A new budget iPhone is on the way

21 Mar 2016

Apple isn’t immune to market forces, surprisingly, with reports that tonight’s (21 March) media event will see the launch of a new budget iPhone.

Android is under pressure from iOS like never before amid reports that today will see the launch of a new ‘budget’ iPhone – Apple’s second crack at the mid-tier market.

The broad breakdown of market share between the two dominant operating systems has historically fallen down along economic demographics, with Apple’s more expensive iPhones attracting customers with greater disposable incomes.

While that means major Android operators like Samsung, HTC and Sony have struggled for traction with their premium options, it has left the more vast, less profitable lower end of the spectrum free for Android to dominate.

That could all change today, though, with the expected iPhone SE targeting China, India and other emerging markets.

Despite the impressive popularity of Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6s models in recent years, a slowdown across the board is expected in 2016, according to the company. Indeed, across the entire smartphone market, we appear to be approaching saturation point, with IDC reporting a marked slowdown in growth worldwide.

How do you combat that? How do you get more customers on the iOS ladder? Hit broader markets, of course.

We’re still talking Apple here, so ‘budget’ options don’t come cheap. Analysts expect the cost price of new iPhone SE  will be in line with the two-year-old iPhone 5s, so around €520. Where they will be available, we will just have to wait and see.

Elsewhere, images of Apple’s new Lightning EarPods have leaked online, adding further evidence that those audio jacks we’ve grown to love for decades may soon be things of the past.

EarPods Apple Lightning iPhone

Apple’s new Lightning EarPods, via 9to5Mac/PCHome

Apple Store image via endermasali/Shutterstock

Gordon Hunt was a journalist with Silicon Republic

editorial@siliconrepublic.com