The newest, littlest iPhone hasn't captured the imagination of smartphone buyers just yet, new launch data indicates, while the 9.7-inch iPad Pro has seen steady adoption following last week's debut.
With lower-than-expected demand for the iPhone 6s, a soft iPhone SE launch, and dual-camera designs from competitors expected to beat the 'iPhone 7 Plus' to market, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes iPhone shipments could fall below 200 million units this year.
With a decidedly classic design just like the iPhone 5 series, the new iPhone SE has been completely revamped inside in a huge way. For fans of smaller phones, the iPhone SE is just what you've been waiting for — a capable, modern smartphone in a compact, ultraportable, proven chassis.
In spite of recyling many parts from other iPhones, Apple's profit margin on the iPhone SE is relatively low next to the high-end iPhone 6s, a new analyst estimate suggests.
Following Chipworks' teardown of Apple's new iPhone SE, iFixit on Thursday posted a comprehensive dismantling that shows the next-gen 4-inch iPhone's display is identical to its iPhone 5s predecessor, among other interesting finds.
The iPhone SE — which officially went on sale earlier on Thursday — is still easy to find in stock at Apple Stores in the U.S., according to checks by a well-known analyst.
Apple is hoping to ship between 4 to 5 million iPhone SE units during the second quarter of 2016, which won't be enough to compensate for a decline in iPhone 6s and 6s Plus sales, supply chain sources indicated on Thursday.
The first teardown of Apple's iPhone SE was posted to the Web on Wednesday, and as expected the handset's logic board is an amalgamation of parts mostly borrowed from iPhone 5s and iPhone 6/6s, with a few new chips thrown in to keep the platform fresh.
It's one of the most common questions any prospective smartphone buyer asks: Should I buy now, or wait? The launch of the iPhone SE — an uncharacteristic-for-Apple mid-cycle upgrade — makes the answer slightly more complex this year.
Although the announcement of the iPhone SE — and 9.7-inch iPad Pro — triggered a relatively modest increase in global traffic to Apple's website on March 21, the same day saw significant surges in China and India, according to research figures published on Wednesday.
Apple's new iPhone SE isn't expected to break any sales records, but fresh data suggests the diminutive handset might have a hand in driving iPhone sales growth beyond early adopters and brand loyalists.
Featuring a 4-inch Retina display and starting price of $399, the newly unveiled Apple iPhone SE is noticeably smaller and cheaper than the 4.7-inch iPhone 6s. However, despite obvious differences in size, there are a great deal of similarities under the hood between the two. Here's a closer look at how well the iPhone SE competes with its big brother based on price, hardware and intended use.
After the new 9.7-inch iPad Pro and 4-inch iPhone SE debut in a handful of major markets this Thursday, customers in the second wave of launch countries apparently will not have to wait long, with Apple gearing up for sales to begin as early as next week.
Arguably, the new iPhone SE is aimed less at Apple's U.S. home than the international market, where such a device has been a long time coming. Apple's next-gen 4-inch should perform well as standalone model, drawing overseas customers into the sticky iOS ecosystem.
Though Apple hasn't announced any official sales figures, preorders for the iPhone SE are said to have exceeded 3.4 million so far in China alone, according to data from local retailers.
The inclusion of Apple's latest and greatest processor and camera technology in the iPhone SE ensures that both customers and Apple will be able to stand by the device for years to come.
Battery life could be a key difference maker for the iPhone SE, as the smaller handset has been shown to last far longer than more expensive phones — including the iPhone 6s.
As previously announced, Apple on Thursday activated online preorder sales for its new 4-inch iPhone SE and 9.7-inch iPad Pro in 13 territories, including key markets in North America, Europe and Asia.
Apple on Monday debuted iPhone SE, the long-awaited 4-inch form factor refresh that borrows liberally from iPhone 6 and 6s parts bins to offer consumers a low-cost iPhone option with very few sacrifices. However, the SE is missing one key feature: 3D Touch.
Even before Apple held its "Loop you in" event, analysts and the company's media detractors were vocally opining that all the announcements would be boring. While there weren't any shocking new revelations to rock the industry, Apple's latest product releases provide some deep insight into where the company is headed this year, starting with the new iPhone SE.
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AppleInsider Staff
Neil Hughes
Roger Fingas
Mikey Campbell
Christine McKee
Daniel Eran Dilger
