Latest news with #VarunMishra
USA Today
19-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Apple to launch new lower-cost iPhone to capture a broader market
Apple to launch new lower-cost iPhone to capture a broader market Show Caption Hide Caption Apple to pay $95M to settle Siri eavesdropping lawsuit Apple has agreed to pay $95 million in order to settle a lawsuit accusing the company of using the virtual assistant Siri to eavesdrop on people using its devices. unbranded - Newsworthy Apple AAPL.O is set to launch its latest budget iPhone model on Wednesday as it looks to grab a bigger share of the mid-range smartphone market and fend off competition from rivals such Samsung and China's Huawei. The fourth generation of the lower-cost model, so far known as iPhone SE, will take on popular Android smartphones at a time when consumer electronics makers are looking to add artificial intelligence tools into their devices. The current-generation of iPhone SE, released in 2022, is available at $429 and the latest version is likely to be priced at a premium to the outgoing model. The iPhone 16, launched in September, starts at $799 for the base variant. "If the SE 4 offers meaningful upgrades in design, performance, and AI features, it could reinvigorate its market appeal and strengthen Apple's position across different price segments," Counterpoint Research senior analyst Varun Mishra said. Apple launches iPhone 16e: Price, release date, what to know about cheaper smartphone option Apple late last month forecast strong sales growth signaling that the company will recover from a dip in iPhone sales as it rolls out artificial intelligence features in the coming months to more regions and languages. However, analysts have been cautious about the sales boost such tools could provide, as Apple's AI features are set to be rolled out in phases in some regions on its latest iPhone 16 line-up and the iPhone 15 Pro model. The SE model's sales as part of total revenue for iPhones has dropped from 10% from its introduction in 2016 to about 1% last year, according to Counterpoint Research. This year's update is expected to revamp its slab-design, ditch the physical home button and introduce its FaceID feature, apart from camera and processor updates to support AI features, according to analysts and media reports. The SE model would be the last among iPhones to adopt the USB Type-C port for charging, a departure from its proprietary Lightning connector. Apple has already discontinued the current SE and iPhone 14 in the European Union as the products do not conform with local laws requiring USB Type-C charging standard. The latest SE model would let it return to the EU. Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur
The National
19-02-2025
- Business
- The National
Apple launches budget-friendly iPhone 16e with Apple Intelligence and ditches the home button
Apple on Wednesday unveiled the iPhone 16e, a redesigned device positioned to bring flagship features, including Apple Intelligence, to more users at a lower price point. The successor to the iPhone SE shares the same shape as the mainline iPhone 16 series and features a 6.1-inch (15.5cm) screen, at par with the base iPhone 16, but with a notch instead of Dynamic Island and, most notably, without the home button, one of Apple's signature hardware features that housed its Touch ID biometric technology. The home button was hugely popular as it was a convenient way to unlock iPhones, replace password inputs and authorise transactions such as Apple Pay. When it was removed from the iPhone X in 2017, a good segment of the Apple user base still favoured it over Face ID – which is the iPhone 16e's security and authentication method. The iPhone 16e utilises Apple's in-house A18 processor, which is also used in the current-generation iPhone 16. Its battery will last up to 12 hours longer than the iPhone SE models, Apple said. The company also added a new C1 chip, the first modem designed by Apple that brings faster 5G connectivity and more power efficiency, according to Apple. The device will come in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB models, with prices starting at Dh2,599. For comparison, the base iPhone 16, also with 128GB of storage, starts at Dh3,399. The UAE will be among 59 countries that can start ordering the devices on Friday, and its general release will be on February 28. Other top-tier features on the iPhone 16e include a 48MP camera sensor, which Apple has been using since the iPhone 14 Pro, and the Action Button, which can be customised to trigger a specific function, including Apple Intelligence. The new device does not have the Camera Control side button introduced in the iPhone 16 series. Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16e puts it among a handful of Apple devices where the generative AI platform is available. These include the iPhone 15 Pro models and the entire iPhone 16 series. The California-based company also said it will be expanding Apple Intelligence's language support to 10 more by April – Simplified Chinese, India English, Singapore English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Brazil Portuguese and Spanish. 'The SE series [now e] has long served as an affordable entry point into the Apple ecosystem, helping expand iPhone adoption,' Varun Mishra, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, said ahead of the launch. The iPhone SE has been particularly popular in Japan and the prepaid segment in the US, the Hong Kong-based research firm said. 