Apple’s iPhone SE is causing trouble for Android.
This post originally appeared on July 21 and was updated on July 22. Update below.
From launch it was clear that Apple’s iPhone SE would be popular and, for those who paid attention, particularly at the expense of Android.
Outside of the general popularity surrounding any Apple product, the iPhone SE was also a perfectly timed inexpensive device that came as people’s pay packages began to shrink as the reality of Covid-19 hit the economy.
Update 07/22: Amazing info about the Pixel 4a came out yesterday: It could support 5G. Mobile operator Boom! Mobile has published a list of compatible 5G devices on its site (detected by XDA developers), two of which have the model name “Google 025E”. This, according to XDA Developers, is similar to other well-known model names for the Pixel 4a that have recently emerged through a FCC file.
If accurate, it means the Pixel 4a will not host the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730 chipset as previously leaked, but will instead use the upper midrange 765 chip, ready for 5G. 5G capacity is a big problem, especially if it’s priced lower. But it also means a much more powerful phone and a closer challenge to the iconic A13 bionic processor in the iPhone SE (although not such a close challenge).
If Google plans to include the high-end processor, then I’d be interested to see if that means Google will also include the Pixel Neural Core coprocessor in the 4th. The Neural Core in Pixel 4 (formerly known as Pixel Visual Core) is the brain behind the image processing that makes Pixel phones so skillful at taking photos. The coprocessor (along with the phone wizard tasks) handles features like Night Sight and Live HDR + to remove the computational load from the main processor.
The Pixel 3a did not include a neural nucleus, instead, the phone offered a “experience” similar to that of the camera, as it was described to me at the time. Presumably, this was to save on costs and keep the price of the device low. But, as we have seen with the OnePlus Nord or Motorola Edge, the mid-range phone market is becoming increasingly competitive in terms of specs as prices fall.
I wrote in April about how openly tempted Android fans were by the combination of the price of the iPhone SE and the use of the flagship A13 processor. If you’ve ever spent time in an Android community on Facebook, Reddit or anywhere, you’ll know that saying you’re considering buying an Apple product is almost Enough to get you kicked out.
So seeing dozens, maybe hundreds of comments like “I’m willing to use the iPhone based solely on value for money” was enough to show the impact the Apple device was having on a certain type of buyer. That appears to have been confirmed by new research.
Analyst Counterpoint Investigation (through 9To5Mac) have found that iPhone SE sales have exceeded expectations, especially in the face of a declining market and difficult environment. But what is particularly interesting is the popularity of the budget iPhone among Android users.
“More than 30% of iPhone SE buyers come from using an older iPhone 6S or phone, phones four years old or older. More than 26% of iPhone SE users moved from an Android device, which is higher than the normal switch from Android to iOS. “The research note explains.
Outside of the readers who share their thoughts and concerns about the Pixel Buds issues they’ve had, one of the most common questions I get is about the Pixel 4a. Or, more specifically, when he is dating.
When I asked how Covid-19 had affected Google during a Pixel Buds interview recently, Mallory De Leon, Google’s hardware communications manager, explained that the pandemic has had an impact on product launches, specifically speaking of a delay in quality control (quality safety) times because people work remotely.
In another specific question about the Pixel 4a, he continued, “We are actively working to ensure that as the supply chain reopens so that we can bring devices to market in the best and safest way possible” and “look at this space, there’s definitely more to come from Google in the coming months. ”
The next few months couldn’t get there fast enough because there is likely to be an ever-shrinking base of people who are happy to wait for Google’s mid-range phone, whose previous iteration was extremely popular. Those same forum readers and users are increasingly frustrated by Google’s silence on when their next mid-range installment will come out, especially if those people are withholding cash that’s digging a hole in their pockets.
Meanwhile, other companies are launching impressive alternatives. I’ve been using Motorola’s recently launched G 5G Plus, which, at £ 299 (about $ 373), is surprisingly good for the price. The six-camera setup, including two ultra-wide sensors at the front and rear, plus the 5000 mAh battery, Motorola’s unobstructed user interface, and 5G connectivity make this a serious mid-range competitor.
No, image processing is not on par with Google and Android update policy (with two years of security updates) is very important, but it is £ 299 5G phone with fully acceptable camera, excellent Screen and long battery life. There will be others like him too. The Pixel 4a needs to land as quickly as possible because the competition isn’t waiting and I’m not sure buyers will either.
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