The Apple Peak Performance Event delivered a packed lineup of new hardware, with the highlight being the 2022 iPhone SE — Apple's most affordable 5G smartphone — starting at Rs 43,900 in India. Alongside the new SE, Apple also refreshed the iPad Air with an M1 chip and added a fresh Alpine Green colorway to the iPhone 13 series.
Apple Peak Performance Event: iPhone SE 2022 Launched with 5G and A15 Bionic
The third-generation iPhone SE retains the classic 4.7-inch Retina HD design familiar from the iPhone 8 era, complete with a physical Home button supporting Touch ID. Under the hood, however, it is a massive leap forward: the same A15 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 13 series now powers the SE, delivering a 6-core CPU that Apple says is 1.8x faster than the iPhone 8, and a GPU whose graphics output is 2.2x better.
5G connectivity arrives for the first time on an SE model, making the phone a compelling entry point into Apple's ecosystem. The handset also earns an IP67 rating, meaning it can withstand submersion in up to 1 metre of water for 30 minutes.
iPhone SE Pricing and Availability
| Region | Starting Price |
|---|---|
| United States | $429 (approx. Rs 33,000) |
| India | Rs 43,900 |
| India (upgrade) | Rs 34,900 |
Monthly EMI in India starts at Rs 5,167 on a new purchase, or Rs 4,107 when upgrading from an older iPhone. Pre-bookings opened on March 11 and deliveries began on March 18. The device is available in Midnight, Starlight, and Product Red, all made from 100% recycled material.
iPhone SE Camera and Software
A single 12-megapixel rear camera handles photography, backed by a new Image Signal Processor (ISP) that enables Deep Fusion, Smart HDR 4, and Photographic Styles. One standout feature is Live Text, which lets you tap on text inside a photo to copy or interact with it. The phone ships with iOS 15 out of the box, and FaceTime video calls benefit from improved HD quality through the ISP.
iPad Air Gets M1 Chip and 5G
Also announced at the event, the new iPad Air makes the jump to Apple's M1 processor — the same silicon found in recent MacBooks — paired with USB-C and 5G support capable of data transfers up to 10 Gbps. The 8-core CPU is 60% faster than the A14 Bionic in the previous model, while the 8-core GPU brings a meaningful boost in graphics performance.
The 10.9-inch display supports 500 nits brightness and HDR, and stereo speakers round out the multimedia experience. Connectivity extends to Apple Magic Keyboard and Apple Pencil. On the camera front, a 12-megapixel ultrawide front camera with Center Stage automatically keeps callers in frame during video calls, while the rear camera matches the 12-megapixel sensor from the previous generation.
The iPad Air launches in five colors — Space Grey, Pink, Purple, Blue, and Starlight — with pre-bookings from March 11 and deliveries from March 18, mirroring the iPhone SE schedule. Like the SE, it is built from 100% recycled materials.
iPhone 13 Series Adds Alpine Green Colorway
The event also brought a new Alpine Green finish to the entire iPhone 13 lineup, meaning all models — iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max — can now be configured in five colors: Silver, Gold, Graphite, Sierra Blue, and Alpine Green.
iPhone 13 Specifications (for reference)
| Spec | iPhone 13 | iPhone 13 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 2532×1170 px, 476 ppi | — |
| Brightness | 800 nits max | — |
| Processor | A15 Bionic (6-core CPU, 4-core GPU) | A15 Bionic |
| Storage | 128 GB / 256 GB / 512 GB | — |
| Rear Camera | Dual 12 MP | Triple 12 MP |
| Water Resistance | IP68 (6 m for 30 min) | IP68 |
| Weight | 174 g | — |
| Notable Feature | Cinematic Mode | Cinematic Mode |
Apple TV+ Adds Friday Night Baseball
On the content side, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that Friday Night Baseball is coming to Apple TV+ starting March 11. Two games will stream every Friday, accessible on any device — iPhone, iPad, iMac, or Apple TV — via the Apple TV+ app. The company continues to expand its original programming slate with new web series, films, and gaming titles on the platform.
Overall, the Apple Peak Performance Event underscored Apple's push to bring flagship silicon and 5G connectivity across its entire product range, from the budget-friendly iPhone SE all the way to the refreshed iPad Air, while keeping the best-selling iPhone 13 lineup visually fresh heading into spring 2022.
