iPhone SE Display Parts Constrained, Apple May Do Full Device Replacements Instead of Repairs [Updated]

Display repair components for the iPhone SE are in short supply at Apple Stores right now, so customers who need their iPhone SE display fixed may receive a replacement device instead.

According to a retail source that shared the news with MacRumors, employees have been told that display parts are constrained until further notice, and it's not known how long it will be until display components are more widely available. Stores that have no display repair components on hand will outright replace iPhone SE models in need of repair.

iphonese
The reason behind the component constraint is unclear, as Apple did not provide details to employees.

Supply constraints are not likely indicative of an imminent refresh because no new iPhone SE model is expected. According to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who often shares reliable information on upcoming Apple products, Apple will not introduce a new iPhone SE during the first half of 2017.

Apple also recently bumped up the storage space in the iPhone SE, offering the iPhone SE in 32 and 128GB capacities for $399 and $499, respectively.

It isn't yet clear if Apple is planning on introducing another 4-inch device, or if the SE was the last 4-inch phone Apple plans to produce. Kuo's information only covered the first half of 2017, so if another 4-inch phone is in the works, it could come later in the year.

Update: According to a second source, the serial numbers for the displays weren't added to Apple's system correctly, so the displays were unable to be validated. All affected displays were pulled and sent back to Apple, impacting much of the stock at most retail stores.

Some flagship stores have been getting rerouted shipments and will be able to offer repairs.

Related Roundup: iPhone SE
Buyer's Guide: iPhone SE (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

ipad mini 2021 youtube

New Report Reveals When to Expect the iPad Mini 7

Tuesday October 1, 2024 2:09 pm PDT by
Apple is working on a new iPad mini that will "potentially" be released "by the end of 2024," according to a report today from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Last month, Gurman reported that Apple had "new iPads in the works," including an upgraded version of the iPad mini. At the time, he said the device was "on deck for Apple's October event" alongside the first M4 Macs. The wording in his...
Generic iOS 18

Apple Releases iOS 18.0.1 With Touch Screen Bug Fix and More

Thursday October 3, 2024 2:22 pm PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1, the first updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that debuted earlier in September. iOS 18.0.1 and iPadOS 18.0.1 come two weeks after the launch of iOS 18. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes, the...
apple silicon mac lineup wwdc 2022 feature purple

MacBook Pro, iMac, and Redesigned Mac Mini With M4 Chips on Track to Launch 'This Year'

Tuesday October 1, 2024 1:57 pm PDT by
Apple plans to release new MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini models with the M4 series of chips "this year," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman initially said these Macs would likely be announced during a virtual event this October, but he has been more vague about the timing lately, with wording such as "in the coming weeks" and now merely "this year." In any case, it is clear that...
15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18

15 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.1

Friday September 27, 2024 6:14 am PDT by
Apple is set to release iOS 18.1 in October, bringing the first set of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update marks a significant step forward in Apple's AI integration, offering a new Siri contextually-aware experience and a range of additional capabilities powered by on-device machine learning and large language models. There are a couple of handy new...
macOS Sequoia Night Feature

Apple Releases macOS Sequoia 15.0.1 With Bug Fixes

Thursday October 3, 2024 2:27 pm PDT by
Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.0.1, the first update for the macOS Sequoia operating system. The 15.0.1 update comes a week after Apple first released macOS Sequoia 15. Mac users can download the ‌macOS Sequoia‌ update by using the Software Update section of System Settings. According to Apple's release notes, macOS Sequoia 15.0.1 fixes a bug that could cause the Messages app...
airpods pro 2 gradient

AirPods Pro 3 Expected Next Year: Here's What We Know

Tuesday October 1, 2024 5:47 am PDT by
Despite being released over two years ago, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 continue to dominate the wireless earbud market. However, with the AirPods Pro 3 expected to launch sometime in 2025, anyone thinking of buying Apple's premium earbuds may be wondering if the next generation is worth holding out for. Apart from their audio and noise-canceling performance, which are generally regarded as...
Generic iOS 18

iOS 18.0.1 Coming Soon: What to Expect for Your iPhone

Wednesday October 2, 2024 5:50 am PDT by
Following the release of iOS 18 for the iPhone last month, Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.0.1 with bug fixes in the near future. We previously reported that Apple has been internally testing iOS 18.0.1, and today a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing iOS-related information said the update will have a build number of 22A3370. We expect iOS 18.0.1 to be a minor ...
Apple Logo

Apple in October: Six New Things to Expect This Month

Tuesday October 1, 2024 11:47 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to October, and it should be another busy month for Apple. Apple is likely to hold another event this month to announce new Macs and iPads, and there are also a couple of iOS 18 updates that are expected to be released soon. Below, we outline six new things to expect from Apple this month. MacBook Pro Apple plans to announce updated 14-inch and 16-inch...
macOS Sequoia Feature

Here Are All the New Features Coming to macOS Sequoia This Month

Thursday October 3, 2024 6:27 am PDT by
‌Apple in October will release macOS Sequoia‌ 15.1, bringing to Macs the first Apple Intelligence features such as Writing Tools, new Siri features, Smart Replies, and more. In addition, macOS 15.1 adds a handful of welcome tweaks and improvements to existing Mac capabilities. Here's what we can expect from the first major update to macOS Sequoia later this month. Note that Apple...

Top Rated Comments

hybrid_x Avatar
98 months ago
I ❤️ my SE.

Bigger phones just don't add any value for me.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nwcs Avatar
98 months ago
I'm hoping for an iPhone SE with 7s internals. That would be my new iPhone. Love my SE much more than I ever liked the iPhone 6.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LordQ Avatar
98 months ago
Man, the rose gold SE looks very, very, very beautiful.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iReality85 Avatar
98 months ago
Still one of the best looking iPhones Apple has made.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nibfiledotcom Avatar
98 months ago
Still one of the best looking iPhones Apple has made.
It's the best design Apple ever created for a "smartphone," per se. The width of that device was specifically chosen to be comfortable in, and operable with, the average human hand. The choice to make them bigger was purely market driven. The newer devices at larger sizes are better for watching video, reading books, and accommodating larger hands; but for general usage— making a phone call, using an app, sticking it back in your pocket— you can't beat that 4" form factor... it just feels awesome. I would also posit that it has a more "luxury" oriented aesthetic than the 6/7 design.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mattopotamus Avatar
98 months ago
I think they keep the 4" device around. I am sure apple was shocked by the SE sales. There is still a ton of people, myself included, who want a phone. I shouldn't be limited to larger devices to have a new smartphone.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)