Apple hasn’t released sales figures for the iPhone SE, which went on sale over the weekend, and industry analysts think they know why.
According to research firm Localytics (via 9to5 Mac) the new 4-incher gained a minuscule fraction of the overall iPhone market, accounting for 0.1 per cent of all handsets.
By comparison, iPhone 6 family of devices snapped up 2.3 per cent of the iPhone market on launch, while the iPhone 5s was just shy of a percentage point after one weekend of sales.
“The new phone was unable to take away the iPhone 5’s share, the model it most closely resembled,” the firm wrote, “suggesting that small-screen lovers have not yet been convinced to upgrade from their 5 models to the new iPhone SE.”
See also: iPhone SE vs iPhone 5S: What’s new
Elsewhere, other researchers described the opening weekend as “lacklustre,” claiming iPhone 5E demand was “significantly lower than that of past new models.”
KGI Securities’ veteran analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrote: “We believe this is due in part to lackluster demand for smaller-size smartphones and, more importantly, that the product itself offers no significant upgrades to form factor or hardware specs.”
The iPhone SE arrived at an event last month promising many of the features offered by Apple’s larger flagship devices, squeezed into a 4-inch shell.
The firm had pitched the device as the ultimate handset for those seeking a device that wouldn’t stretch out both their thumbs and pocket space.
However, the device offered little in the way of new tech, something that may be resonating with consumers judging by the reports of poor adoption over the weekend.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
