iPhone SE

Apple could update iPhone SE in August, unveil iPhone 8 around October

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 19, 2017

According to a rumor published by French outlet iGeneration (Google Translate) citing its own sources, Apple could unveil a second-generation iPhone SE model at a media event in August.

The next iPhone SE could be priced at €399 instead of €489 currently, the outlet said. For comparison's sake, in the United States the current iPhone SE lineup starts at $399.

Additionally, the rumor claims that the Cupertino technology giant will debut the highly-anticipated iPhone 8 model with an OLED display around October.

Chinese analyst does not expect Apple to refresh iPhone SE anytime soon

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 18, 2017

iPhone SE is fifteen months old now, but don't hold your breath for any kind of hardware refresh to the smallest and most affordable Apple handset. That's according to Chinese analyst Pan Jiutang, who predicted Apple won't be refreshing iPhone SE because he doesn't think there's enough demand for the device since most consumers are looking for bigger phones.

The report should be taken with a grain of salt because Apple is now building “Assembled in India” iPhone SE models that it plans to eventually export. On top of that, the Cupertino tech giant is planning to expand local iPhone manufacturing in India.

In the US alone, more than five percent of the overall mobile phone sales apparently belong to iPhone SE. The 32-gigabyte edition of the device retails for $399 in the United States.

In my opinion, Apple would be wise to keep iPhone SE in its offering for another year or so in order to cater to the needs of people that prefer smaller, inexpensive handsets.

Apple could export “Made in India” iPhone SE models

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 11, 2017

The Economic Times of India reported today that although Apple is in no hurry to assemble additional models in India beyond iPhone SE, it is allegedly planning to eventually expand production capacity and bring “Made in India” devices to overseas markets.

“Apple will focus on iPhone SE model both for India and overseas markets,” a government official said. “It is looking to start exports from India,” the person added.

Apple's manufacturer Wistron has been assembling a limited run of “Made in India” iPhone SE models for two months now in a facility set up at Peenya on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

Those phones currently don't ship overseas and don't carry a lower price tag even though they're made locally. Government officials aware of the matter say Wistron has not made any fresh request for approval.

“Apple will stick to making iPhone SE model at its Bengaluru plant for some more time and has no immediate plan to assemble its flagships iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus in the country, according to the government source quoted earlier.

Just yesterday, the same publication reported of Apple's alleged plans to expand local production. According to that article, Apple could manufacture other iPhone models in India at a later stage and even set up a full-fledged manufacturing plant.

Apple is also planning to open its largest global store to date in India by 2020.

It's reportedly looking at 4-5 flagship outlets limited to metros over 5-10 years. The stores will be located at prime locations and should have enough class to make them tourist attractions.

Lastly, the Cupertino giant could launch a dedicated online store in India by October.

First “Assembled in India” iPhone SE units go in sale, but don’t carry lower price tag

Christian Zibreg ∙ June 26, 2017

First iPhone SE units assembled in India have gone on sale in many cities in the country, including the city of Bangalore near which the handset is being assembled in a facility operated by Apple's contract manufacturer Wistron.

The Indian Express reported today that the iPhone SE units manufactured in India don't carry a lower price tag because they are made locally due to Apple's policy of keeping the pricing more or less the same across the globe. In fact, these phones are “priced the same as other models manufactured in China,” according to The Indian Express.

Currently, a small trial run of limited iPhone SE units has been produced. Although the handset is now selling in many Indian cities, customers interested in the handset may not be able to get their hands on one until Wistron ramps up production.

These phones have “Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in India” printed on their back.

Indian government offers Apple tax incentives to boost local iPhone production

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 23, 2017

India has offered tax concessions to Apple to expand iPhone production in the country just days after it was announced that the Cupertino giant kicked off local iPhone SE production.

This is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plans to boost local manufacturing.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, the central minister for Electronics and IT, told Reuters this morning that Apple has already approached the Indian government regarding potential expansion of its manufacturing facility in the southern Indian technology hub of Bengaluru, operated by its Taiwanese supplier Wistron which as of recently has been assembling iPhone SE there.

According to the news gathering organization, the Indian government has offered to permit Apple to import handset components intended for use in local manufacturing tax free.

Here's an excerpt from the article:

Among a set of tax concessions, Apple had initially sought a 15-years tax holiday for all components that it would import for setting up a manufacturing facility in India.

A panel of ministries rejected that demand and has offered a phased program to increase the share of local production in the manufacturing, Aruna Sundararajan, Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and IT said.

“We have offered them tax exemptions on those components which could not be manufactured in India,” Sundararajan told Reuters.

Local manufacturing component would have to be increased gradually, he added.

The tax concessions will be subject to the condition of increasing local value addition over a period of time, to which Apple has reportedly agreed to.

“It will be a little early to say that India and Apple have agreed on the common ground,“ cautioned a government official.

It's been speculated that Apple and Wistron began making iPhone SE in India as a way to lower the handset's price point in order to make it more affordable to Indian consumers.

Apple kicks off iPhone SE production in India

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 17, 2017

Apple has officially kicked off the initial production run of an unspecified “small number” of iPhone SE handsets in its Bangalore plant in India, marking the first time the company has assembled any iPhone model in the vast 1.33 billion people market.

