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If the small form factor phones really are going away, the standard X needs to come down in size and weight just a tad. It feels like too much of a compromise, an in between phone trying to appeal to buyers of both 4.7” and 5.5” devices before it. That strategy made sense this year, but the upcoming X+ and 6.1” LCD should allow the standard X to shrink a little.
 
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If the small form factor phones really are going away, the standard X needs to come down in size and weight just a tad. It feels like too much of a compromise, an in between phone trying to appeal to buyers of both 4.7” and 5.5” devices before it. That strategy made sense this year, but the upcoming X+ and 6.1” LCD should allow the standard X to shrink a little.

The X will definitely not shrink. Apple just can’t change a whole manufacturing process every year. That’s just waste of time and money. I’m putting my money on it remaining the same size.
 
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The X will definitely not sync. Apple just can’t change a whole manufacturing process every year. That’s just waste of time and money. I’m putting my money on it remaining the same size.
Yeah, I wouldn’t expect a change until 2019 at the earliest, but that phone is either too big or too small for a lot of people.
 
If you look where the market has shifted, The iPhone SE as popular as it is, still primarily is a very small demographic consumers who would be willing to upgrade to that specific model iPhone, because it is dated in terms of specifications and hardware. I think iPhone SE serves three purposes, (1) first time iPhone buyers and (2) for those who specifically who are not interested in having the latest technology, but ultimately wants the smaller form factor. (3) Being a global phone in other countries like Asia and India where the other iPhone models are unobtainable because of how expensive they are.

The overwhelming trend of those who have upgraded to larger phones has been on the rise for years because of two things, the larger display and longer battery life. Also with larger phones comes included having more technology and camera capabilities. That’s where the marketing really is if you look at the trend of how smart phone manufacturers are trying to shift the consumer to purchase the most expensive, largest smart phone available.

For example, when the iPhone 7 released, almost 90% of Apples marketing was geared towards the dual camera introduction with iPhone 7 Plus, hardly any marketing was even given to the 4.7 iPhone model.
I can understand the marketing and all that (especially since the larger model is more expensive and essentially that much more of a flagship in a sense). But are there really that many more people going for let's say the Plus versions over the regular (and other smaller) versions? That's more along the lines of what I was wondering.
 
do you just carry devices for the sake of it or are you addicted?!
:D

Each of them has a specific purpose (however thin that purpose might be with some of them). It's just that every once and a while all those purposes converge.
 
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If the small form factor phones really are going away, the standard X needs to come down in size and weight just a tad. It feels like too much of a compromise, an in between phone trying to appeal to buyers of both 4.7” and 5.5” devices before it. That strategy made sense this year, but the upcoming X+ and 6.1” LCD should allow the standard X to shrink a little.

To me the current iPhone X is the best sized phone out of all the ones available, including Android phones. It fits well even to smaller hands, is physically quite small and the screen is small enough to operate reasonably well with one hand. The price tag is the biggest negative on it. I really hope they also push the price of the next gen X-sized phone down as over 1000 euros for the base model is really just way expensive.

The Oneplus X was pretty much the phone Apple might have created if they had continued with the iPhone 5 design and it's physically quite close to the iPhone X size, obviously with a smaller screen. I don't see Apple bringing in any smaller display devices anymore, only figuring out how to make them more affordable by cutting out some premium features.

There's very limited options if you want a smaller sized phone. I understand that for many the phone is the equivalent of owning a laptop nowadays, meaning they spend the most time using it to do their daily information consumption so having a big screen makes sense. But at the same time as manufacturers have pushed for bigger and bigger screens as the only option, those of us who would like something more compact, something easy to use with one hand are left in the dust.
 
So what you're suggesting is, no smartphone manufacturer has "figured out" that consumers want a small premium phone?

Not Apple, not Samsung, not Huawei, not Oppo, Google, LG, Sony? None of the top or bottom smartphone manufacturers have launched small phones. Even Sony's latest Xperia Compact phones are as large as iPhone 8.

Either every smartphone manufacturer including Apple has a dimwitted market research team... or perhaps consumer preferences have shifted to phablets.

The SE + iPad usage model you describe died in 2014 when Apple introduced iPhone 6 Plus. For a few years, Apple bet on the small phone + big tablet strategy. Apple had 5" designs on the table but held off until 2014. Meanwhile, Samsung had been selling Galaxy Note since 2011. Today, it's clear betting on big tablets was wrong as phablets grew while tablets sales are stagnant.

The latest Xperia Compact has the exact same specifications as the bigger Xperia flagship, they are doing exactly what SE owners want! And some 6,7 and 8 owners too..

