Apple finally launched the budget-focused iPhone SE on Wednesday as it took aim at the mid-range smartphone market with a powerful 4.7-inch device starting from $399/£419.
There were not any major surprises compared to the pre-release leaks, but the inclusion of 4GB RAM of memory and the A13 processor that powers the top-end iPhone 11 Pro means that Apple has undercut a number of Android competitors at the price point.
The iPhone SE has the same design as the iPhone 8.
There are large bezels at the top and bottom, though that does give room for Touch ID and a physical home button, which remain popular with some users.
The second-gen SE houses a 4.7-inch retina display with True Tone technology, and the back is premium glass with aluminium sides.
Apple has squeezed in a few other premium features, including IP67 water resistance and wireless charging.
There is a single 12-megapixel camera on the rear capable of shooting 4K video and a seven-megapixel snapper on the front for selfies.
The iPhone SE will be available for pre-order from Friday in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB configurations and in black, white and red colour options.
Apple is shipping devices a week later (Friday, 24th April) in most major markets.
Smartphone analyst Ben Wood believes that the iPhone SE is good enough to drive adoption of the brand during the next 18 to 24 months.
He noted the “aggressive pricing” as a plus point as Apple’s processor remains faster than any of the Snapdragon chips featured in Android devices, including the $1,399 Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra.
Wood added: “Apple will be nervously waiting to see whether the arrival of such an affordable and well-specified iPhone will make consumers think twice about buying its premium flagship products.”