As previously suspected, the manufacturing of the cheapest iPhone model was handled earlier this month by Taiwanese contract manufacturer Wistron via its assembling unit located in Karnataka, a state in the south western region of India.

Apple confirmed in a statement that it has begun the initial production of a small number of iPhone SE handsets in Bangalore. The Cupertino company will begin shipping the devices to domestic customers later this month, with the first shipments potentially hitting retail stores as early as this week or next, according to a person familiar with the matter.

A state official with direct knowledge of the matter told the publication that the Cupertino giant “could seek more production” within the country in the future.

It's unclear if Apple will reduce iPhone SE pricing in India to better compete with inexpensive smartphones from rivals. In India, according to Deutsche Bank’s annual “Mapping the World’s Prices” survey, the 128-gigabyte 4.7-inch iPhone 7 model costs about $900 versus an average selling price of $815 in the US.

iPhone SE costs $399 in the United States. By comparison, the current average going rate for iPhone SE in India is about $320. Some analysts think Apple should price the phone really aggressively were it to move a good number of these devices in the country.

“In three to five years, these users will be able to graduate to a standard-priced iPhone,” said Faisal Kawoosa, principal analyst at research firm CMR.

According to IDC, the average smartphone price in India is about $250.

Local government officials reportedly believe Apple could sell iPhone SE in India for as low as the equivalent of $220 in Indian currency. Apple's manufacturing partners assemble most of the iPhones the company sells in massive factories in China, with a smaller number of older iPhone models being manufactured in Foxconn's facilities in Brazil.

iPhone SE or iPhone 7s could have strengthened Ion-X glass display like Apple Watch

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 17, 2018

The next iPhone SE or the upcoming LCD-based iPhone 7s/Plus could come outfitted with a strengthened Ion-X glass display like some Apple Watch models, as indicated by a new photo posted Wednesday to leak aggregator Slashleaks.

Slashleaks states that the leaked image, which originated from Chinese social network Sina Weibo, depicts glass casings and some of the manufacturing specifications for a 2017 iPhone model, internally code-named “N79”. The post doesn't make it clear if the next iPhone SE or the iPhone 7s/Plus updates might have a strengthened Ion-X glass cover.

The current iPhone SE and iPhone 7 models feature an aluminum rear casing. The photo shows two cutouts on the backside, one for a single-lens camera and another one, located right below the camera cutout, that could house Apple's quad-LED True Tone flash.

Assuming genuine, the leaked image probably shows the glass casings for the iPhone 7s series. On the other hand, prior rumors have claimed that the iterative iPhone 7s/Plus updates would have the same aluminum back design like their predecessors.

That being said, please take this story with healthy does of skepticism: according to Twitter, the two circular cutouts seen on the nearside appear to have been doctored.

According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, iPhone 8 should feature an iPhone 4/4s-like “glass sandwich” design with a stainless steel frame and a vertically aligned dual-camera system out the back, among other rumored enhancements.

Apple may kick off online sales of iPhone SE in India by October

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 1, 2017

Before making its long-expected offline retail presence in India, Apple may start selling the locally produced iPhone SE through its online store in the world's second most-populous country. According to a report Monday by the Economic Times, Apple may also sell locally sourced accessories via its online store.

However, the report states that the iPhone maker won't compete on price with online marketplaces for the items carried via its Indian online store. About half the iPhone models the Cupertino firm sells in the country are purchased online.

Apple just doubled iPhone SE storage without raising prices

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 21, 2017

As part of announcing iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition in a new vibrant red aluminum finish, Apple this morning said that iPhone SE, its most affordable handset ever, is now available with double the storage at the same starting price of $399 in the United States.

The new 32 and 128-gigabyte capacities have replaced the previous 16GB and 64GB models of iPhone SE which are no longer sold. The new 32/128 GB iPhone SE models will be available beginning Friday, March 24 from apple.com and Apple Stores.

Rumor: four new iPad Pros, 128GB iPhone SE and iPhone 7 in Red to be unveiled next month

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 20, 2017

Fairly reliable website Mac Otakara is reporting that Apple will be holding a media event next month to announce hardware updates for several of its popular products. Wondering what's on tap for a refresh? According to the Japanese publication, Apple will add a new 128-gigabyte iPhone SE model to the existing 16GB and 64GB capacities.

In addition, we should also see the previously rumored Red model of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus and four new iPad Pro models introduced at the event.

Reuters: Apple to start building iPhone SE in India in coming months

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 17, 2017

Apple is set to start assembling its lower-priced iPhone SE in India in the coming months, an industry source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday.

All iPhone SE units will be made in a facility that Apple's contract manufacturer will set up at Peenya on the outskirts of Bengaluru. All devices will be targeted at the domestic market.

KGI: no iPhone SE refresh in Spring 2017

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 5, 2016

KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is predicting iPhone sales will drop in the first quarter of 2017 because he is not expecting a refreshed iPhone SE model that could perhaps reinvigorate demand during the slow post-holiday quarter.

Kuo's note to investors Friday says Apple's been putting pressure on component makers to reduce prices in order to protect its high gross margins that are the envy of the industry.