iPhone SE: Apple is ready to unveil a new model of the famous budget smartphone
7 February 14:49
Apple Inc. is planning to unveil the long-awaited iPhone SE update in the coming days, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports citing Bloomberg.
According to knowledgeable sources, the company is going to announce the device next week, and sales will begin later this month. Apple probably won’t hold a presentation of the phone, but will simply introduce it on its website.
This debut will be an important step for the often underrated smartphone, which Apple first introduced in 2016 as an entry-level model. The current version, released in 2022, is outdated: it is the only iPhone that still has a Home button and does not support Face ID. The new version will look more like the iPhone 14 and will also include Apple Intelligence, the company’s artificial intelligence software.
There are already obvious signs of the new phone. Stocks of the current iPhone SE have run out in Apple retail stores in many parts of the United States, which usually happens before a model update. Employees of Apple retail stores report that stocks have been dwindling for weeks, and customers who want to purchase the device in certain configurations sometimes have to be turned away.
The phone is still available for purchase on Apple’s online store, but some configurations – including the red version with 256 gigabytes of storage – are not shipping until March. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are also running out of stock.
Apple has already stopped selling the current SE and iPhone 14 in the EU due to non-compliance with local laws requiring USB-C, the charging standard adopted by other iPhones in 2023. The next iPhone SE will have the same port, allowing it to return to the EU market.
Apple’s iPhone business needs a boost. Sales of the device fell by 1% during the holiday quarter – worse than expected – and Apple is counting on a new budget phone to restore growth.
Читайте нас у Telegram: головні новини коротко
Price and features
The current SE costs $429 in the US, which is hundreds of dollars less than the regular iPhone 16 for $799. Given the new features and design of the updated model, Apple may raise this price. However, it is likely to remain in the same price range as entry-level smartphones from Samsung Electronics Co. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google.
The new iPhone SE may be particularly attractive in overseas markets such as China, India, and other parts of Asia, where Apple is trying to strengthen its business. The combination of high-tech features and a price tag of around $500 could make it an attractive alternative to local brands, although it will likely remain more expensive. Apple’s sales in China fell 11% last quarter, but grew in other emerging markets.
The new device, codenamed V59, will also be the first iPhone with Apple’s own cellular modem, replacing the component from Qualcomm Inc. It will have a larger screen with Face ID and will also include a faster A18 chip that will support Apple Intelligence. The removal of the Home button from the iPhone SE means that Apple will completely abandon the iconic interface that debuted on the first iPhone in 2007.
Other expected Apple products
The iPhone SE announcement will take place around the same time as the presentation of the new PowerBeats Pro 2 headphones, which are expected to be unveiled on February 11. The new headphones will be the first from the Apple brand with a built-in heart rate monitor, a feature that the company eventually wants to add to AirPods.
Other products not related to the iPhone will also appear soon. Apple plans to release a MacBook Air with a faster M4 chip, new budget iPads, and updated iPad Air models during the first half of 2025. Stocks of the current iPad Air and MacBook Air in Apple retail stores are dwindling.
This year will also include significant updates to the company’s professional desktop computers, as well as a smart home hub with a display.
Читайте нас у Telegram: головні новини коротко
