Apple launches new iPhone SE at a starting price of ₹42,500

Apple today announced the second-generation iPhone SE featuring a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, Touch ID and a single rear camera of 12 MP. Powered by Apple-designed A13 Bionic chip, it will be available in 64GB, 128GB and 256GB models in black, white and (Product)Red colours starting at ₹42,500.

Apple quietly dropped the new iPhone SE, which is now the cheapest iPhone model for 2020. The new SE has the iPhone 8 design stuffed with modern guts, including the latest A13 Bionic chipset.

The iPhone 8 launched 4 years ago, which explains the chunky bezels that do feel archaic as of today. There will be no Plus variant for SE, but on the plus side, the phone is slimmer and more compact than most phones you’d get today and it’s the only modern iPhone with Touch ID.

In India, the iPhone SE 2020 starts at 42,500 ($549) – which is significantly more than the $399 starting price in the US.

New iPhone SE Price and India Availability

Apple iPhone SE 2020 will be available in three storage and three color options: Red, Black, White. Apple will donate a portion of earnings from the Red variant to COVID-19 relief and HIV/AIDS grants. Customers will also get one year of Apple TV premium subscription for free with the new SE.

The new iPhone SE 2020 will retail in the US and 40 other countries starting from April 24.

In India, iPhone Starts at Rs. 42,500 for the 64GB variant (which is more expensive than what the 256GB variant costs in the US).

iPhone SE – 64GB – $399

iPhone SE – 128GB – $449

iPhone SE – 256GB – $549

iPhone SE 2 Features

The display size is 4.7-inches and it’s a true tone IPS LCD display, perhaps the same one as on iPhone 8. The phone has IP67 water and dust resistance and runs the latest iOS 13.

Nothing much has changed in terms of other hardware.

There is a single 12MP camera on the rear with OIS and Apple is leveraging the power of A13 Bionic for smarter HDR and to drive more intelligent computational photography algorithms. The selfie camera has a 7MP sensor and can do portrait selfies.

Apple doesn’t disclose the battery capacity but it once again goes back to 5W charger in the box. Other features include Wi-Fi 6, Apple Pay, Wireless charging, and Bluetooth 5.0.

Does the new iPhone SE make sense?

There is a dire scarcity of small smartphones and the iPhone SE will serve as an option for people who absolutely detest big and bulky iPhones. While the size should be the biggest draw, the latest A13 Bionic, improved camera performance are factors that add to the value.

It’s quite apparent that Apple is just recycling an old product in its lineup. And it certainly feels way overpriced at the India starting price of Rs. 42,500.