Apple released a 3rd gen iPhone SE earlier that kept the same familiar iPhone 8 design but added a faster A15 Bionic chip and a 5G modem under the hood. Apple’s rumored 4th gen iPhone SE is expected to finally switch to a borderless screen with a notch, but Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo now believes that the next iPhone SE could be either delayed or canceled.

In a Twitter thread, the analyst explained that the disappointing sales of low-end and midrange iPhones, including the iPhone SE and iPhone 14 Plus released in 2022 may force the company to focus more on premium models, which have been selling better.

“My latest survey indicates that Apple will likely cancel or postpone the mass production plan for the 2024 iPhone SE 4,” explained King-Chi Kuo. “I think this is due to the consistently lower-than-expected shipments of mid-to-low-end iPhones (e.g., SE 3, 13 mini, and 14 Plus), as well as concerns that the full-screen design of the SE 4 will lead to an increase in higher costs/selling prices. As a result, Apple may need to reconsider the product positioning and return on investment for the SE 4.”

The analyst also added that Apple is currently affected by the same economic slowdown that pushed other companies to slow down hiring or announce layoffs. “Additionally, reducing unnecessary new product development expenses will also help the company navigate the challenges of the global economic recession in 2023,” the analyst tweeted.

Previous reports suggested that Apple could re-use the design of its 2018 iPhone XR, which had a borderless 6.1-inch display for the 4th gen iPhone SE. This would be quite an upgrade compared to the 4.7-inch display on the current iPhone SE.

Apple’s 2022 iPhone SE currently starts at $429, and the company may struggle to maintain this sub $500 price by adopting a more modern design. As we’ve seen earlier this fall, Apple’s redesigned entry-level iPad now starts at $449, which is $120 more expensive than the previous model

Tagged with Apple, iPhone SE