Apple is preparing to begin production of an updated iPhone SE, which will serve as its new low-end model, along with new iPad Air models, Bloomberg news report said.
Apple will launch the refreshed devices early next year. Canalys report says Apple has 16 percent share in the global smartphone market in Q2 2204. Samsung, which has low-cost smartphones, has 18 percent share.
“Since early 2024, easing inflation in emerging markets across Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America has stimulated shipment growth in the mass-market price segment,” Amber Liu, Research Manager at Canalys, said.
Recently, IDC report said Apple has shipped 12.3 million iPad tablets (up 18.2 percent) during the second-quarter of 2024. Apple has launched the 11″ and 13″ iPad Air and iPad Pro models.
Apple could not achieve growth in China tablet market due to competition from local players like Huawei and Xiaomi. Apple is the tablet market leader with 35.8 percent share vs Samsungs’ 20.1 percent.
“Leaders continue to focus on improving technology (as in the case of OLED displays for iPad Pros), catering to the need for premium devices, and utilizing the power of emerging technologies like AI,” said Anuroopa Nataraj, senior research analyst with IDC’s Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers.
The iPhone SE update would be the first since 2022 when Apple added 5G capability and a faster A15 Bionic chip to the model. Known for its affordability compared to other iPhones, the SE model helps Apple compete in the mid-range smartphone market against rivals such as Samsung and Xiaomi. Prices for the iPhone SE currently start at $429.
In addition to the iPhone SE, Apple is also set to release updated iPad Air models, codenamed J607 and J637, focusing on internal hardware improvements. These models will come with an upgraded Magic Keyboard accessory, codenamed R307 and R308, available for both 11-inch and 13-inch versions of the iPad Air.
The new iPhone SE is also expected to incorporate Apple’s AI software, known as Apple Intelligence. This follows Apple’s September unveiling of its AI-powered iPhone 16 models, which feature enhancements to Siri and improved capabilities in recognizing objects through the phone’s camera.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
