Apple iPhone SE 2: Five things that can make Apple’s new compact phone a great deal

After almost two years, Apple is rumoured to be launching a successor to iPhone SE. Will the new compact phone take off?

Apple iPhone SE 2 to reportedly launch soon (Apple)

Apple took a leap of faith with iPhone 6 by increasing the screen size to 4.7-inch from 4-inch on the predecessor iPhone 5S. With another iPhone 6S Plus, Apple catered to large-screen fans with a 5.5-inch screen. Since then, the company's newer models would have larger screens, including the 5.8-inch (edge-to-edge) on iPhone X.

However, the iPhone SE continues to be an exception. Launched in 2016, the smartphone is still selling and is one of the cheapest iPhone models in the market right now.

With Apple's annual developer conference, WWDC just around the corner, there's a lot of buzz around the company's new announcements. Based on the spate of leaks and rumours, it looks like Apple is going to launch a successor to the iPhone SE. The newer model, conveniently dubbed as iPhone SE 2, is expected to come with improved specifications, reliving the philosophy of packing iPhone 8-like features in a much more compact model.

Unlike 2016, when the first model debuted, there will be a lot riding on iPhone SE 2, which is of course if it's actually launched. With iPhone X's fate seemingly being in dark, iPhone SE 2 will be the trump card for the Cupertino company to win the Indian market - the lone bright star for the company in last couple of years.

That being said, Apple iPhone SE 2 cannot just be another iPhone with incremental upgrade over the predecessor. While rumour mills have given us a fair idea on what to expect, here are a few things that will make the new iPhone a more compelling proposition.

Improved design

The original Apple iPhone SE still acts as a nostalgia for those who loved the older compact design of iPhones, let's say iPhone 5S. While the compactness is still going to be the USP of the phone, Apple may implement a few tweaks to make it more contemporary.

For instance, there are rumours of the company going ahead with a glass design, making it look closer to the newer iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The original iPhone SE featured a metal back panel. Another advantage of having a glass back is the support for wireless charging. Though the technology of wireless charging is still at its nascent stage, it's still an added functionality.

Another feature that Apple must retain is the 3.5mm headphone jack, which has been removed from the company's newer models. Wireless headphones like AirPods or from third-party vendors are yet to take off in markets like India. Since iPhone SE is supposedly aimed at the Indian market, retaining the 3.5mm headphone jack will most probably a good idea.

Screen size

As said earlier, the compact design is the USP for iPhone SE. But at 4-inch, it's quite small. What we can expect from the company is an increase in the screen size, by not much, so as to make sure the display is good enough to cater to multimedia enthusiasts.

According to latest rumours, iPhone SE 2 is likely to have a larger 4.2-inch screen. We can hope the company optmises the screen, say increasing the screen-to-body ratio — an approach we've seen with iPhone X and newer iPhones.

One of the missing features in iPhone SE was 3D Touch. The technology gives users quick access to an app's key features through touch-based gestures. A similar technology is available on various Android smartphones as well.

(Apple)

(Apple)

Front camera

One of the key areas where iPhones have lagged behind their Android counterparts is the selfie camera. While the latest iPhone has portrait mode for selfie camera, Android players have already outmatched Apple with dual-front cameras, beauty modes and various software-based algorithms to deliver quality selfies. Just recently Xiaomi in its presentation claimed its newer Mi 6X, a mid-range Android phone, delivered better selfies than iPhone X in low-light conditions. Will Apple finally take a leap of faith better selfie cameras on its new iPhone SE?

More onboard storage

Apple iPhone SE base model came with 16GB storage. But that's not going to be the case with newer iPhone SE as the company has already killed 16GB models. The company currently sells 32GB and 128GB models. But we can expect the 64GB versions or have this model as the base variant. Since Apple won't be including microSD slots in its devices, more storage options without inflating the price will be a fantastic news for Apple fans.

Not expensive

Apple's idea for a cheap iPhone was ₹39,000 (for the 16GB model). Almost after two years of the launch, iPhone SE is selling for ₹26,000 (32GB) and ₹35,000 (128GB). While iPhone SE is still getting the latest iOS support, it's highly unlikely the phone will be making the cut for software updates in next couple of years.

If Apple manages to keep the iPhone SE 2 price in the vicinity of ₹30,000, it could really take off in India. The ₹30,000-level is a hot segment with the likes of Huawei, Vivo, OPPO and OnePlus having flagship-level phones. With price around ₹30,000, iPhone SE 2 could very well be the flagship killer.