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Apple reportedly slashes iPhone SE (2022) production due to low interest
- A new report suggests Apple has cut iPhone SE (2022) production by as much as 20%.
- Allegedly, Apple made the decision due to lower-than-expected interest in the device.
- The new iPhone SE is more expensive than the 2020 model but looks the same.
Earlier this month, Apple launched the newest budget-minded iPhone. The phone comes with a few internal upgrades when compared to its predecessor, including a faster processor, a bigger battery, and 5G support.
The iPhone SE (2022), however, looks exactly the same as the 2020 model. It’s also more expensive, starting at $429 instead of the $399 price of the previous generation.
See also: Best Android alternatives to the newest budget iPhone
According to two sources (Nikkei Asian Review and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo), Apple has allegedly slashed production of this new iPhone. The reports suggest production could have dropped by about 20%. Both reports affirm that it is unlikely the ongoing global chip shortage had much to do with the changes.
Instead, it appears lower-than-expected demand for the iPhone SE (2022) is to blame. It doesn’t seem that any single issue is the source for this, though. High gas prices, the war in Ukraine, COVID-19 lockdowns, and inflation have all been thrown around as possible reasons. However, one can’t deny that a more expensive phone that looks exactly like one from 2017 just might not have the big draw Apple anticipated.
Android Authority is in the middle of reviewing the newest SE device, so we can’t say much about the phone itself. Today’s news, though, does point to consumer interest not living up to Apple’s expectations.
Of course, this doesn’t mean the iPhone SE (2022) is or will be a flop. It simply means Apple probably overestimated how interesting this phone would be to consumers.