No pre-order program is expected for this new model

Feb 13, 2016 00:10 GMT  ·  By

Apple’s new 4-inch iPhone is expected to see daylight next month, and a new report claims that the company is planning to start selling this model only three days after its public unveiling.

Codenamed 5se or 6c, the new smaller iPhone is specifically supposed to expand Apple’s phone lineup with a more affordable model targeting those who want new hardware (and thus get access to the latest iOS improvements), without going for bigger and more expensive versions. Studies have shown that approximately 20 percent of the Americans are still looking for 4-inch devices, so Apple could be playing the winning card with this new model.

The public unveiling of the new iPhone is expected to take place on March 15 as part of a bigger event that could also bring us the iPad Air 3 and new Apple Watch models. But what’s also interesting is that Apple might try a different sales strategy for this smaller iPhone.

Available both online and in retail stores

According to a report from 9to5mac and citing sources close to the matter, Apple is planning to unveil the new iPhone on March 15 and to start selling it on March 18. This means that the device could hit the shelves only 3 days after its public unveiling, which is quite a first for Apple, given the fact that the company usually had one or two weeks between the launch and the start of sales.

Moreover, it looks like Apple won’t be offering a pre-order program for the iPhone 5se/6c, so on March 18, the device will become available both online and in retail stores.

Manufacturing of the device is already going at full speed, and Apple actually boosted production in January to make sure it can cope with the expected demand.

Of course, don’t take anything for granted for now because Apple could change plans at any moment, but more information should be provided by the company itself in approximately one month.