Apple unveiled the “most powerful 4-inch phone ever”, the iPhone SE, and a smaller version of the iPad Pro at an event at its headquarters in the United States, regarded as attempts to kickstart upgrade cycles for the smartphone and tablet range.
iPhone SE
With a four inch display and aluminium casing similar to 2013’s iPhone 5S, the iPhone SE “takes a beloved iPhone design and reinvents it from the inside out”, said the company.
The phone, similar in design to the 5S device, has been built with power and performance very much in mind.
It includes a 64 bit A9 chip, the same as that integrated in the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus, and an M9 motion co-processor, claiming to deliver the same processing and graphics performance as the flagship phone launched last year.
It also comes equipped with a 12 megapixel camera, has the ability to capture 4K video and is integrated with Touch ID and Apple Pay.
The phone also includes more LTE bands for better worldwide roaming, and supports Voice over LTE and Wi-Fi caling.
With a starting price of $399, the iPhone SE is the “most affordable price ever” for a new iPhone, and will become available for order on 24 March (with shipping starting 31 March).
Apple said demand for “compact” phones is still strong, particularly in China, adding that it sold more than 30 million four inch phones last year alone.
