Let's assume there was a speculated range. In a world with COVID-19 demand pressure and the speculated range is reasonably accurate, Apple is more likely to target the low end of that range than it would in a "normal" world.
I think people don't like the sarcastic nature of my earlier comment but that doesn't mean the underlying notion is wrong.
I find it hard to believe that Apple ignored reality and just priced the phone however it felt like doing prior to a major shift in their consumer base's economic habits.
Apple analysts, tech reporters, and consumers who pay attention to phone prices were expecting the new SE to be the same price as the old SE. Although there was also a case to make for the SE directly replacing the 8 at $449, there’s little evidence they were planning on that number.
If you are asking where the long-term price pressure on Apple would come from: it largely comes from India, where they need as cheap a phone as possible to break in without damaging their brand or resorting to a cheaper bill of materials.
But again, I am not sure if I understand your point. I would like to.
