Generation Next Communications (Genxt), the authorised distributor of Apple in Nepal, has launched a ‘mid-range’ smartphone, the iPhone SE. 

The phone unveiled on Thursday is available in two models—16 GB and 64 GB. The 16 GB variant has been priced at Rs57,950 while the latter costs Rs70,950. Both the sets cost less than recent iPhones like the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 6.

“The market for Apple products is large in Nepal. Tentatively, more than 1.8 million users are currently using different Apple products. With the launch of the iPhone SE, the market is set to grow because of the increasing demand for mid-range products of Apple,” said Pawan Kumar Bhimseria, managing director of Genxt. 

“The iPhone SE is powered by the A9 advanced chip found in the iPhone 6s.” According to Bhimseria, the phone delivers the same experience but comes at an affordable price.

Potential buyers will get to choose from four colour options—rosegold, gold, space gray and silver. The phone features 2 GB RAM and has a four-inch display. 

The iPhone SE (special edition) is the first handset with a small display since the launch of the iPhone 5s in 2013.   

According to international media reports, Apple has launched the iPhone SE with a lower price tag to potentially tap into markets like India and China where affordability is a more weighed decision making criterion while purchasing smartphones.

“Customers were eagerly waiting for this latest innovation from Apple to arrive in Nepal,” said Bhimseria, “iPhone enthusiasts have already placed 350 advance orders for the iPhone SE, and we expect bookings to reach 500 within a day.”

Apple rolled out the phone in other markets last March. The iPhone SE runs on iOS 9.3.2 and has a 12 mega pixel rear camera and 5 mega pixel front camera. The phone supports videos of up to 2,160 pixels at the rate of 30 frames per second. 

Other features include face detection, high dynamic range imaging, audio-video-photo editor and document editor. The phone is equipped with five sensors—fingerprint, accelerometer, gyro, proximity and compass.