“Fight” from flagship to mid-range

Attacking the mid-range segment together, but Apple and Samsung take opposite paths.

With iPhone SE and generation Galaxy A In the mid-range smartphone segment, the two technology “tycoons” have completely different strategies. While Apple wants to attract users into its ecosystem Samsung just want to offer premium features at a lower price.

Right at the beginning of March, the iPhone SE 3 was officially introduced, the expected price when returning to Vietnam will be from 12.99 million VND. Apple’s lower-priced phone looks like 2017’s iPhone 8, but has the same 5G and processor as the iPhone 13.

Galaxy A53 5G.

Recently, on March 17, Samsung continued to introduce the Galaxy A53 5G, a phone priced from only VND 9.99 million that comes with an almost borderless screen and high-quality camera.

Obviously, they have all the technology that Apple and Samsung consider necessary for a modern phone. Apple favors offering the latest low-cost processors in exchange for an outdated design and a less versatile camera. In contrast, Samsung’s budget phones use less powerful chips than its Galaxy S phones, but have a modern design and sharp cameras.

For Apple, the iPhone SE is a cheaper way to lure buyers into services like iMessage, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and the entire App Store. Meanwhile, Samsung is trying to offer premium features at a lower cost.

iPhone SE is for people who just want an iPhone

Like Apple’s older iPhone models, the new iPhone SE has a physical home button with thick bezels above and below the screen. The phone also has a 4.7-inch screen, which is significantly smaller than the iPhone 13 Mini (5.4-inch screen). This iPhone has only one 12-megapixel camera while Apple’s more expensive phones have two or three lenses.

On the inside, the iPhone SE 3 runs on the same A15 Bionic processor as the iPhone 13. Not only will it deliver fast performance, but the new chip will also support new iOS features for years to come. While iOS 15 also runs on older phones like the iPhone 6S and iPhone SE in 2016, certain features are only available on phones with newer chips.

iPhone SE 3.

That’s the whole appeal behind the iPhone SE. The device doesn’t offer cutting-edge technology like a depth scanner, multiple cameras, or a vibrant OLED display. iPhone SE 2022 is for people who just want an iPhone for basic tasks at the lowest price.

Additionally, the iPhone SE allows Apple to reach shoppers on a tighter budget. And iPhone SE owners could one day become AirPods or Apple Watch owners, subscribe to Apple Music or Apple’s iCloud. In other words, the iPhone SE’s appeal isn’t really about the hardware – it’s the ticket to all things Apple.

Galaxy A53 5G clones high-end Samsung phone

Despite the lower price tag, the Galaxy A53 5G shares a lot of similarities with more expensive Samsung phones like the Galaxy S21 FE. The phone also has a large screen, a “punch” screen design.

Samsung’s goal with the Galaxy A53 5G is clear: to bring premium features to a more affordable device. The phone has a 4-camera system: a 64-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 5-megapixel macro camera, and a 5-megapixel depth sensor.

Galaxy A53 5G has a beautiful design and many convenient features.

The display can also boost the refresh rate up to a smoother 120Hz – a feature previously only available to expensive phones. However, the Galaxy A53 5G lacks a telephoto lens for zoom. At the same time, the product also does not have a high-end chip like the iPhone SE.

Instead, the Galaxy A53 5G runs on Samsung’s Exynos 1280 chip, which is enough to deliver the same gaming performance as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G.

Vision of Samsung and Apple

Samsung and Apple have different visions of affordable phones, and each has been successful with their strategies. The “Apple House” side does not share sales data for specific iPhone models. But after the iPhone SE 2020 launch, Apple CEO Tim Cook attributed this device to the iPhone’s growth in its Q3 2020 report.

The leader also said that the small size of the iPhone SE makes the product attractive to users who have not upgraded their phones for a long time. According to Counterpoint Research, iPhone SE 2020 is also one of the 10 best-selling phones in 2021.

iPhone SE 3 and Galaxy A53 5G.

The Galaxy A series also brought success to Samsung. The Galaxy A generation accounted for 58% of the company’s phone sales in 2021. And its Galaxy A12 also made the top 10 list of “best-selling” phones last year along with the iPhone SE.

The Galaxy A53 5G and iPhone SE are more than just mid-range smartphones. They are testament to what Apple and Samsung focus on in the smartphone segment. For Samsung, the focus is on long battery life, large screens, and multiple cameras. On the other hand, “Apple House” emphasizes the same performance as the high-end iPhone line.