As Apple prepares to unveil a low-cost version of its iPhone SE featuring 5G capabilities this week, industry analysts were subdued in their assessment of its impact on the tech giant.
The new phone is expected to be part of a package of new product rollouts scheduled for Tuesday (March 8), showcasing Apple’s first iPhone SE update since 2020.
The U.S., Japan and Western Europe have been the key markets for sales of this phone and will likely remain so after the launch, analyst Ryan Reith of IDC told Reuters Monday (March 7).
“We probably won’t see big geography shifts,” Reith said. He said he expects the new SE to account for 10% of iPhone shipments worldwide following the launch.
5G-enabled iPhones have been a major focus for Apple when it comes to its flagship device. The latest iPhone 13 iteration featured custom 5G antennas and radio components for faster speeds, designed for customers seeking powerful devices with better connectivity.
However, some analysts still note to the worldwide limitations of 5G technology, Reuters said.
“Currently in most countries in the world, that (5G) technology simply isn’t good enough to create a unique and differentiated experience … the fact that the iPhone SE comes with 5G is more a way to enable users to leverage 5G when that technology evolves over the next year or two,” Canalys research analyst Runar Bjørhovde said in the report.
Read more: Will Apple Unveil 5G iPhone SE Next Week?
Tuesday’s product rollout will happen virtually and is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. PST. Apple says the event will be streamed on its website, YouTube and other social media platforms.
In addition to the new SE phone, the event is also expected to showcase a new version of the iPad Air and updated Macs with Apple-made chips.
Apple’s larger product lineup for this year could include the iPhone 14 line, as many as three updated Apple Watch models, new Macs with custom chips, an upgraded iPad Pro and a glimpse at the company’s mixed-reality headset.
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