, as SE so far have been recycling old and tried designs with up to date internals. Time will tell…
 
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I'm thinking the 14 mini will come out next year. It's all staggered incrementally.
 
I love my iPhone mini, but it doesn't work as a flagship model. You get a mini because you don't use your phone that much, so it being pricier with new features doesn't really help sell it. The number of advanced phone users who also want a small phone is a really tiny slice of the market.

I like having the iPhone mini, but I really don't need many of the advanced features of it... I just want a small usable phone.

So it works much better when the small phone is the same as the cheap phone. I'm hoping Apple keeps the mini 13 around and updates it every 2-3 years or something... like the iPad mini and Mac mini. Those are still products Apple makes and have their respective fans, the iPhone mini probably sells more than those in raw numbers.

So hopefully it fuses with the SE line again. That fits people's perception of smaller being less capable... thin and light tech just isn't the coolest tech anymore.
 
Where did you pull that out from? OP didn't even hint at their use-case.
I'm just saying in general, a user of a small phone is someone who isn't on their phone all the time. It's more of a tool to use when needed, and so having all the new features and the higher cost isn't so important.

Just an idea I have on why the mini didn't sell so well, but why there's still a possible place in the lineup. But it doesn't need to be the latest and greatest iPhone.
 
If the mini didn't sell well then they'll have loads of shells lying around, so they'll likely use them with updated internals, just like the original SE.

Apple has excellent supply chain management. There is no situation where Apple has "shells lying around."

The mini doesn't have the economies of scale for Apple to do a cost-reduced SE because nobody bought it in the first place.
 
I'm just saying in general, a user of a small phone is someone who isn't on their phone all the time. It's more of a tool to use when needed, and so having all the new features and the higher cost isn't so important.

Just an idea I have on why the mini didn't sell so well, but why there's still a possible place in the lineup. But it doesn't need to be the latest and greatest iPhone.
I use mine SE all day every day. It fits in my pocket and I'm a fit 5' 10". I have a mini iPad 6 and a MacBook Pro for work. Less is more.
 
I'm just saying in general, a user of a small phone is someone who isn't on their phone all the time. It's more of a tool to use when needed, and so having all the new features and the higher cost isn't so important.

Just an idea I have on why the mini didn't sell so well, but why there's still a possible place in the lineup. But it doesn't need to be the latest and greatest iPhone.
I refute that.

I am an iOS developer.
 
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Well, I deliberately bought it compared to their biggest counterparts. ;) In fact I downsized my screen size from iPhone 11 I was using before.

Apple does not need more R&D into minis, same as for SE. My guess is that Apple will continue selling 13 mini after iPhones 14 are out, most likely at a lower price. Then at some point they might just replace current SE.

There were also rumours of a new SE with a 5.7” screen and Touch ID in its home button. Might happen, yet it will be another iPhone model, IMO, as SE so far have been recycling old and tried designs with up to date internals. Time will tell…
There is always R&D involved when doing upgrades to a phone. Even one as the SE.

Yes, and?
This isn't about shells being left behind. It's about what there is available and what sells.
 
Apple has excellent supply chain management. There is no situation where Apple has "shells lying around."

The mini doesn't have the economies of scale for Apple to do a cost-reduced SE because nobody bought it in the first place.
My understand was that the shells from the iPhone 5 line were numerous enough to warrant a refresh that gave birth to the SE.

Sort of like the technical equivalent of scraping the flesh from the skull of an animal, to make one extra sausage, to push up profits.
 
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