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4-inch iPhone 5se & iPad Air 3 planned to go on sale March 18th

Apple is currently on target to start selling its next iPhone and iPad models the same week that the new products are introduced in March. Apple is currently planning to introduce a new 4-inch iPhone dubbed the “iPhone 5se” and a new iPad Air at an event on Tuesday, March 15th, then put the products up for sale online and in retail stores as early as Friday, March 18th, according to sources. Apple is unlikely to offer pre-orders for the new devices, according to sources who cautioned that the plans could still change.

Launching the new iPhone and iPad models so soon after introduction and not offering pre-orders would be a new strategy for Apple. Apple typically releases new iPhone models one or two weeks following the introduction events and an online pre-order period. A similar strategy has been followed for many new iPad releases, but the iPad Pro hardware actually went on sale over two months following the device’s initial introduction. Manufacturing of the new 4-inch iPhone began ramping up in January, sources say.

The new 4-inch iPhone 5se is designed to spur iPhone hardware upgrades for customer seeking newer technologies and faster devices without the need to upgrade to the far larger 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6s and 6s Plus screen sizes. While the iPhone 5se’s body will be nearly identical to the 2013 iPhone 5s, the new smartphone is said to include Apple’s latest A9 and M9 processors, an NFC chip for Apple Pay, support for always-on Siri activation, the iPhone 6’s camera system, and the ability to take Live Photos. The device will come in the same colors as the 6s, according to sources: gold, rose gold, silver, and space gray.

The iPad Air 3 is said to include a Smart Connector and support for Apple-branded accessories, which could mean that updated Smart Keyboards and Apple Pencil support for the 9.7-inch device are in the pipeline. The new iPad is also expected to include a variant of the A9 processor, an upgraded camera system, and potentially a rear flash for brighter photos. At its March 15th event, Apple is also planning to unveil a series of new Apple Watch Sport Band colors, a Space Black Milanese Loop, and NATO-style nylon bands.

(Image: Getty Images)

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Comments

  1. Alex Simkin - 8 years ago

    I wonder if iOS 9.3 will be released after the event. I guess it would make sense to launch the new iPhone with new software, but 9.3 doesn’t seem too buggy (and I can’t imagine them adding major new features to it), so waiting to release it just because of the mid-March event would be annoying.

    • Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 8 years ago

      9.3 beta 3 is still buggy on my 4s. Would aslo be nice if they got closer to 9.2.1 speeds. Maybe my memory is off but it seems like they usually get to around 5 betas.

      Beta 3 came out last tuesday. That puts beta 4 around the 23rd, beta 5 (or maybe GM) around the 8th, and then the week after that is the 15th so there you go.

      • Erik Bean - 8 years ago

        The 4s is also the lowest supported model and almost wasn’t supported either. As for how many rounds the beta’s could last, they can last 1 round or they could last 7. They go until Apple feels the target feature of the test became stable. Even if it has made other, non-target items, have been affected to the tune of a new bug (which should be filed at bugreport.apple.com). Just saying.

        Beta 3 does still have bugs on my 6s, so I can for see one more beta, if not two over Night Shift alone.

      • Apple deliberately make their software slower on older models, so don’t count on it.

    • applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

      It is buggy on my iPad Air 2. When switching apps by 4-finger swiping. The app switches to the one I used just before and the display turns black for a second.

    • GadgetBen - 8 years ago

      Not too buggy?! It heated up my battery and drained my battery life in two hours! I’ve since deleted the public beta and reverted back to the general release with no problems.

      • I had similar issue with beta 1 and 2 on my 5s. Battery drain issue seems resolved now in beta 3 for me at least.

  2. applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

    I would be extremely happy if Apple were to move iPad launches back to march and april. Because spending 1500€ (800€ iPhone and 700€ iPad) in a space of a couple of weeks is very hard to digest.

    • PMZanetti - 8 years ago

      I missed the part where you’re required to spend money like that.

      • applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

        I just upgrade my iPhone and iPad every 2 years. And about the amount of money I spend on those, iPhone 64GB costs 800€ while a 128GB iPad Air 2 costs 700€.

      • flaviosuave - 8 years ago

        Nobody missed the part where you’re always a total dick to everyone. Jesus, get some help for your issues man.

    • cdm283813 - 8 years ago

      I agree with March but every 2 years just so that the upgrade is meaningful. Maybe do the 9.7″ model one year and the Pro and mini the next year. There is no need for me to upgrade on a yearly basis.

      • dcj001 - 8 years ago

        Everyone should upgrade each Apple device on an annual basis.

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      I would go for an iOS update every March for iPads or a switch to padOS with focused on iPads. @applegetridofsimandjack do any mobile providers were you live offer installment payments or leases to purchase iPads or iPhones. I’m glad I’m on an I sales t plan for my cellular iPad Air 2. Since iPads don’t have much of a resale value it’s a. Ice way to upgrade for me..it came in handy when I needed to update from the original Air to the Air 2, because of 10 plus ram chars he’s a day. I wish my provider still offered yearly updates, but it moved to every 2 years. Which should be about right. The 1 gB of ram was never enough.

