But, as per noted and reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the Cupertino giant may either postpone or altogether cancel the mass production of 2024’s iPhone SE. For those unaware, the iPhone SE 4 was supposed to look similar to the iPhone XR and come with a full-screen display, a notch, and thin bezels, as well as a 6.1-inch LCD screen. It is rumored to be powered by the A16 chip that can be found on the top-end models of the recently launched iPhone 14 series. According to Kuo, the reason behind the cancellation or postponement of the iPhone SE 4 may be due to the consistently lower-than-expected shipments of mid to low-end iPhones like the iPhone SE 3, iPhone 13 mini, and iPhone 14 Plus. “My latest survey indicates that Apple will likely cancel or postpone the mass production plan for the 2024 iPhone SE 4. 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)”, Kuo wrote in a series of tweets. Another reason is the purported full-screen design of the iPhone SE 4, which has resulted in an increase in costs and the selling price of the device. This may force Apple to pass down the manufacturing costs and expenses to the customer in the form of a higher price tag to recover the investment on the iPhone SE 4. As a result, the company may need to re-evaluate the positioning of the product. “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,” he says. Kuo goes on to further add that decreasing “unnecessary new product development expenses” will also help the company to manage the challenges posed by the global economic recession in 2023. Apple has yet to confirm the accuracy of Kuo’s series of tweets. We can expect to hear more about the upcoming iPhone SE 4 in the coming months.