'With its compact design and lower price point, it appeals to users who prefer smaller devices without top-tier specifications … helping Apple broaden its user base while driving service revenue growth and cross-selling Apple Watch, AirPods and other accessories,' Mr Mishra said. The first iPhone SE was introduced in 2016 alongside the iPhone 6s, and spawned two more iterations in 2020 and 2022. It received generally favourable reviews thanks to its performance at a lower cost. The home button's removal is also a full-circle moment: the original iPhone SE, along with the iPhone 6s, were the last devices to feature the 3.5mm headphone jack. With the rise of generative AI, smartphone manufacturers are scrambling to incorporate the latest technologies to entice a wider consumer base. Apple partnered with ChatGPT maker OpenAI last year and eventually launched Apple Intelligence to throw its hat into the generative AI arena. That put it in a head-to-head battle with Samsung Electronics, the world's biggest mobile phone manufacturer, which introduced its Galaxy AI last year and partnered with Google at the launch of the Galaxy S25 series earlier this year. Apple remains a favoured brand among consumers. The iPhone 15 was the world's top-selling smartphone in 2024, continuing a streak since 2018 and outclassing competition that is largely focused on capitalising on the steady rise of generative AI in mobile devices, Counterpoint said in a report this month.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Apple to unveil newest product today: Here's what we know about the launch
Apple plans to unveil the "newest member" of its tech family on Wednesday. Tim Cook, the company's chief executive officer, announced last week on social media it plans to roll out a new product, but did not disclose further details. However, multiple reports have suggested Apple is planning to unveil its latest budget iPhone mode, which would mark the fourth generation of the lower priced iPhone SE model. It has been three years since the Cupertino, California-based company released its latest iPhone SE. The new iPhone will likely be priced higher than the one released in 2022 ($429), Reuters reported. "If the SE 4 offers meaningful upgrades in design, performance, and AI features, it could reinvigorate its market appeal and strengthen Apple's position across different price segments," Counterpoint Research senior analyst Varun Mishra told Reuters. Launched in September, the latest iPhone 16 starts at $799 for the base model. Cook said Apple's newest product would be unveiled on Wednesday, Feb. 19, but a specific time has not been announced. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Apple launch today: What we know about new product, release time, more
USA Today
19-02-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Apple to unveil newest product today: Here's what we know about the launch
Apple to unveil newest product today: Here's what we know about the launch Apple plans to unveil the "newest member" of its tech family on Wednesday. Tim Cook, the company's chief executive officer, announced last week on social media it plans to roll out a new product, but did not disclose further details. However, multiple reports have suggested Apple is planning to unveil its latest budget iPhone mode, which would mark the fourth generation of the lower priced iPhone SE model. It has been three years since the Cupertino, California-based company released its latest iPhone SE. The new iPhone will likely be priced higher than the one released in 2022 ($429), Reuters reported. "If the SE 4 offers meaningful upgrades in design, performance, and AI features, it could reinvigorate its market appeal and strengthen Apple's position across different price segments," Counterpoint Research senior analyst Varun Mishra told Reuters. Launched in September, the latest iPhone 16 starts at $799 for the base model. When is the Apple launch? Cook said Apple's newest product would be unveiled on Wednesday, Feb. 19, but a specific time has not been announced. Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Apple to launch new lower-cost iPhone to capture a broader market
(Reuters) - Apple is set to launch its latest budget iPhone model on Wednesday as it looks to grab a bigger share of the mid-range smartphone market and fend off competition from rivals such Samsung and China's Huawei. The fourth generation of the lower-cost model, so far known as iPhone SE, will take on popular Android smartphones at a time when consumer electronics makers are looking to add artificial intelligence tools into their devices. The current-generation of iPhone SE, released in 2022, is available at $429 and the latest version is likely to be priced at a premium to the outgoing model. The iPhone 16, launched in September, starts at $799 for the base variant. "If the SE 4 offers meaningful upgrades in design, performance, and AI features, it could reinvigorate its market appeal and strengthen Apple's position across different price segments," Counterpoint Research senior analyst Varun Mishra said. Apple late last month forecast strong sales growth signaling that the company will recover from a dip in iPhone sales as it rolls out artificial intelligence features in the coming months to more regions and languages. However, analysts have been cautious about the sales boost such tools could provide, as Apple's AI features are set to be rolled out in phases in some regions on its latest iPhone 16 line-up and the iPhone 15 Pro model. The SE model's sales as part of total revenue for iPhones has dropped from 10% from its introduction in 2016 to about 1% last year, according to Counterpoint Research. This year's update is expected to revamp its slab-design, ditch the physical home button and introduce its FaceID feature, apart from camera and processor updates to support AI features, according to analysts and media reports. The SE model would be the last among iPhones to adopt the USB Type-C port for charging, a departure from its proprietary Lightning connector. Apple has already discontinued the current SE and iPhone 14 in the European Union as the products do not conform with local laws requiring USB Type-C charging standard. The latest SE model would let it return to the EU.
