How the new iPhone SE fares against its cheaper Samsung and Huawei competitors

At Dh1,699, the latest iPhone is the cheapest the company has launched in the last four years

The new iPhone SE comes with a 11.9cm screen and is powered by the Apple-designed A13 Bionic chip. AFP

Global smartphone manufacturers are trying hard to increase their market share by offering customers more budget-friendly options as the world economy slips into recession and disposable income shrinks rapidly.

Apple is the latest company to launch its most affordable smartphone – iPhone SE at Dh1,699 – on Wednesday. It is facing tough competition in the segment from rivals including Samsung and Huawei, who are equally aggressive in trying to widen their customer base through pocket-friendly options for consumers.

South Korea's Samsung launched its economical 5G-enabled A series smartphones last week.

The new iPhone SE is the cheapest phone the company has launched in the last four years after introducing the first edition priced at Dh1,466 in 2016. A cheaper offering may help Apple to compete in the mid-range smartphone segment and meet its goal of 200 million shipments in 2020, industry experts say.

Analysts say that the global smartphone market recovery this year is far from certain as major economies are still in lockdown and governments across Asia, Europe and North America are struggling to control the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

The Massachusetts-based researcher International Data Corporation expects the global smartphone market to shrink 2.3 per cent year-on-year in 2020, with shipment volume just over 1.3 billion.

“The Covid-19 outbreak is expected to stress the short-term scenario with shipments declining 10.6 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2020,” says IDC.

With mounting uncertainties, it seems widening the customer base through new and innovative technology at cheaper prices is the best strategy for phone manufacturers to follow.

Here, The National examines features of the current top smartphone options that are priced below $500 (Dh1,835).

How big is the camera?

Apple claims that the iPhone SE comes with the best single-camera system ever in an iPhone. It has a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 7MP selfie camera. The phone is designed to withstand the elements, with dust and water resistance features.

Samsung’s A51 5G has four rear-facing cameras (between 5MP to 48MP), with one in the front of 32MP. OnePlus 7 by Shenzhen-based smartphone manufacturer OnePlus comes with a dual-lens set up – a main camera of 48MP and a secondary one of 5MP, as well as a selfie camera of 16MP. The Huawei P20 Pro has a triple camera on the rear  – 8MP to 40MP – and a front camera of 24MP.

Who added the most juice?

The iPhone SE comes with a battery size of 1,821 milliampere hours. It is powered by Apple-designed A13 Bionic chip, which the company said enables longer battery life. The A51 5G featured a high-density 4,500mAh battery. The OnePlus 7 and P20 Pro offer batteries of 3,700mAh and 4,000mAh, respectively.

How much does it cost?

The new edition of the iPhone SE is priced at Dh1,699. The A51 5G is one of the cheapest 5G-enabled smartphones available in the market at almost Dh1,800. The OnePlus 7 was priced Dh1,724 at the time of its launch in May, last year. The P20 Pro is the cheapest among four at Dh1,399.

How about the display?

The new iPhone SE comes with a 11.9 centimetre screen. The screen size of the A51 5G is 16.5cm, while OnePlus 7 has a 16.3cm display and P20 Pro has a 15.5cm screen.

When will Apple launch its 5G phone?

Its new 5G-enabled iPhones, which are scheduled for a September launch, could face a delay due to supply chain disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak, Bank of America analysts say.

Other manufacturers such as Samsung, Huawei, LG and OnePlus are already selling 5G phones in the market.