  3. Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 8 years ago

    This is the most excited I’ve been for an iphone launch sine the iphone 4 event!

    How sad is that?

    • cdm283813 - 8 years ago

      You my friend have low expectations. Nothing nice about releasing a phone that does not out spec what we can get today even if you have to deal with 0.7 more in length.

      • Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 8 years ago

        I do.. : p

        I only wasn’t excited for the 4s because I just got the 4.
        I wasn’t excited for the 5 being taller but got one anyway before returning it and doing a mini upgrade to the 4s.
        After that it’s all been down hill because of size.

        I’ll accept the 5’s design now that my 4s is really showing its age and it’s clear 3.5″ won’t be making a return. I feel like I’ll only have to put up with the annoyance of a taller phone until they reduce the top and bottom bezels across the line. In which case a 4″ screen would fit in the height of the 4 body! The other major reason I returned the 5 was the headphone jack placement. If apple comes out with good wireless in the fall that problem will be solved too : ] so actually my expectations are pretty high for like 2018.

    • finngodo - 8 years ago

      Glad that others are still giving the 4s some love! I still have my 4s and 5 and use them basically as iPods. Love the weight and industrial feel of the 4s, and I agree once phones go bezel-less, the 4 inch screen will be perfect.

  4. rnc - 8 years ago

    One iPad Air 3 for me, please… still deciding between gold or space gray again…

  5. pdoobs - 8 years ago

    i hope the 5se is identical to the 5s. inexpensive case options are the best case options.

    • applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

      I bet the word ‘inexpensive’ was underlined in red as if the word wasn’t typed correctly.

      It probably wasn’t but ‘inexpensive’ is nowhere to be found in Apple’s dictionaries.

      • pdoobs - 8 years ago

        I understand based on your comment that you are definitely a troll but maybe go back and reread my comment. If the 5se is the same phone as the 5 &5s externally there are literally thousands of cases available for it, most have been on clearance for years now, that’s the inexpensive part.

        Keep trolling and thinking you are clever though you seem really good at it…

      • applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

        Wow I really hurt you there didn’t I?
        I’m not trolling at all. I love Apple products and agree most of their devices aren’t priced too high. But their accessories are all absolutely overpriced, I was referring to iPhone cases here.

        Wow I criticise Apple once and get attacked immediately. Chill.

    • cdm283813 - 8 years ago

      Wait a second. What if Apple prices this phone only $100 cheaper than the current model? That still makes it $550 for a 16GB phone. And you’re worried about case cost?

    • standardpull - 8 years ago

      I imagine that Apple is going after the low-end of the market with the iPhone 5se.

      “Whoa, but they’ll be killing their profit margins!”. I say “BS”.

      Apple is well-penetrated in the low-end market, but they’re all used devices: iPhone 4S, 5, 5c, and 5S. All of these can be found for between $100 and $250. But Apple is making $0 at this price point. And if you haven’t noticed, most top-tier providers don’t sell used phones. Plus, those phones are old, with zero warranty, a worn battery, and with an unknown history.

      When you only have $250 to spend on a phone, you can only buy a $250 phone. In comes the 5se, designed specifically to be sold to the folks who want a reliable high-end phone, but simply do not have the cash for a flagship phone like the 6 series.

      With the 5se, Apple will be seeing a net-positive return on sales… right in line with all the other recent lower-tier phones like the Galaxy Core or the HTC Desire or other low-end devices. But this will still be an Apple iPhone, with the same high-end quality and service that one expects from Apple (at least according to the market analyzers).

      All this will further the iPhone in the marketplace.

      Therefore, I think it is unrealistic to predict that the iPhone 5SE will be $550. As such a price would not further the brand or expand the iPhone market.

      • Robert - 8 years ago

        Most people think it will start at $450 (the current price of the 5s). This is $100 cheaper than the starting price of the 6s.

        It’s highly unlikely that it would cost $250 – that would seriously damage the average selling price, hurt sales of the larger phones and slash profit margin – it would be a suicidal business decision. Sure Apple would sell a vast number of them, but this growth would out pace production capacity and the expansion of the supply chain.

      • capdorf - 8 years ago

        Cash has never been the problem, it’s always been size. 6 is simply too big. if they cut the features too much to reach a price point, they will lose

  6. peteostro - 8 years ago

    Please give the iPad Air Apple Pencil support. I will buy it day one.

  7. RP - 8 years ago

    Nice. The A9, Apple Pay and the 6s camera is all I need and I am certainly on board to pick one up in March

    • lkalliance - 8 years ago

      If I understand the rumors correctly, the camera is the 6 camera, and not the 6S. I think. Still, I’ll take it.

      • RP - 8 years ago

        Yeah it’s a done deal for me too.

    • Randy (@randyngo987) - 8 years ago

      just a correction,its not the 6s camera,its the 6 camera

    • capdorf - 8 years ago

      Given that it’s not degraded, I’m in the queue. I’ve been waiting 2 years.

  8. Emanuele Donald Zenoni - 8 years ago

    And mac book skylake? Mac book pro skylake ? When??? 2017???

    • Justin Stanley - 8 years ago

      i’m on pins and needles waiting for new macbooks. ahhhhhhh.