I think we will see Apple change the existing SE name. Sell it in developing markets still. Then give us a new SE with an X design. But who knows what specs?
 
That strategy made sense this year, but the upcoming X+ and 6.1” LCD should allow the standard X to shrink a little.

I THINK I know what you’re saying, but you’re logic doesn’t make any sense. You’re essentially saying that the iPhone X should shrink some what, but do you have any idea what it would cost Apple in manufacturing expenses just to slightly downsize the iPhone X in size? It basically would require a new casing, and to alter the manufacturing standards for the iPhone 5.8 X would be an impractical business decision that would Cost an exorbitant amount of money. If you look at the iPhone history, they don’t make a lot of changes to the physical casing in terms of size annually, its re-hashed until a completely new model is updated in most cases.
 
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The latest Xperia Compact has the exact same specifications as the bigger Xperia flagship, they are doing exactly what SE owners want! And some 6,7 and 8 owners too..

I think we will see Apple change the existing SE name. Sell it in developing markets still. Then give us a new SE with an X design. But who knows what specs?

If SE owners wanted a phone as big as iPhone 6 or 8, then this thread wouldn't exist. We already have iPhone X.
 
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I THINK I know what you’re saying, but you’re logic doesn’t make any sense. Your essentially saying that the iPhone X should shrink some what, but do you have any idea what it would cost Apple in manufacturing expenses just to slightly downsize the iPhone X in size? It basically would require a new casing, and to alter the manufacturing standards for the iPhone 5.8 X would be an impractical business decision that would Cost an exorbitant amount of money. If you look at the iPhone history, they don’t make a lot of changes to the physical casing in terms of size annually, its re-hashed until a completely new model is updated in most cases.
I THINK you missed post #28 of this very thread.
 
I THINK you missed post #28 of this very thread.

I didn’t. I just wanted to indicate why you’re logic was skewed from my own perspective. In addition, I added my view points why your post was irrationally thought out from a manufacturing perspective that would purportedly cost Apple likely millions for the sake of the “Standard X to Shrink a little.
 
I didn’t. I just wanted to indicate why you’re logic was skewed from my own perspective. In addition, I added my view points why your post was irrationally thought out from a manufacturing perspective that would purportedly cost Apple likely millions for the sake of the “Standard X to Shrink a little.
If you look at the iPhone history... you will see several examples of major design changes after two years. You must be the Apple executive / bean counter responsible for the third and fourth years of the iPhone 6 chassis. Thanks for helping me not buy new phones those years.
 
If you look at the iPhone history... you will see several examples of major design changes after two years. You must be the Apple executive / bean counter responsible for the third and fourth years of the iPhone 6 chassis. Thanks for helping me not buy new phones those years.

None of which is related at all to your original post #26 In this thread in which I replied. All of that is _not_ mutually exclusive.
 
If SE owners wanted a phone as big as iPhone 6 or 8, then this thread wouldn't exist. We already have iPhone X.

The Xperia Compact has never competed with the SE? The smallest screen it’s ever had was 4.3” for the first gwn which grew to 4.6” for the second gen:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/sony-xperia-z1-compact

http://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/sony-xperia-z3-compact

I just said it packs the features SE owners want like the processor and camera are the same as the bigger phones. Not meaning the SE should have dual cameras, but I can’t see why it can’t have the iPhone 8 camera or even the iPhone 7 one.
 
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My theory is that the next SE will be a full screen model and Apple know that, as a result, it has the potential to be a big seller.

At launch, both the original and current SE models packed some powerful tech in a small chassis at a competitive price.

I believe Apple wish to continue this approach with the next SE as much as possible and are waiting for the optimum time to put the final squeeze on component manufacturers to achieve the end user price point Apple want in line with this strategy.
 
$$$ - Can't have a compelling product compete with high margin products.

When the SE was released, it was in the time of the 1st large iPhones. There was enough pent up demand, that a smaller equally powerful phone was not going to stand in the way of the large phone wave. It's the SAME exact reason the 2016 MBPs sold well - pent up demand, despite the removal of all useful ports, quality keyboard, and magsafe. LOTS of people unhappy about those removals, but the new MBP still sold well in spite of glaring omissions.

But now we have $1000 base price iPhones. Throw a smaller cheaper iPhone with a comparable CPU out there, and Apple would see a percentage of people opt for it, over their $1000 iPhones.

You don't believe me? Look at Apple's slow roll of the Mac Mini and MBAir - purposely held back to have a huge chasm between the lower margin units, versus the high margin units. Apple will NEVER release an updated SE with the same CPU as the flagship again.
 
$$$ - Can't have a compelling product compete with high margin products.

