Hreb

Apple has determined that packaging and selling an iPhone SE 2 doesn't make sense.  All this means is that someone else is going to make a small form-factor phone with a modern processor first.

The most offensive part of the iPhone 8 as compared to the iPhone SE isn't the weight.  Any of these devices is strikingly light, and adding heft gives a feeling of quality and substantialness.  The problem is the width of the device in the hand, and the iPhone 8 is 15% wider than the iPhone SE.  That's a lot.

Some day, someone will make a 2.3" wide premium smartphone, and it won't be Apple.  And it will sell to a significant number of users who have been frustrated by the hegemony of phablet phones for the past 4 years, who will hand over serious cash for one.  Apple will then have to decide if it wants to compete in that segment, or leave it alone.  All we know for now is that Apple won't be the leader in that space; someone else will.