Apple Releases 4″ iPhone SE and 9.7″ iPad Pro
As expected, Apple has released a new 4″ iPhone SE and 9.7″ iPad Pro today at their March 21 event. The devices offer hardware improvements compared to prior models available at the same screen size, and should be compelling offerings to individuals seeking a 4″ iPhone or 9.7″ iPad.
Additionally, Apple has unveiled a few new Apple Watch band styles, and a plethora of software updates to nearly their entire hardware lineup, including iOS 9.3 for iPhone and iPad, OS X 10.11.4 for Mac, watchOS 2.2 for Apple Watch, and tvOS 9.2 for Apple TV.
The iPhone SE
The iPhone SE has a 4″ display and looks just like the iPhone 5 or iPhone 5S from the exterior. The internal components of the iPhone SE is where the device differentiates from other 4″ devices, where it is essentially an iPhone 6s but in an iPhone 5 body.
The main feature specs of iPhone SE are as follows:
- 4″ Retina display
- 64 bit A9 CPU
- M9 Motion coprocessor
- Hey Siri support
- 12 MP iSight Camera
- Live Photos support
- 4k Video
- Apple Pay
The iPhone SE is available in 16GB and 64GB sizes, for $399 and $499 respectively.
Users interested in getting an iPhone SE can preorder on March 24, and will be available in stores on March 31.
The 9.7″ iPad Pro
The iPad Pro with 9.7″ display is the latest iPad offering from Apple. It’s a full featured device that fits between the iPad Air and iPad Pro 12″ in the product lineup. Features of the 9.7″ iPad Pro include:
- 64 bit A9X CPU
- Hey Siri support
- 9.7″ wide color Retina display, with True Tone technology (adjusts on screen color temperature to match ambient lighting)
- Improved speakers
- Smart Connector with support for optional keyboard case, and optional Apple Pencil
- 12 MP iSight camera
- 4K Video recording abilities
The iPad Pro 9.7″ starts at $599 for 32GB, $749 for 128GB, and there is a 256GB option for $899.
Users interested in buying the iPad Pro 9.7″ can preorder on March 24, and it will ship and be in stores on March 31.
Apple Watch Bands, Software Updates
Apple also released several new Apple Watch bands today, including a new nylon band style, which you can view on Apple.com.
The Apple Watch also received a minor price cut today of $50 off most models, making the device start at $299 for the 38mm model, and $349 for the 42mm model.
Perhaps most relevant to the majority of iPhone, iPad, and Mac users however were the releases of new software updates today. OS X 10.11.4 is available for Mac, and iOS 9.3 is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Additionally, tvOS 9.2 and WatchOS 2.2 are available for Apple TV and Apple Watch, respectively.
I have friends and family who still have their old iPhones because they appreciate the smaller size. I switched to the bigger phone, but I miss the smaller size. It fit great in my pocket and purse. So hooray to Apple for listening to what people wanted and covering all our various size preferences.
I went for the 6 Plus when it came out. Love the battery life. Like the stabilization on the camera. But absolutely hate the size. I went for the big screen because I thought it would be so much easier to read, text, and email. In reality, it’s not all that much easier. And what a clunker the thing is. So SE sounds GREAT to me.
In your opinion
The design of iPhone SE is better than 6 and 6s. The iPhone 6 series is the ugliest iPhone ever made.
The iPhone SE is $399 vs $649 for the 6S. Smaller phone, almost half the price.
The iPhone SE is significantly speedier and better spec’d than the iPhone 6, but not as good as iPhone 6S if you care about the larger screen size on that device. If you don’t care about screen size, it is basically the same as iPhone 6s, but at a much lower cost. It will be a good iPhone, I hope they update it every year.
Are we going to get new macs ever?
Seems Apple is trying and failing to cover every niche market available to them.
Nothing new here, move along.
Hard to imagine a more underwhelming snooze worthy Apple event. The keynote video was unbearably boring, why didn’t they just issue a press release instead of having the one hour stage event for this?
The iPhone SE is an OK device for people who like small screens, it is an iPhone 6s in the 5s body. It’s better than iPhone 6, but not as good as iPhone 6s, kind of a weird device in the lineup.
The iPad Pro is the new iPad Air, it’s the same old iPad except it costs $100 more because… who knows why. They should include Apple Pencil for free with that.
The biggest thing to happen today is my iPhone got a tiny software update, I guess.
My first Apple presentation .. and yes BORING .. I was REALLY surprised at how amateurish the presenters were, not what I was expecting at all …. I was watching a Quiz game show on TV with the other eye though … much better. Yup software updates .. zzzzz
Am I reading this right!? A 4 inch phone!? Did the world gone mad or am I just crazy? So far Apple pushed everything to be bigger and bigger. The iPhone 4 was small, so they created an iPhone 5. But that was small, too, so they created an iPhone 6. In case that was small, too, they created an even bigger iPhone 6 Plus. But then Apple said “Eh, the hell with all that! They are all too big! Let’s innovate by going back to the beginning and create a new iPhone 4”. JESUS! Innovation at its best…
iPhone Se is basically a minor update to the iPhone 5s, 4″ screen and all. It will be the free with contract phone at your local store.