Is the iPhone SE a Threat to Android?

If there is one thing we know for sure about iPhones is that they are pretty expensive. The lowest-end iPhone 11 still sells for $699 (or as low as $449 with a trade-in), while the cheapest iPhone 11 Pro sells for $999. This April, in turn, the Cupertino giant revealed its brand new iPhone SE that almost felt like a threat to mid-range Android phones: a near-flagship with a price tag of around $400. 

The handset has respectable specifications that are almost a verbatim copy of the iPhone 8 – with some improvements here and there, of course – and a design that's also an almost exact copy of the 2017 iPhone. But why are we looking at an iPhone, you might ask? Well, the reason is simple: Apple has positioned its new iPhone SE as a direct competitor for the upper-mid-range Android phone.

Turn Android users?

Apple CEO Tim Cook thinks the new iPhone SE has the potential to turn many Android users. In Apple's Q2/2020 earnings call, he called it "faster than the fastest Android phones, and so it's an exceptional value." 

"I think it plays in every geo, but I would expect to see it doing even better in areas where the median incomes are less," he said. "And so we'll see how that plays out. And I expect some fair number of people switching over to iOS."

Direct competitors

The iPhone SE enters a market that's pretty competitive as it is. Many of the biggest and best-known smartphone manufacturers have upper-mid-range handsets with a price tag under $400 – think Google's Pixel 3a, Nokia 7.2, or even Samsung Galaxy A50 that offers a pretty great performance for a pretty friendly price.

According to some, the major advantage of the iPhone SE is that its competitors always cut corners – they either use a smaller battery, a less capable camera, or a cheaper SoC. But there's a reason why Apple's iPhone SE is so cheap: its screen (4.7" compared to the 5"+ screens used on most Android phones) is reminiscent of the iPhone 6, its camera is pretty much the same used on the iPhone 7, and its chassis is that of the iPhone 8. The newest part of this new handset is the SoC – Apple released the A13 Bionic last year, with the iPhone 11.

Will it really turn some Android users?

The iPhone SE is the cheapest iPhone Apple is currently selling, replacing the iPhone 8. Its design feels a bit dated for 2020 – it has a single camera, a pretty thick bezel, and a relatively small battery. On the other hand, it comes with Apple's A13 Bionic under its hood, which offers a decent bang for your buck. 

Those using Android handsets because of their more affordable price point (and secretly wanting to flaunt an iPhone) will likely consider making the switch. Those looking for a smaller phone may also consider it – after all, the iPhone SE does stand out with its 4.7" screen. But will long-time Android users also consider switching sides? 

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