Apple $399 SE Creates 'Interesting Dynamic' in Smartphone Market, Says Gartner Analyst

Apple’s 4.7-inch iPhone SE that goes on preorder Friday creates an “interesting dynamic” in the smartphone market where it will compete with many midrange Android devices, Gartner's Tuong Nguyen emailed Thursday. The $399 handset “makes a lot of sense,” Nguyen said, when COVID-19’s impact is weighing on consumers. A midrange phone isn’t a new idea -- Samsung has gained leading market share with a broad portfolio -- but “it’s especially relevant for a high-end brand” to offer a value model now, said the analyst. Smartphone makers "don’t necessarily need a device with ALL the bells and whistles,” he said, but they should be “more strategic about the features that appeal most or are most valuable" to their target audience. For the SE, those features are Apple’s latest processor, wireless charging and access to Apple TV for a year. Gartner forecast last month smartphone shipments would fall 2.3% this year in a best-case scenario; worst case is a 7-8% drop-off.