At the Apple March 2016 Live Event, Tim Cook called the iPhone the “most loved” smartphone in the world. As expected, Apple today launched a new 4-inch model, claiming that small devices are still a major part of its line-up. In 2015, it sold over 30 million 4-inch devices, even as the 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus took the company to record-breaking sales success.
The iPhone SE is built of the same aluminium as the iPhone 5s but includes a few cosmetic revisions. There are new chamfered edges and an inset Apple logo, borrowing the look of the iPhone 6s to update the aging design.
“iPhone SE is an exciting new idea — we started with a beloved, iconic design and reinvented it from the inside out. The result is the most beautiful and powerful phone with a four-inch display in the world,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “iPhone SE is packed with a stunning four-inch Retina display, advanced 64-bit A9 chip with M9 motion co-processor, longer battery life, 12-megapixel iSight camera with True Tone flash, Live Photos, 4K video, faster LTE and Wi-Fi, and Touch ID with Apple Pay. Everyone who wants a smaller phone is going to love iPhone SE.”
At the heart of the phone sits Apple’s 64-bit A9 processor, giving it the same performance as the iPhone 6s. According to Apple, it has double the speed of the iPhone 5s it replaces and three times the graphics prowess, a speed boost that should be noticeable in daily use.
The chip supports features including “Hey, Siri” always-on voice listening, constant motion tracking and Apple Pay. It has 802.11ac Wi-Fi capable of streaming at up to 433Mbps, 3x the Wi-Fi performance of the iPhone 5s.
The 12-megapixel iSight camera from the iPhone 6s is also used on the iPhone SE, giving customers access to Apple’s flagship features regardless of the screen size they choose. The camera can shoot 4K video and is joined by a 5MP front-facing selfie shooter. The front camera has what Apple calls a “Retina flash”, temporarily boosting the display’s brightness to three times its usual output to cast additional light onto selfies.
The iPhone SE will start at $399 for the 16GB model. The 64GB model will cost $499, making the phone a credible lower-cost alternative to the iPhone 6s without sacrificing any major functionality. Pre-orders will begin March 24 in select markets worldwide with shipments beginning on March 31.
