The iPhone SE is Apple’s smallest and cheapest smartphone, rivalling Samsung and Huawei at just US$400 – but is it right for you?
As rivals such as Samsung, Google and others release compelling, low-cost options, this cheaper, smaller iPhone – featuring the return of the home button – may be Apple’s best competition
Apple just announced a brand-new iPhone, called the iPhone SE, a US$400 device that looks almost exactly like the iPhone 8, but with the guts of the iPhone 11. It's a rare move for Apple; the last time the company released a US$400 iPhone was back in 2016 with the original SE, which retained the iPhone 5's design and had the processing power of the iPhone 6S.
You may be wondering why Apple is launching a new iPhone in 2020 that looks like one of its phones from 2018. But launching a cheap device like the iPhone SE – now the company's most affordable smartphone – is a necessary move for Apple, as rivals such as Samsung, Google and others continue to release compelling, low-cost options. It could also help Apple expand its footprint in emerging markets where less expensive models are more popular.
If a low price and portability are your highest priorities, the new iPhone SE is certainly worth considering. It may lack several of the features found on Apple's iPhone 11 and even the US$600 iPhone XR, but if you do not mind making some technical sacrifices, the iPhone SE may be the right choice.
Here's a closer look at the who will like the US$400 iPhone most.
People who do not want to spend a lot of money
The most obvious reason to opt for the iPhone SE over Apple's other models is its price. At US$400, it's US$200 cheaper than the iPhone XR, US$300 cheaper than the iPhone 11 and US$600 cheaper than the iPhone 11 Pro. Data suggests there is a demand for less expensive smartphones. The iPhone XR was the most popular smartphone in the world in the third quarter of 2019, according to Counterpoint Research.
A study from NPD Group found in 2019 that only 10 per cent of consumers were paying more than US$1,000 for their smartphones. The iPhone SE could also be an ideal option for parents looking for an inexpensive iPhone to purchase for their child for the first time.
People upgrading from older iPhone models