According to Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter, the current iPhone SE, released in 2022, is running out of stock fast. This isn’t too surprising, considering we’re expecting a new iPhone SE to launch in just a couple of months. What’s particularly noteworthy, though, is that this suggests Apple probably doesn’t plan to keep the current model around much longer.
Upcoming iPhone SE 4
This spring, likely around April, Apple will release a new iPhone SE. Some speculate that Apple might call it the iPhone 16E. Either way, the new model will bring the biggest redesign in iPhone SE history, featuring a brand-new look, a 6.1-inch OLED display, an upgrade to Face ID, USB-C, and a range of other exciting changes.
Along with these design updates, the new iPhone SE will support Apple Intelligence, bringing cool new features like Genmoji and Notification Summaries to the entire iPhone lineup. However, these upgrades come at a cost. The new model will likely cost at least $499, a noticeable jump from the current generation.
Historically, when Apple releases a higher-priced model, they usually keep an older version around at a reduced price to cater to different market needs. For example, Apple kept the M1 MacBook Air available for a couple of years at a lower price even after the redesigned M2 MacBook Air debuted at a $200 higher price tag.
Current Apple Store Inventory
For better or for worse, it looks like the SE 3 might not stick around much longer. As much as it would be tempting for Apple to offer a ~$300 iPhone to attract new buyers, production of the iPhone SE 3 seems to be winding down, which suggests that a new model is on the way. This also likely means Apple won’t keep the current model around at a reduced price once the update is available, which seems like a missed opportunity to capture a larger share of budget-conscious markets.
The current iPhone SE costs $429, but the new model’s upgraded features will likely raise the price. While a cheaper iPhone option would have been appealing, I’m not too disappointed by the news. After all, Apple based the iPhone SE 3 on technology from the 2017 iPhone 8, and while it has a solid chipset and cameras, it doesn’t quite measure up to its Android competitors in the $300-400 range.
In addition to this, Apple also stopped selling the iPhone SE 3 in the European Union late last year due to new USB-C regulations, meaning they can no longer sell any Lightning-equipped iPhones, including the SE 3, in the EU. If you’re still interested in getting one, you can order it online and receive it in a few days, but you’ll find it harder to locate in Apple Stores.