When the SE was released, it was in the time of the 1st large iPhones. There was enough pent up demand, that a smaller equally powerful phone was not going to stand in the way of the large phone wave. It's the SAME exact reason the 2016 MBPs sold well - pent up demand, despite the removal of all useful ports, quality keyboard, and magsafe. LOTS of people unhappy about those removals, but the new MBP still sold well in spite of glaring omissions.

But now we have $1000 base price iPhones. Throw a smaller cheaper iPhone with a comparable CPU out there, and Apple would see a percentage of people opt for it, over their $1000 iPhones.

You don't believe me? Look at Apple's slow roll of the Mac Mini and MBAir - purposely held back to have a huge chasm between the lower margin units, versus the high margin units. Apple will NEVER release an updated SE with the same CPU as the flagship again.
With proper cost control, desired margin can be maintained across a wide price range. A $1000 MBA that costs them $500 to make will produce the same 50% margin that a $2000 MBP costing them $1000 to make would.

To your point though, an SE2 that maintains current SE pricing would have specs appropriate for that price tier. A Mini X would be an entirely different animal for a different customer at a different price point. These rumors make it seem as though these phones are one and the same, but they can't be.
 
With proper cost control, desired margin can be maintained across a wide price range. A $1000 MBA that costs them $500 to make will produce the same 50% margin that a $2000 MBP costing them $1000 to make would.
That's true, but you would have to sell more of them. 2-3 SEs to make up revenue of 1 X. It's a combo of margins and volume. Apple has perfected the model of offering a crap product at lower price that forces you to move up the $$$ ladder, if you want something modern. Apple will not repeat the same 2012 quad core Mac Mini "mistake" again.

To your point though, an SE2 that maintains current SE pricing would have specs appropriate for that price tier. A Mini X would be an entirely different animal for a different customer at a different price point. These rumors make it seem as though these phones are one and the same, but they can't be.

Agreed again. Not sure what form the SE2 will take, but I could see a cheaper model with touchID a useless notch as well, just because. But it will either have an iPhone 7 CPU, or an iPhone 8 one, 3-6 months after the iPhone 9/X2 are released.
 
Apple will not repeat the same 2012 quad core Mac Mini "mistake" again.

Agreed again. Not sure what form the SE2 will take, but I could see a cheaper model with touchID a useless notch as well, just because. But it will either have an iPhone 7 CPU, or an iPhone 8 one, 3-6 months after the iPhone 9/X2 are released.
The 2014 model certainly fixed that "mistake"!

Agreed. I could also see A10 this year or A11 next year. As for the X Mini, as badly as I'd like one I'm just not sure it's coming. If not, I do think the 5.8" model will be right-sized in 2019. All three top-tier models are now rumored to go OLED in 2019, so having 5.8" and 6.1" models seems a little too similar even with the other differentiating features. Get it down to a footprint/weight no more than the 8, maybe tweak the aspect ratio a little, and I'd be happy.
 
My theory is that the next SE will be a full screen model and Apple know that, as a result, it has the potential to be a big seller.

At launch, both the original and current SE models packed some powerful tech in a small chassis at a competitive price.

I believe Apple wish to continue this approach with the next SE as much as possible and are waiting for the optimum time to put the final squeeze on component manufacturers to achieve the end user price point Apple want in line with this strategy.

I do agree that if the SE is refreshed, [which it likely won’t be in 2018], that it will be all display eliminating the home button, as Apple is abandoning touch ID all together, which will eventually be the same scenario for the iPad. So in theory, if they increase the display size, but retain a similar form factor, I’m curious to see where they divide the price point of where the iPhone SE was originally intended to be an entry-level iPhone. I also suspect the original SE will be continued in their lineup until 2019, Which would put it at three years old in March 2019.
 
... But I guess my question is what is the rationale for not making an SE update that keeps up with the iPhone X? ...

The result would be a iPhone X SE that would be the same price as the iPhone X. That would only split up the high paying customers and leave a gap in the $349 price point. No new customers for the $349 price point.
 
There needs to be something done, even if only a spec bump. At least to support the newer LTE bands in the US since the SE came out. B71 on T-Mobile and B14 ATT. Probably others with less publicity. For flexibility, the next phone I buy needs these bands even if I don't go to T-Mobile next time. I "may" want to switch.
 
None "yet" you mean..

I think the smaller phone situation is going to get more love than we think and be part of the normal Fall lineup/release honestly.

The SE/smaller form factor has been a huge hit and it was a surprise to Apple and I think they have internalized that data and broadened the scope of what we'll see in the flagship lineup this Fall.
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You and me both - I simply won't buy an iPhone that's much physically bigger


I agree totally. I think Apple knows there is a market for smaller phones. The SE seemed to be a sleeper hit.
 
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