Global smartphone manufacturers are trying hard to increase their market share by offering customers more budget-friendly options as the world economy slips into recession and disposable income shrinks rapidly.
Apple is the latest company to launch its most affordable smartphone – iPhone SE at Dh1,699 – on Wednesday. It is facing tough competition in the segment from rivals including Samsung and Huawei, who are equally aggressive in trying to widen their customer base through pocket-friendly options for consumers.
South Korea's Samsung launched its economical 5G-enabled A series smartphones last week.
"The Covid-19 outbreak is expected to stress the short-term scenario with shipments declining 10.6 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2020," says IDC
The new iPhone SE is the cheapest phone the company has launched in the last four years after introducing the first edition priced at Dh1,466 in 2016. A cheaper offering may help Apple to compete in the mid-range smartphone segment and meet its goal of 200 million shipments in 2020, industry experts say.
Analysts say that the global smartphone market recovery this year is far from certain as major economies are still in lockdown and governments across Asia, Europe and North America are struggling to control the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Massachusetts-based researcher International Data Corporation expects the global smartphone market to shrink 2.3 per cent year-on-year in 2020, with shipment volume just over 1.3 billion.
“The Covid-19 outbreak is expected to stress the short-term scenario with shipments declining 10.6 per cent year-on-year in the first half of 2020,” says IDC.
With mounting uncertainties, it seems widening the customer base through new and innovative technology at cheaper prices is the best strategy for phone manufacturers to follow.
Here, The National examines features of the current top smartphone options that are priced below $500 (Dh1,835).
How big is the camera?
Apple claims that the iPhone SE comes with the best single-camera system ever in an iPhone. It has a 12-megapixel rear camera and a 7MP selfie camera. The phone is designed to withstand the elements, with dust and water resistance features.
Samsung’s A51 5G has four rear-facing cameras (between 5MP to 48MP), with one in the front of 32MP. OnePlus 7 by Shenzhen-based smartphone manufacturer OnePlus comes with a dual-lens set up – a main camera of 48MP and a secondary one of 5MP, as well as a selfie camera of 16MP. The Huawei P20 Pro has a triple camera on the rear – 8MP to 40MP – and a front camera of 24MP.
Who added the most juice?
The iPhone SE comes with a battery size of 1,821 milliampere hours. It is powered by Apple-designed A13 Bionic chip, which the company said enables longer battery life. The A51 5G featured a high-density 4,500mAh battery. The OnePlus 7 and P20 Pro offer batteries of 3,700mAh and 4,000mAh, respectively.
How much does it cost?
The new edition of the iPhone SE is priced at Dh1,699. The A51 5G is one of the cheapest 5G-enabled smartphones available in the market at almost Dh1,800. The OnePlus 7 was priced Dh1,724 at the time of its launch in May, last year. The P20 Pro is the cheapest among four at Dh1,399.
How about the display?
The new iPhone SE comes with a 11.9 centimetre screen. The screen size of the A51 5G is 16.5cm, while OnePlus 7 has a 16.3cm display and P20 Pro has a 15.5cm screen.
When will Apple launch its 5G phone?
Its new 5G-enabled iPhones, which are scheduled for a September launch, could face a delay due to supply chain disruption caused by the coronavirus outbreak, Bank of America analysts say.
Other manufacturers such as Samsung, Huawei, LG and OnePlus are already selling 5G phones in the market.
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
How to get exposure to gold
Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.
A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.
Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.
Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.
London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long
However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.
T20 World Cup Qualifier
Final: Netherlands beat PNG by seven wickets
Qualified teams
1. Netherlands
2. PNG
3. Ireland
4. Namibia
5. Scotland
6. Oman
T20 World Cup 2020, Australia
Group A: Sri Lanka, PNG, Ireland, Oman
Group B: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland
Results
2pm: Al Sahel Contracting Company – Maiden (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: AF Mutakafel, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
2.30pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: El Baareq, Antonio Fresu, Rashed Bouresly
3pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson
3.30pm: Keeneland – Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Alkaraama, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
4pm: Keeneland – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Lady Snazz, Saif Al Balushi, Bhupat Seemar
4.30pm: Hive – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
5pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – (TB) Handicap Dh64,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Lahmoom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
PROFILE BOX:
Company/date started: 2015
Founder/CEO: Rami Salman, Rishav Jalan, Ayush Chordia
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Technology, Sales, Voice, Artificial Intelligence
Size: (employees/revenue) 10/ 100,000 downloads
Stage: 1 ($800,000)
Investors: Eight first-round investors including, Beco Capital, 500 Startups, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Hala Fadel, Odin Financial Services, Dubai Angel Investors, Womena, Arzan VC
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Naga
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Dr Graham's three goals
Short term
Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines
Intermediate term
Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations
Long term
A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
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