Apple unveils iPhone SE: How it will stack up against iPhone 5s, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6

Finally, Apple’s out with its 4-inch, the  iPhone SE and for the first time the company has revealed the India pricing and availability on launch day - starting at Rs 39,000 and available from early next month. Yes, the ‘cheaper’ iPhone variant is aimed at emerging markets like India.

The iPhone SE is bound to be compared with Apple’s existing lineup in the country, not only to find out what’s new but also to gauge the competition from Apple’s existing portfolio. We’ve put it in the ring with the latest iPhone 6s, the iPhone 6 and obviously, the iPhone 5s that it’s set to replace.

Take a look at the comparison chart below:

Verdict

The iPhone SE may have a smaller 4-inch display, but as you can see from the chart above, the PPI remains the same, ensuring the same viewing experience across devices. In terms of chipset, the iPhone SE is at par with the iPhone 6s. It features the powerful A9 chip but it comes with 1GB of RAM, which is again, lower than that on the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6.

The iPhone SE comes equipped with a similar 12MP shooter as on the iPhone 6s, but the front-facing camera is 1.2MP, just like the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5s. It comes with a fingerprint scanner, just like the other models.

In terms of specs, the iPhone 5s seems pretty redundant, which makes the iPhone SE a worthy upgrade over the iPhone 5s. But the problem arises when you pit it against the iPhone 6s, which appears to be better positioned than the iPhone SE as well as iPhone 6, owing to their price points.

The earlier rumoured price of Rs 33,000 would have made the iPhone SE a competitive product and positioned it well in the face of the iPhone 6. However, the Rs 39,000 price point propels the iPhone SE into the high-end smartphone league and almost at par with the iPhone 6S. Thus, on paper, the iPhone 6s looks like a much better deal. Especially when you consider that the iPhone 6S sells for almost the same price as the SE. The iPhone SE, priced at a hefty Rs 39,000, only resonates Apple’s inability to bring a decently priced device to the emerging markets.