Update: The latest leaks point towards a design almost identical to that of the iPhone 5S, while round the back the new iPhone SE could have the same 12MP camera as the iPhone 6S, complete with 4K video recording.
Apple's iPhone SE is about to free up your overextended two-handed smartphone grasp with the smaller and cheaper phone, according to a whole wave of rumors.
This is said to be a 4-inch iPhone and that sounds a perfect fit for one-handed operation if you lack a monster grip. You may not understand the iPhone SE name, but you'll be familiar with its dimensions.
Did you snub the larger iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus? Waiting to upgrade that similarly sized iPhone 5S? You may be giving Apple a rousing one-handed clap by the end of its March 21 press conference.
The iPhone SE launch is just days away, and from all of the leaks we've seen so far it won't be the cheap plastic attempt at a new iPhone, like the iPhone 5C two and a half years ago.
It's the anti-phablet that's all grown up, and it's going to have a real following – even if early adopters in tech, ones with meaty paws, don't quite get it.
Originally it was rumored as the iPhone 6C, then things moved onto the iPhone 5SE, but the wave of latest leaks seem to have settled on iPhone SE - we'll be live at Apple's launch event to see if they're right.
Cut to the chase
- What is it? A new, 4-inch iPhone
- When is it out? March 21 launch, release a few weeks later
- What will it cost? Around US$450 (£340, AU$690)
iPhone SE release date
Everything tells us that the iPhone SE launch date is March 21, because that's when Apple is holding its first press conference of the year.
Apple's keynote is happening at its Cupertino headquarters, and it's expected to announce more than the iPhone SE there. It may usher in the iOS 9.3 update, a9.7-inch iPad Pro (the last one was 12.9 inches) and perhaps even the Apple Watch 2 - or at the very least some new straps.
The new iPhone is unlikely to debut in stores until a later date, but that will reportedly happen sooner than normal. Apple loves picking Friday's, so the obvious dates would be March 25 or April 1 - no fooling!
We'll be reporting live from Apple's March 21 event to bring you all the latest, so make sure you stay tuned.
What's with the iPhone SE name?
The iPhone SE has gone by many names, and there's no guarantee that the current alias is any more real than the rest.
"iPhone SE" is supposed to stand for "iPhone special edition," denoting its throwback size with a 4-inch screen. At least it makes some sense, compared to the previously rumored names.
It'll rightfully ditch the placeholder names of iPhone 6C, 5E and 5SE, which first surfaced in the lead up to the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus launch on September 9, 2015
Back then, there were rumbles of a cheaper iPhone being introduced, but the trio never materialized - just the 6S and 6S Plus upgrades. That hasn't meant the iPhone 6C dream was dead. Quite the opposite, actually.
There's a growing need for a smaller iPhone with updated specs. Currently, the only way to get one with a 4-inch screen is to buy the aged iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C, the latter of which is already discontinued.
The iPhone SE model would continue the C legacy, with a phonetically similar name. It'll likely be aimed both at those who want to save some money and those who want to save some pocket space.
Apple event invite
Apple recently sent out invites for its March 21 event at its Cupertino, CA-based campus and of course, we've been already trying to crack the code on the image attached to it.
It's very possible that Apple is showing off the rose gold, pink and silver variations of its rumored iPhone SE. If true, these would be more subdued than the flashy, vibrant options available for the iPhone 5C.
Moving down to the language of the invite, our hopes fall off a bit for the SE: "Let us loop you in." It doesn't really call out to its line of iPhones so much as it does to the Apple Watch.
We'll just have to wait a few more days to see what Apple has whipped up.
iPhone SE design
Several different sources have spoken of an iPhone SE, though there are still some voices of dissent.
When it does arrive it may have a lot in common with the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S, as a recent leaked image purports to show it alongside the iPhone 5, sporting a similar shape and design, albeit with rounder edges and Touch ID.
However, it's not totally clear what material the iPhone SE is made from in that image and it could well be more like the iPhone 5C in style, especially as there's talk and even an image of a plastic shell.
If it does launch with a plastic body then there's no doubt that it will be cheaper than Apple's flagship phones, but that's now looking much less likely with newer rumors all pointing towards a metal finish.
Apple might have leaked them phone itself, with a weird render showing an iPhone 5C-a-like bearing the unmistakeable TouchID button in the picture - but it seems unlikely, so let's chalk that one up to a glitch in the matrix.
