14 DAY TRIAL // Apple’s already working on several new devices to refresh its iPhone and iPad lineups, and a new report claims that the company is set to unveil them during a dedicated event on March 15.
Cupertino is yet to confirm this new rumor, but 9to5mac claims that Apple has set the mid-March date to take the wraps off the eagerly anticipated 4-inch iPhone and the new iPad Air 3, as well as some other goodies, such as fresh Apple Watch bands and software updates.
The key moment of the event will be the unveiling of the new iPhone. Often called iPhone 6c but referred to by some people as iPhone 5se, the new model will be specifically supposed to serve as a more affordable version of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, with Apple also planning to offer a smaller screen and target a wider audience.
4-inch display, new hardware
It will have a 4-inch display and come with metal casing, sources report, with Apple planning to sell it in several colors. Sources claim that the smaller iPhone will be a direct successor to the iPhone 5s and have similar dimensions, but it will also come with important hardware upgrades, such as the new A9 and M9 processors.
Some premium features, such as 3D Touch, won’t be available on this more affordable iPhone, but on the other hand, Apple does plan to keep Live Photos and Apple Pay support to boost the adoption of these two new features.
Pricing will be the same as for the iPhone 5s, so you’ll be able to purchase it for approximately $450 (€410) for the 16 GB version.
During the March 15 event, Apple will also present the new iPad Air 3, which will represent the first update to the small tablet since October 2014. New Apple Watch bands, some created with premium partners across the world, are also expected to see daylight, and so are a bunch of software updates, including iOS 9.3 and WatchOS 2.2, both currently in beta.