HIGHLIGHTS

• iPhone SE 2020 ships with 3GB RAM coupled with up to 256GB storage
• The new iPhone SE features a 1,821mAh battery and supports 18W fast charging
• iPhone SE 2020 price in India starts at Rs 42,500 and Apple is yet to reveal the release date

iPhone SE 2020 finally launched earlier this week as the company’s most affordable iPhone and successor to the 2016 model. iPhone SE 2020 specifications have been revealed in full, but the company never reveals the RAM and battery capacity details. Now, thanks to China Telecom’s website listing, we know that the iPhone SE 2020 comes with 3GB RAM and 1,821mAh battery. The RAM is an upgrade over the 2GB RAM on the iPhone 8, while the battery capacity remains the same. The new iPhone SE shares a similar design as the iPhone 8 with a 4.7-inch display, single rear cameras, glass back with an aluminium frame, wireless charging and TouchID sensor for security. 

iPhone SE 2020 price in India

Apple has revealed the iPhone SE 2020 India prices for all storage options. The 64GB base model comes with a price tag of Rs 42,500, the 128GB variant costs Rs 47,800, and the 256GB iPhone SE 2020 is priced at Rs 58,300.

iPhone SE 2020 specifications

The Apple iPhone SE 2020 sports a 4.7-inch Retina HD display with thick bezels and TouchID sensor for security. On the outside, the phone looks identical to the iPhone 8. However, the hardware has been upgraded. The iPhone SE 2020 is powered by the A13 Bionic chipset paired with 3GB RAM and up to 256GB internal storage. It runs iOS 13 out of the box and supports wireless charging. The iPhone SE 2020 comes with a single 12MP rear camera, dual-pixel PDAF, OIS, and dual-tone, dual-LED flash. It can record 4K videos at 60fps, time-lapse, and slow-motion. There is a 7MP sensor with portrait mode and 1080p video recording. The phone also has water-resistance up to 1 metre, stereo speakers, Dolby Vision, HDR 10, and Wi-Fi calling. The new iPhone SE features a 1,821mAh battery and supports 18W fast charging.

Key Specs

Apple iPhone SE 2020

Apple A13 Bionic | 3 GBProcessor

4.7 inchesDisplay

12 MPRear camera

7 MPSelfie camera

1821 mAhBattery

Apple iPhone SE 2020 Price, Launch DateExpected Price:Rs. 42,500Release Date:11-Jun-2020 (Expected)Variant:3 GB RAM / 64 GB internal storagePhone Status:Upcoming Phone

Now that the 2020 iPhone SE is official, Apple has decided to kill the iPhone 8. First of all, yes, the company was still selling the iPhone 8, all the way up until today. Second, this makes sense when you think about it, as the iPhone SE is basically just an iPhone 8 with the latest A13 chipset and better camera software. And slightly differing color options. It’s also cheaper than the iPhone 8 used to be, so there’s really no point in these two competing against each other in the company’s roster.

It’s still too early to call it, but there just might be enough rumors circulating to predict a Spring 2020 Apple Event. From iPhone 9 (or SE 2) to Product (RED) Apple Watches, it’s not hard to imagine what could pack a 90 minute presentation around March.

Spring events happen (sometimes)

There are two Apple events that are almost guaranteed every year: Apple’s Developer Conference in June, and the iPhone event in September. Spring events only happen when there’s a specific story to tell.

Last year Apple spent two hours proving its dedication to Services with Apple News+, Apple Card, Apple TV+, and Apple Arcade. Before that we saw Apple frame a new entry-priced iPad event around education and the classroom.

Some years pass without a dedicated keynote, however, while other years are jam packed with new hardware. Remember the iPhone SE and 9.7-inch iPad Pro keynote?

So how is this year looking so far?

iPhone 9

Apple isn’t afraid to release awesome new products without a keynote. See the second-gen AirPods, iPad mini 4 and iPad Air 3, AirPods Pro, and 16-inch MacBook Pro last year.

A new iPhone tends to demand stage time however — even if it’s the iPhone 5 with the guts of an iPhone 6s inside.

Apple discontinued direct sales of the iPhone SE without a true successor, but there are plenty of rumors about a new take on the long-awaited iPhone SE 2.

Apple updated the iPhone 5 with top-of-the-line specs in 2016. This year signs point to Apple updating the iPhone 8 in a similar way. That’s where the iPhone 9 nickname comes in, although Apple is often one to surprise with marketing names.

See our recent roundup of what we can expect in a so-called iPhone 9 release this year.

