Bad news for the iPhone SE, as the next iteration in the line has now reportedly been cancelled.
According to a new report from Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple has sent instructions to suppliers to effectively cancel the iPhone SE 4. It was previously reported that production of the next-generation iPhone SE could be delayed or canceled. Although this cancellation could change in the future, we should not expect a new mid-range smartphone from Apple for the time being. As a result, Apple’s internal baseband processor has also been put on the backburner, as it’s reportedly set to make its debut in the upcoming iPhone SE.
Apparently Apple’s internal baseband processor would be used for the first time in the iPhone SE 4. models such as the iPhone 16 series. Since the iPhone SE 4 has now been canceled, it appears that Qualcomm will be supplying baseband chips to Apple for now. Earlier reports said Qualcomm would lose some of its sales if Apple moved to its own baseband silicon, now it should be in a much stronger position for years to come.
While mid-range phone sales have never been great, Apple’s most recent move may have been driven by current and future economic conditions. While that may be the case, it also confirms that despite the outcry of people wanting a smaller, more powerful device, people just weren’t opening their wallets to this type of smartphone. Colleague Ben Sin expanded on this in his most recent report, stating that the only reason these kinds of products exist is that the US doesn’t face much competition from smartphone makers in Asia, who tend to produce excellent, cheaper smartphone models that pack more value for your money.
Both the iPhone Mini and iPhone SE have been shut down for the time being. But Apple has a lot of products ready for use in 2023. While some products are expected, this year could be a really interesting year for Apple as it moves more of its products to use its own silicon and actually brings the iPhone to market the modern age with the adoption of USB-C.
Source: Ming-Chi Kuo (Medium)