Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Could the current iPhone SE drop to just $199 after March update?

Apple is expected to release the third iteration of the iPhone SE in March. While many commentators expect the new version of Apple’s best-priced phone to incorporate the same 4.7-inch design as its predecessor, the refreshed device seems certain to feature a more powerful chip and 5G connectivity, among other improvements.

In keeping with Apple’s usual approach to pricing, we can expect the new iPhone SE to retail for around the same as the current unit, which starts at $399.

Something to watch out for, however, is what Apple does with the price of the current model — if it decides to keep the device as part of its smartphone lineup, that is.

Respected Apple insider Mark Gurman suggested on Sunday that the tech giant may take the opportunity to drop the price of the current iPhone SE to just $199, a move that could make it popular in emerging markets like Africa, South America, and parts of Asia, where Android phones currently dominate. Shoppers in established markets could also sit up and take notice, especially if they’re after a budget-priced Apple phone and aren’t bothered about 5G.

While it doesn’t appear that Gurman has received any tip-offs from his sources about a potential price drop, the Bloomberg reporter said he sees the launch of the new SE as “a great opportunity to make a change,” suggesting Apple could have “a hot seller in developing markets” if it drops the price of the current SE to $199.

He adds that retaining the current model and offering it with an attractive price tag would help to bring more people into Apple’s ecosystem, possibly leading new customers to purchase other Apple products or services over time.

Launched in 2020, the iPhone SE is still an attractive option for customers looking for a powerful Apple phone that does the basics, and then some.

With the tech firm expected to announce a number of new products in the coming weeks — a new iPhone SE among them — we don’t have long to wait to find out what Apple does with the existing model. So stay tuned …

Editors' Recommendations

I created the perfect iPhone home screen — and you can too
iPhone 14 Pro with custom home screen icons and widgets

With iOS 14, Apple began to open the floodgates for software customization on the iPhone. For the first time, you could add widgets to the home screen and even change app icons to custom ones without the need for a jailbreak. And iOS 16 gave us some more customization options in the form of the lock screen, although the interface for that is su-par, to say the least.

While I see a lot of people still use a stock grid layout on their home screen, I took some time when iOS 14 first came out to customize my iOS experience. I enjoy that it’s not just a boring grid of stock icons — having custom icons and widgets really mix things up a bit and gives me a more informative home screen.

Read more
Will my phone automatically change for daylight saving time?
The iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island showing the timer and music playing.

Like it or not, it's that time of year again — time for daylight saving time. On Sunday, March 12, at 2:00 a.m. (local time), the majority of people in the United States will be "springing forward" and setting their clocks ahead by an hour. Along with losing an hour of sleep, it also poses an important question: will your phone automatically change for daylight saving time?

It's a question that applies regardless of which phone you have. Whether you're rocking an iPhone 14 Pro, a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, or any other smartphone, it's important to know whether or not you need to change it for the new time.

Read more
Apple, please release the iPhone 14 in these colors next 
Mockup render of the iPhone 14 in an orange color.

You've probably heard the news by now. Earlier this week, Apple released a new yellow color for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus -- and it's now up for pre-order. Does it look good? I sure think so! It's a bright, vibrant, and saturated yellow that adds a lot of pop to a mostly muted color palette for the iPhone 14 series.

But as much as I like how the yellow looks, it's not the only color I'd love to see the iPhone come in. There are so many possibilities for future iPhone colors, and if Apple's looking for a few tips on what to do next, I have some suggestions. Here are five colors Apple should release the iPhone 14 in next (hopefully soon).
Dark green

Read more