Apple Launches IPhone SE At A Low Price With 5G Technology, Perfect For Beginners

Apple launched the iPhone SE product, which is again targeting novice buyers in its class. (photo: doc unsplash)

JAKARTA - Apple Inc. will soon announce a new version of their low-cost product, the iPhone SE. This budget smartphone with 5G capabilities was announced at the annual spring product launch event on Tuesday, March 8. Apple is also expected to launch new versions of the high-end iPad Air and Mac Mini at the event.

The Apple iPhone SE is currently priced at $399 (IDR 5.7 million). CFRA Research analyst Angelo Zino said Apple could attract more consumers with the low price.

"This has the potential to give our iPhone unit sales forecasts a boost for 2022 if they keep that price point unchanged," Zino said. "The iPhone SE really caters to a lot of budding buyers in the iPhone ecosystem who are probably younger individuals, where their parents went there to buy the device."

The iPhone SE product with this price range is predicted to be a strong competitor for the Samsung Galaxy M52, which also has 5G technology but is priced at a lower price. Samsung also comes with various variants of the latest smartphones with 5G technology at much cheaper prices such as the Samsung A32.

The new phone will be the first update to the iPhone SE model in the last two years and is rumored to come with an upgraded camera and a faster processor.

"The United States, Japan, and Western Europe have been the top markets for iPhone SE sales in recent years," said analyst Ryan Reith of IDC, as quoted by Reuters. Reith said the region is likely to remain the top market after the anticipated launch of the third-generation iPhone SE.

"We probably won't see a big geographic shift," said Reith, adding that he expects the new iPhone SE to account for 10% of iPhone shipments globally after launch.

The 5G-capable iPhone has been a big part of Apple's focus on flagship products, with the latest iPhone 13 model sporting a dedicated 5G antenna and radio component for faster speeds as customers seek powerful devices with better connectivity. But some analysts are still pointing out the limitations of 5G technology globally.

"Nowadays in most countries of the world, that (5G) technology is not good enough to create a unique and different experience... the fact that the iPhone SE comes with 5G is more of a way to allow users to take advantage of 5G as the technology evolves over a period of one or next two years," said Canalys research analyst Runar Bjørhovde.

Zino said he doesn't anticipate any service or accessory launches at this Tuesday's event, although unexpected announcements in the services sector are still possible.

Apple typically holds three events each year to launch new products, starting in the spring and announcing the launch of its new iPhone lineup just before the holiday shopping season.

In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Apple said on March 1 it had stopped all sales of the product in Russia. The company also said it had stopped all exports to its sales channels in the country and restricted Apple Pay and other services in Russia.

Russian state media, RT News and Sputnik News, are now not available for download from Apple Stores outside Russia.