13-inch MacBook updates

Apple made a lot of Mac users happy last year when it replaced the butterfly keyboard-equipped 15.4-inch MacBook Pro with an updated 16-inch MacBook Pro that uses a more reliable Magic Keyboard with scissor switches beneath the keys.

The 13.3-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air still rely on the problematic Apple keyboard, however, and new Mac laptops look like they’re ready to go. Will we see the Air and Pro update together, or will we have to wait until summer or even fall for new notebooks?

There are a few changes I would love to see personally:

• New processors in the 16-inch MacBook Pro (the new design was released with chips from the 15.4-inch model)
• The 13.3-inch MacBook Pro updated to a 14-inch display with narrower bezels and the Magic Keyboard
• The 13.3-inch MacBook Air switching to the Magic Keyboard

Distinguishing the Air and Pro line on screen size, not just power and weight, would further clarify the steadily improving Apple laptop lineup.

(Product) RED Series 5

We learned about the possibility of a (Product) RED Apple Watch at the very end of last year. While we don’t expect this to be a new version of the Apple Watch hardware introduced last September, it would be the first time the Apple Watch was sold in a red finish.

Apple has previously released (Product) RED versions of iPhones months after standard colors first debuted. We’ve also seen new colors of Apple Watches introduced mid-cycle with the first gold and rose gold aluminum finishes.

Services for everything

Apple loves Services now so no keynote is complete without an update on how things are going in Services Land. Apple TV+ appears to be in good shape and Apple Card is slowly maturing, but there are areas in Services that need more attention.

• Apple News+ could benefit from a rethinking of how to sell digital magazines and newspapers
• Services like Apple Music and TV+ are begging for a bundle value
• Apple Podcasts is clearly growing up and it’s only a matter of time before it becomes a proper service
• iCloud… needs… better… storage… plans. 5G for free is tragic, and 2TB at the top can be limiting. 50GB for free would be tremendous even if the 200GB price didn’t change.

And a final hardware wish from me: silver and black Mac Pro accessories (Magic Keyboard, Mouse, Trackpad) sold separately. I really want all three without paying a premium from Mac Pro customers. 😅

An updated Apple TV lineup would also be great to see. Apple TV HD isn’t the best for Apple Arcade games, and the Apple TV 4K price is hard to justify over Fire TV and Roku products.

Apple’s top-end tablet is the iPad Pro. It looks like Apple will update the iPad Pro in the coming months, perhaps as soon as March. Among the rumors of what will be new in the next machine is an intriguing one relating to the iPad Pro’s Smart Keyboard. According to a report at Taiwanese tech site Digitimes, the Keyboard is about to get even better. Here’s all you need to know.

What’s the Smart Keyboard, then?

It is a splendid Apple accessory. It connects to the iPad Pro through a physical connector on the back, thus beating all Bluetooth keyboards because there’s no pause when you first press a key: Bluetooth keyboards need a moment to wake up. The Smart Keyboard is also better because it doesn’t need to be recharged, drawing its power from the iPad Pro. 

The material finish on the keys feels great, too, against all expectations, making for a useful typing experience. 

But there are two ways it could be improved and the latest rumor suggests Apple has it all in hand. 

Upgrade 1: The keyboard mechanism

As mentioned, typing is a happy experience on the iPad Pro. But it could be even better if, perhaps, it was magic. The current Smart Keyboard is available for all iPads apart from the mini. Each uses a butterfly mechanism, which is fine. But as you’ll know, the new 16-inch MacBook Pro has just switched to what it calls a Magic Keyboard with scissor-switch mechanism, which has been met with considerable acclaim (and rightly – you can read my MacBook Pro review here).

According to Digitimes, and as reported by MacRumors, the next iPad Pro will have an improved keyboard that matches the Magic Keyboard from the Mac, complete with scissor-switch mechanism. 

Upgrade 2: Keys that glow

Digitimes uses the word “glowing” to describe the new keyboard and this is arguably even more important than the new mechanism would be. The Smart Keyboard is not backlit which means that it can be hard to type on unless the room is well-lit. If you’ve used a backlit keyboard on a PC laptop or MacBook, you’ll know that it’s a game-changer. If Digitimes is right, this will make for a sensationally good keyboard accessory. 

Incidentally, the same Digitimes report re-iterates a previous rumor that there will be a 13in MacBook Pro with scissor-switch keyboard released this year, too. 

When will we find out?

All recent rumors point to this Spring. I think that means March 2020. 

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton