Following today’s news (8 March) that Apple have announced its new 5G iPhone SE phone;

Anisha Bhatia, Senior Technology Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view:

“Apple’s newest 5G phone, the mid-range iPhone SE, will increase 5G adoption and help drive iPhones into emerging markets. The coverage of 5G networks in advanced markets has improved over the last year but the take up of 5G services is still quite low. GlobalData expects mobile 5G services to generate $644.6 billion by 2026, equivalent to 64% of total mobile service revenue worldwide.

“However, the availability of affordable handsets will be key to driving adoption, particularly considering strong economic headwinds caused by COVID-19 affecting consumer income. iPhone users lack any affordable 5G phones compared with the varied choices available for Android users, so a mid-range 5G iPhone will be a welcome boost for both operators and users.

“The iPhone SE includes Apple’s premium A15 Bionic chip, which will provide a huge performance boost over the 2020 iPhone SE and iPhone 8 that the 5G SE is targeting. The phone also comes with improved durability and retains the SE’s popular compact Retina display.

“Apple’s decision to stop sales in Russia will have minimal impact on the sales of the 5G iPhone SE. Russia’s 5G networks are not expected to go live until 2023, and although 5G phones are getting popular in the country as a novelty factor, Russia is not a major market for Apple, accounting for approximately 2% of Apple’s worldwide revenues. Apple also does not have any physical retail stores in the country; ceasing online phone sales in Russia will not affect Apple’s bottom-line significantly.

“At $429, the price for the base iPhone SE 5G is slightly more expensive than the 2020 iPhone SE as well as phones from rivals Samsung and Xiaomi. But Apple has a huge installed base of legacy iPhone users still waiting to upgrade.  With carrier promotions and discounts, the iPhone SE 5G is all set to carry on Apple’s 5G supercycle.”