Malcolm Owen
The unexpected return of the iPhone SE to the U.S. online Apple Store in a clearance sale has ended after only a day of availability, as the company has run out of stock.
Apple quietly put the iPhone SE up for sale under its Clearance section online, with brand new and unopened units being sold at a discount, with the 32-gigabyte version priced at only $249 while the 128-gigabyte version was just $299. This represented respective discounts of $100 and $150 before Apple removed the iPhone SE from sale in the store.
The iPhone SE started being sold at the discount prices on Saturday, but evidently there either wasn't much stock available or it proved highly popular, as by Monday the Clearance page no longer lists the device at all.
Packing an A9 processor, the iPhone SE is a more compact device than the other models Apple currently offers, sporting a four-inch display with Touch ID that's much smaller than the 4.7-inch and larger screens of the rest of the iPhone roster. Apple discontinued sale of the iPhone SE in September, alongside the iPhone X, iPhone 6S, and iPhone 6S Plus.
While there have been rumors for a while suggesting Apple will be bringing out a successor to the iPhone SE, there has yet to be any inkling that such a device will be launched by the company anytime soon.
Here's where you can still get an iPhone SE
Although iPhone SE devices are becoming harder to find, there are still several third-party retailers that have the phones in stock. If you want a new model, eBay is your best bet. If you're open to a refurbished model, Amazon and BuyBackWorld are viable options.
Retailers with the iPhone SE in stock:
- eBay: From $94
- Amazon.com: From $156
- BuyBackWorld: From $159
AppleInsider Staff
Oliver Haslam
Andrew O'Hara
Wesley Hilliard
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
28 Comments
"while there may have been rumors for a while suggesting Apple will be bringing out a successor to the iPhone SE"... Yeah, this should happen. How about a refresh with slightly larger screen and smaller overall form factor than the 8, at a $549 price ? I think a small phone like that would even be convenient for travel. What? it won't have the best camera like the XS? Doesn't matter to me, I use a DSLR when traveling. They (Apple) have to know about the backlash about phones getting too big...
I agree with the backlash. Not only are they getting too big, they are getting too thin. It isn’t becoming too difficult to hold, it is too difficult to hold for me. Between the rounded edges and thinner design I don’t feel like I can hold it with confidence.
I’d much rather go back to an upgraded SE, maybe with an edge to edge screen and call it good.
Side note: I’m another one that is on the upgrade program and refused to get a Xs from my X.
So foxconn is cutting 50000 jobs because of low demand for Apples flagship $1000+ phones, but the SE sells out in a day. I hope someone at Apple is paying attention. Everyone wants an iphone, but not everyone has $1000 to spend.
SE is the last iPhone(or any phone) in 4" screen size. World has moved to larger screen phones even in 3rd world countries user base. Due to such trend, not big enough buyer base for smaller screen phones at $400-$500 price point. One can only hope for iPhone in around 5" size screen(4.7" iPhone 8 frame) LCD with faceid, older hardware for lower price than current larger screen iPhones. Those want relatively smaller size edge-to-edge phone at better($500-$600) price point will trade/sacrifice against buying expensive newer tech/hardware phone. But, I doubt Apple will introduce such iPhone to avoid confusion among buyers for older vs newer iPhones and pricing levels.
I got lucky and for a gold se 32gb Saturday night after reading an article clearance sale.
My daughter is 10 and the bigger phones will not go in her jeans front pocket. This will work great for first iphone. Apple should reconsider the 4 inch form factor I think they will sell some just as an option for lower priced iPhones.