Apple’s New iPhone SE And 9.7-Inch iPad Pro Receive Mixed Responses


On Monday, Apple announced some new products. CNNMoney was one of the first sources to break the news.

“The key marketing words for Apple products have usually been thinner, faster, bigger. iPhones have grown up over the past nine years, going from the original 3.5-inch display to the iPhone 6S Plus’ 5.5-inch screen. Apple went in the opposite direction and announced a new iPhone that’s actually smaller.”

The article adds that Apple also introduced a smaller 9.7-inch version of the iPad Pro. In addition, Apple announced that the Apple Watch will now be reduced in price to $299 — certainly not good news for those who forked out $350 for the device since it was announced one year ago.

Apple iPhone SE
The iPhone SE hasn’t been universally praised. [Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
Many sites were at least impressed, if not enthusiastic, with the smaller iPhone SE. Slashgear certainly was impressed with the device.

“This device feels by all means to be a clone of the iPhone 5s – even its weight feels similar. You’d be forgiven for seeing one and mistaking it as the other. That’s not the point here. The point is that you’re getting a classic design with a set of innards that’s prepared for the future,” says critic Chris Burns. The comments after the review, however, aren’t very positive.

“If any other company pulled this crap, any, it would barely get a mention in an article. 16GB? $500+tax for a 4 inch 64gb?? Same exact screen and design? Whether the media wants to admit it, this media attention and lack of criticism is why Apple doesn’t have to change,” commenter UStillUseAniPhone points out.

“I have seen about 15 articles mocking the boring announcement, overpriced phones, and 16gb storage option. All in my Facebook newsfeed today..” says C.P. Garcia.

Engadget was also impressed with the iPhone SE.

“If you loved the iPhone 5s — as I and apparently many others did — the iPhone SE will feel like a compelling blend of old and new. For once, we’re getting a small iPhone that doesn’t feel like a second-class device. (I’m looking at you, iPhone 5c.) In fact, the SE might in some cases run even better than the 6s and 6s Plus since the A9 has fewer pixels to move — the SE’s screen runs at 1,136 x 640.”

The comments underneath the article are — at best — mixed.

“Last year’s hardware inside a 4 year-old chassis, with probably mediocre battery life. Being ‘cheap’ is not a plus, is the least it could be,” claims Pacorola.

“I wonder if Samsung relaunch the S5 if it will be as well received by journalists. Emperor’s new clothes,” says UK_Max.

Then, there is the 9.7-inch iPad Pro, which has received a mixed response. GSMArena notes that the new iPad comes with an underclocked A9X chipset when compared to the 12.9-inch version of the iPad Pro.

“The 9.7-inch iPad Pro is probably a look at the future of iPad — it’s a manageable size, has an industry-leading display, and is a joy to create art on. That said, we wonder if it’ll truly attract Windows converts without running a full operating system. iOS only gets you so far,” says Darren Murph of TechRadar.

Monday’s Apple event itself has received a lukewarm response on Twitter.

Perhaps Apple will cause more excitement later in the year with the announcement of new MacBook Pro notebooks, a new Apple Watch, and a new iPhone. Were you let down by the announcement of the iPhone SE and 9.7-inch iPad Pro? Let us know in the comments section.

[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]

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