Just as expected, Apple has officially unveiled (Product) RED iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus special editions, as well as an upgraded iPhone SE with twice the storage.
Rumors had already revealed Apple's plans to launch a red iPhone 7 version and a 128 GB iPhone SE and it now seems that the leaks were spot on. On Tuesday, March 21, Apple made it official.
(Product) RED iPhone 7 And iPhone 7 Plus
The (Product) RED iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus Special Edition brings a bold and vibrant red avatar for the two flagship iPhones, celebrating more than a decade of collaboration between Apple and (RED).
For people unfamiliar with this partnership, Apple's (RED) efforts entail donating a percentage of Apple sales to the Global Fund in support of HIV/AIDS programs designed to pave the way to an AIDS-free generation.
Since Apple started its collaboration with (RED) a decade ago, a number of Apple products have been part of the program, including the original iPod nano and the more recent range of Beats RED products and accessories. Through this partnership, Apple customers had a considerable contribution to fighting the spread of AIDS.
"The introduction of this special edition iPhone in a gorgeous red finish is our biggest (PRODUCT)RED offering to date in celebration of our partnership with (RED), and we can't wait to get it into customers' hands," says Apple CEO Tim Cook.
(Product) RED iPhone 7 And iPhone 7 Plus Pricing And Availability
The special edition (Product) RED iPhone 7 starts at $36.58 per month with the iPhone upgrade program, or at $749 outright. The larger iPhone 7 Plus RED edition starts at $41.58 per month with the iPhone upgrade program, or at $869 outright. Both models will be available in 128 GB and 256 GB models.
Apple will start selling the devices worldwide on Friday, March 24, and the brightly colored iPhones should reach customers by the end of the month in the United States and more than 40 countries and regions.
The red avatars join the other iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus color options - Jet Black, Matte Black, Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold. Hopefully the red paint job will not chip away as easily as the Jet Black one, which suffers serious damage if left without a case.
Upgraded iPhone SE
The red iPhones are not the only change Apple announced for its smartphone lineup. As previously rumored, Apple has also unveiled a higher-capacity iPhone SE model with double the amount of native storage space compared to the original model. With the new option in tow, the iPhone SE is now available in 32 GB and 128 GB models starting at $399, essentially marking the death of the 16 GB iPhone. The higher-capacity iPhone SE models will go on sale on Friday as well.
Lastly, Apple touts that each customer who purchases a (Product) RED iPhone 7 series smartphone or the higher-capacity iPhone SE from Apple will also benefit from free Personal Setup, either online or in-store, to help them set everything up and customize their smartphone.