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      Spring for the MacBook and and probably WWDC in June for the MacBook Pro

      The chips for both are just becoming available, The chips for the MacBook Pro have had the prices listed for months, but have not been available to purchase so far. I think the chips for the MacBooks are ready now. The broadwell were delayed and Apple was forced to go to the refreshed haswell chips since the Skylake chips for the MacBooks have not been ready..

      This is an Intel problem, not an Apple problem. I would still prefer Apple to put an a series chip in the MacBook and have it run arm enabled OS X.

  9. cwoloszynski - 8 years ago

    It will be called the iPhone 6c (for compact) not the iPhone 5se, mark my words.

  10. Robert Joseph Klinedinst - 8 years ago

    They should also consider the strategy of lowering prices. js

  11. Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 8 years ago

    Great, thanks for blowing the excitement around the upcoming March event. Now, anything they announce will be boring since we already know what they are going to announce.

    And what about Laptops? Since Apple resellers are blowing out laptops with large discounts, it’s a matter of time when they’ll refresh their product line. I’m hoping at the same event, but maybe we have to wait a little longer.

    • Greg Kaplan (@kaplag) - 8 years ago

      I like that you are upset about the excitement being blown by a rumor site…. and then want to know the details for the laptops hahahaha.

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      The MacBook will probably be updated at the event, I don’t think the Skylake chips needed for the MacBook Pro’s are available yet.

      $300 off the MacBook is a good sign they are going to be updated soon.

      • Generally, there are two types of mobile processors that go in the rMBP. The 13″ rMBP uses a mobile CPU with a 28W TDP thermal limit & using an Intel Iris integrated GPU. and the 15″ rMBP uses a mobile CPU with a 45W TDP thermal limit and using an Intel Iris Pro GPU that has 128MB of eDRAM.

        The mobile Skylake that would most likely go into the 13″ rMBP (28W Skylake U-series with Intel Iris 550 GPU) is ready. The one that would be designed to go into the 15″ rMBP is not ready and not even for sale yet – that would the 45W Skylake H-series with the Intel Iris Pro 580 GPU with 128MB eDRAM.

  12. Joshua Glowzinski - 8 years ago

    I had the 5. I am finished with small screens.

  13. galley99 - 8 years ago

    Hoping there’s a 128 gigger.

  14. yt75 - 8 years ago

    what about the skylake MBP 13, coming in March or not ?

    • Robert - 8 years ago

      Apparently not ready

      • yt75 - 8 years ago

        :( Really need to change my 15 2010 MBP, might end up buying the 2015 one then, but would be a pity, a March release rumor is still floating around for the 13 it seems, make it true!

    • flame1230 - 8 years ago

      It is rumoured for them to introduce it on WWDC

  15. Robert - 8 years ago

    Looks like they want to get some new iPhones sales in the last few days of quarter two (financial year). This will help sure up what Apple projected to be a very weak quarter.

  16. pencil, smaller iphone, let’s beat this dead horse into the ground with add on value instead of what we really really want.

  17. Buzz Pluz (@BuzzPluz) - 8 years ago

    Can’t wait to compare iPhone 5se and the new Samsung Galaxy S7!

    http://buzzpluz.com/samsung-galaxy-s7-sneak-peek/

  18. Robert Wood - 8 years ago

    Time has come for millions of 4S/5/5S users who prefer smaller footprint iphone to let go their current iphone and replace with 5SE Hope it is equivalent iphone 6S internals from processor, camera. Ipad Air 3 will be interesting as how it differentiate from air 2.

  19. maxxhoo - 8 years ago

    Apple: please acknowledge it is real.
    Thanks tcook@apple.com

  20. Nty (@yshdmt) - 8 years ago

    Will make a purchase when the devices is jailbreak-able. A deal-breaker for me. Can’t we just have the ability to void the warranty and root the device like Android can?

  21. NANAFUSHI (@nana_fussy) - 8 years ago

    New Apple Watch(Apple Watch S?)(Apple Watch 2?) Next month?

  22. Digital Rob - 8 years ago

    I feel so many people would complain when switching to an iPhone 6/6s becuase larger than the 5/5s model (as I did) but I am so used to it now, the extra size doesn’t matter and wouldn’t even think to switch to a smaller model even if it’s just as good on the inside… Curious to see what the price point will truly be.
    http://www.therobreports.com

  23. NANAFUSHI (@nana_fussy) - 8 years ago

    Will New Apple Watch(Watch S ?)(Watch 2?) go on sale next month?

  24. Claire Lawrence - 8 years ago

    Click here to get the best iOS Video Player https://itunes.apple.com/app/id378723561

  25. David Corley - 8 years ago

    I’m one of those people who won’t give up my 5s for a 6 bc of size. Have been holding out for a smaller phone so glad they are making a small one. But…. Why would i buy something called a 5se? “5” in Apple world is considered an obsolete number, now that the 6 is out. And is anyone worried about buying a 5se, just to see Apple introduce the new line of the iPhone 7 (in three sizes) six months later? will the 5se or 7s have wireless charging? I’m already thinking of holding out for the 7…. What say you?….