Do You SE? Why the Rumored Cheap 4-Inch iPhone Makes Sense

Given the good sales of the latest 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhones, itโ€™s understandable for many people to question whether sufficient demand still exists for a 4-inch alternative. However, we reckon that the rumored โ€œiPhone SEโ€, far from a misstep, could spark yet another revolution in the now almost decade-long history of the iPhone.

There could soon be an iPhone for everyone

Thanks to the large โ€œPlusโ€ iPhones, many of us are finding it easier than ever to use our handsets for browsing the web, watching video, and even productivity โ€“ many of the tasks for which an iPad had previously seemed more suitable than an iPhone. However, there likely remain people who consider the size of the โ€œPlusโ€ iPhones too much of a compromise. These handsets are, for example, difficult to use one-handed โ€“ while the attraction of their large screens is less obvious for those of us who already own and love iPads.

Do You SE? Why the Rumored, Cheap 4-Inch iPhone Makes Sense
Apple Inc.

Furthermore, Apple has long shown a willingness to offer, for each of its product lines, broad choice in terms of features and price points. The โ€œiPhone without the phoneโ€ iPod Touch, by way of example, is at the opposite end of the scale to the tiny and stripped-down iPod Shuffle; meanwhile, Appleโ€™s release of the 12.9-inch iPad Pro came after years of 7.9-inch iPad Mini models. The iPhone range, by comparison, currently lacks an obvious smaller, cheaper variant besides the now two-generations-old iPhone 5S.

For those of us who favor traditionโ€ฆ

In fact, the likeliest name for the new device, the โ€œiPhone SEโ€, alone strongly hints at Appleโ€™s intent to fill this glaring gap. As Macworld points out, even when Apple was seeing sales of the original iPod line flying during the 2000s, it didnโ€™t focus exclusively on the premium segment; instead, with models like the iPod Mini and, later, the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle, various markets were eagerly catered for.

Do You SE? Why the Rumored, Cheap 4-Inch iPhone Makes Sense
Apple Inc.

So strong was Appleโ€™s focus on diversification that it continued to, alongside all of these new variants, maintain the original iPod line โ€“ later rebranding it as the iPod Classic. This name is actually reminiscent of the rumored โ€œiPhone SEโ€ moniker โ€“ the โ€œSEโ€ tag said to stand for โ€œspecial editionโ€. A special edition, that is, of a more traditional-sized iPhone, rather than any of the recently-released 4.7-inch or 5.5-inch models. Even after many of us have moved onto bigger iPhones, Apple is now readying the iPhone version of the iPod Classic…

Tagged:
About the Author

News content on AppleMagazine.com is produced by our editorial team and complements more in-depth editorials which youโ€™ll find as part of our weekly publication. AppleMagazine.com provides a comprehensive daily reading experience, offering a wide view of the consumer technology landscape to ensure you're always in the know. Check back every weekday for more.

Editorial Team | Masthead โ€“ AppleMagazine Digital Publication