Apple quietly cuts price of iPhone SE to $349 for 32GB, $449 for 128GB

While introducing its most expensive iPhone ever, the $999-and-up iPhone X, Apple also cut the price of its smallest and most affordable handset, making it cheaper than ever to purchase a new model.

The iPhone SE can now be purchased for $349 for a 32-gigabyte model directly from Apple. The high-capacity 128-gigabyte version is available for $449.

The iPhone SE lineup was given a capacity adjustment in March of this year, doubling the storage from the models launched a year prior. At the time, the 32-gigabyte model cost $399, while the 128-gigabyte variant was $499.

Other than storage, the iPhone SE has remained unchanged since the hardware launched in 2016, with the same A9 processor, 4-inch Retina display, 12-megapixel camera, and absence of pressure sensing 3D Touch.

The price cut for the iPhone SE comes the same day that Apple unveiled the premium iPhone X, a top-tier model with a starting price of $999, which is the company's highest cost of entry ever. With the $349 cost of the iPhone SE, Apple simultaneously also made it the company's most affordable new iPhone ever.

It's a similar approach that Apple employed earlier this year in revamping the iPad lineup: The iPad Pro became more expensive with a $649 10.5-inch entry-level model, just a few months after the company introduced a capable 9.7-inch version that carries a budget price of just $329.

There have been rumors that the iPhone SE could get a refresh in early 2018, about two years after the handset was introduced. It is believed that the update would remain a budget-priced model focused on allowing Apple to capture new sales in emerging markets like India.

38 Comments

jroy 30 comments · 15 Years

About 7 years ago

I just checked the Apple site and for iPhone 5s they mention a 12 megapixel camera with 4K capability. Looks like the refresh is now.

melgross 33607 comments · 20 Years

Ok, so this is good, but they should update the SoC every two years. It’s still an expensive smartphone for many people.

rogifan_new 4297 comments · 9 Years

melgross said:

Ok, so this is good, but they should update it every two years. It’s still an expensive smartphone for many people.

Why did they keep around the 6S and the 7? Because they couldn’t reduce the price of the 7 enough and there would have been too big of a gap between the SE and the 7? It just seems like Apple’s product lines get messy as they’re trying to meet all these price points and are loathed to reduce prices before the absolutely have to. Heck iPad Pro prices went up $50. I also wouldn’t be surprised if the iPhone 8 went up. $100 so it would be closer in price to the X and more people would opt to wait for the X as it’s only $200 more. If they would’ve kept the 8 at the same price as the 7 more people might have opted for it thinking it was better value for the money.

rogifan_new said:

melgross said:

Ok, so this is good, but they should update it every two years. It’s still an expensive smartphone for many people.

Why did they keep around the 6S and the 7? Because they couldn’t reduce the price of the 7 enough and there would have been too big of a gap between the SE and the 7? It just seems like Apple’s product lines get messy as they’re trying to meet all these price points and are loathed to reduce prices before the absolutely have to. Heck iPad Pro prices went up $50. I also wouldn’t be surprised if the iPhone 8 went up. $100 so it would be closer in price to the X and more people would opt to wait for the X as it’s only $200 more. If they would’ve kept the 8 at the same price as the 7 more people might have opted for it thinking it was better value for the money.

I suppose that’s a good point. I think that Apple knows it needs to be in these price points. I remember before they did that, and sales weren’t as robust. I don’t know what their cost are, of course. But as they sell 100 million to 200 million of a device. The parts are well amortized, and therefor, much cheaper. So they can afford to reduce prices. Only they know what the resultant margins are. But they must be high enough for Apple to maintain their impressive, but not,over the top, 20-21% net profit, year after year.

i don’t see iPhone 8 pricing rising. But for next year, what will we see? From what we read, Samsung is sucking Apple for about double the price for the OLED screens, at about $120-$130 each, where numbers normally run about $70-$80 for Galaxy S8 size parts. I don’t know who is paying for that cutout, which is responsible for a 40% reject rate, or who is eating that reject rate. But, it’s likely responsible for the higher cost of the phone, mostly. So what about next year? Will there even be three phones again? John Gruber thinks that there will be three, but I’m not so sure. It could simply be that Apple knew there wouldn’t be any way to supply 75 -100 million of these in a year, this year, but maybe next year they will. So maybe that high price is a one time thing.

[Deleted User] 0 comments · 9 Years

rogifan_new said:
Why did they keep around the 6S and the 7?

I was wondering this as well. Another hypothesis is around the stereo jack. If the 6S was dropped then folks insisting they still need a stereo port would be out of luck with the exception of the SE. I wouldn't be surprised if we see the 6S go when the SE gets a refresh.