Apple introduces iPhone SE, awaits consumer reaction

ManyhavedescribediPhoneSEasaretro-designedphonewithsomeofthelatesttechnologyexistingontheflagshipiPhone6s."AniPhone5swithaheartofiPhone6s,"somejokedonlineafterthelaunchofthedevice.

Weshotanun-boxingvideointimelapsemodebyiPhone6,togiveyoualittletasteofthenewgadget.Ofcourse,thenew9.7-inchiPadProalsoappearsonthecamera.

MediacoverageshowsthatsomeareworriedaboutthemarketpotentialwhileothersbelievethatthenewphonewillbecomeanefficientiOSshifterforAndroidphoneusers.

"Inpreviousyears,specialmeetingswillbeheldtodiscussmarketing,salesandstockingwithdistributors,butthistimethingsseemstobebitquiet,nomeetingshavebeenheldsofar,"accordingtoTencenttechnologychannel,citingadirectorofoneofthebrand'sdistributors.Healsopointedoutthatthereportfromforeignmediaclaimingthatthepre-ordervolumeofChinesemarkethasreached3.4millionisonlyapre-orderfigure.Therealperformancewillbeseenontheactualsalesvolume.

Accordingtoreports,asofFebruary,1,333modelsbelongingtovarietyofbrandswereavailableinChinesemarket.Screensizedat5.1-inchto5.5-inchhavegrabbedthemostattentionat39percent.Thedisplaysizeof5.5-inchorlargerenjoy4.3-percentormoreshare.Bycomparison,only3.8percentoftheattentionwentto4-inorsmaller-sizeddisplayphones.

AppleintroducesiPhoneSE,awaitsconsumerreaction

AppleVicePresidentGregJoswiakintroducestheiPhoneSEduringaneventattheAppleheadquartersinCupertino,CaliforniaMarch21,2016.[Photo/Agencies]

AccordingtoconsultingcompanyKantarWorldpanelComTech,asofJanuary,Apple'siOScontinuedtogrowshareinurbanChina,thoughtherateofthatgrowthwastheslowestsincelate2014.Applealsoremainedthemostpopularbrand,capturing25percentofsmartphonesales.

"Lookingatthethreemonthsindividually,JanuarywastheweakestmonthforAppleinChinaasmoreprice-sensitiveconsumersmighthavebeenwaitingtoseewhatpromotionsChineseNewYearwouldbringinearlyFebruary,"saidCarolinaMilanesi,chiefofresearchatKantarWorldpanelComTech."Intherestoftheworld,smartphoneplatformdynamicsremainedprettystableperiod-over-period,withnosurprises."

TamsinTimpson,strategicinsightdirectoratKantarWorldpanelComTechAsiasaid:"InurbanChina,iOSsharecontinuedtogrowyear-over-year,albeitataslowerpace,asiPhone6s,iPhone6sPlusandiPhone6werethebest-sellingsmartphonesintheregion.""Huaweicontinueditsmomentumandisclosingthegapwithitsnearestcompetitor,Apple,capturing24.3percentofsales.Xiaomi,whichannounceditsMi5attherecentMobileWorldCongress,maintainedadistantthird,asitdropped10.2percentagepointsoverthesameperiodin2015."

(CHINA DAILY)