Report: "There is little to no availability of iPhone SE in the Apple Stores.

According to Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter, the current iPhone SE, which was released in 2022, is rapidly decreasing in availability. This is not surprising, as everyone expects a new iPhone SE soon. However, this is also interesting because it indicates that Apple probably does not intend to keep the current model in circulation.

Recap of the iPhone SE 4

This spring, around April, Apple is expected to release a new iPhone SE. Some suggest it might be called the iPhone 16E instead. It will be the biggest overhaul in the history of the iPhone SE, with a completely new design, an OLED screen of 6.1 inches, an update to Face ID, USB-C, and much more.

The new model of the iPhone SE will also have support for Apple's Intelligenza, introducing features like Genmoji and Notification Summaries across all Apple smartphones. However, with all these updates, the new iPhone SE will cost more. Reports indicate that the new model will have a price of at least $499.

Usually, when Apple introduces new models at a higher price, they keep an older model at a reduced price to better serve the market. For example, Apple has kept the M1 MacBook Air in circulation for several years at a reduced price, while the newly redesigned M2 MacBook Air started with a higher price tag of over $200.

Current Location of the Apple Store

For better or worse though, that probably won't be the case with iPhone SE 3. As appealing as it'd be for Apple to sell a ~$300 iPhone to attract new buyers, that likely won't be the case, given the fact that iPhone SE 3 production has seemingly already ramped down:

Inventory scaling is a reliable sign that indicates the arrival of a new model. However, it also suggests that Apple probably won't keep the current version at a reduced price after the update. This seems like an opportunity lost, as an affordable iPhone could have helped Apple access some markets. The current SE costs $429, and the new model might be more expensive due to its added features.

Personally, this news doesn't really disappoint me. Even if a new iPhone under $400 would be interesting, it's important to remember that Apple based the current generation of iPhone SE on the 2017 iPhone 8. The iPhone SE 3 uses outdated technology, but it has a good chip and decent cameras. Otherwise, it doesn't compete well with Android in the $300-$400 price range.

Apple also recently discontinued the offer of the iPhone SE 3 within the European Union. The new USB-C regulation law came into effect, and Apple can no longer sell any iPhone Lightning, including iPhone 14 and iPhone SE 3, in the European Union.

If you want an iPhone SE 3 now for any reason - you can still order it online and receive it within a few days. It's just that inventory at the Apple Stores is limited.

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