The iPhone SE may also have been caught on video. A clip shared by MICGADGET and supposedly filmed inside Foxconn reportedly shows the phone.
However to our minds it looks a little larger than 4 inches and it has exactly the same design as the iPhone 6S, so we're not convinced that it isn't just Apple's latest flagship masquerading as a lower end phone.
That video aside, the iPhone SE is largely expected to look a lot like the iPhone 5S, but it could have ever so slightly curved screen edges, like the iPhone 6.
This theory has been given more suport after separate sources tipped the new iPhone to copy the design of the iPhone 5S, although they claim you won't get the rounded finish.
A Touch ID fingerprint scanner seems to be a consistent presence in all the leaks, so we can be pretty sure about this feature.
iPhone SE power
The iPhone SE has been tipped to share some specs with the iPhone 6, as it's rumored the new iPhone will ship with an A8 processor.
There is conflicting information though, as a February report and separate sources for 9to5Mac claim the iPhone SE will come with an A9 processor, putting it on par with the power inside the 6S and 6S Plus.
iPhone SE camera
There's some potentially good news in the camera department, as the SE is now being linked to the same sensor that sits on the back of the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus. That would mean a 12MP snapper and 4K video recording.
iPhone SE specs
The iPhone SE is also rumored to have NFC and Touch ID, which could mean Apple Pay support, and of course if it launches this month, it's poised to run the latest iOS 9 software, iOS 9.3.
China Mobile appears to have shed more light on the SE specs, with roadmap details apparently revealing a 4-inch 1136 x 640 display, A9 processor, 2GB of RAM, 8MP camera, Touch ID and three colour options - gold, silver and black.
Another spec listing points to an A8 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 4.0-inch screen and 16 or 64GB of storage. Though it's not clear whether this is the iPhone SE in all but name or something else entirely.
1. Touch ID
While the iPhone 5S has Touch ID, the iPhone 5C (which launched alongside it) doesn't. Two years on it's unlikely that Apple would keep it out of the iPhone 5SE, but it is a worry, especially as the phone is likely to be positioned as a budget alternative to the iPhone 6S.
We really, really hope that doesn't happen though, as it's one of the best recent iPhone features and not having it would severely limit the iPhone 5SE appeal. Thankfully its inclusion has already been rumored.
2. A powerful processor
As a budget device we don't expect the iPhone 5SE to match the iPhone 6S, but we hope it comes close, especially as it's likely to be the best 4-inch iPhone around.
Buyers who want a smaller phone shouldn't be overly penalised on specs so we'd like to see high-end performance from the iPhone 5SE. Current rumors point to it packing the same chip as the iPhone 6, which should just about cut it.
3. A 4.0-inch screen
While it's expected that the iPhone 5SE will have a 4.0-inch screen it's not actually confirmed, but we really hope it does.
If Apple only released one iPhone size we'd want it to be the now standard 4.7-inch model, but choice is always good and we'd wager there are many Apple fans who were disappointed by the move to larger screens, so a new model with a small screen would be much appreciated.
4. A more affordable price
While the iPhone 5C was designed to be a comparatively budget option it wasn't and even now still isn't particularly cheap.
So we'd like to see the iPhone 5SE be truly affordable. Perhaps not entry-level, but with a mid-range price of around £300/$400/AU$500.
5. A more premium design
One of the cost cutting measures employed with the iPhone 5C was to replace the premium metal and glass builds of other iPhone models with a colourful plastic shell.
It's a solid, well-built phone, but it undeniably looks far less premium or stylish than other Apple handsets.
We'd love to see Apple not skimp on the build materials with the iPhone 5SE. Of course it's very unlikely that we'll get both a premium build and a lower price, but we can dream.
6. A slim build
Given that the iPhone 5SE will likely be more compact than the iPhone 6S it would be great if Apple went all out and made it simmer too, so it's truly as pocket friendly as possible.
The iPhone 5C is 9mm thick, but we'd like to see the iPhone 5SE drop down to around 6.9mm thick like the iPhone 6.
7. Plenty of storage
The iPhone 5C was initially sold in several storage sizes, but it's now just available in a near useless 8GB model.
Given that Apple doesn't allow for expandable storage 16GB is the absolute minimum that we consider acceptable and even that's pushing it these days. So hopefully the iPhone 5SE will be available with a range of storage capacities and if 32GB was the smallest we wouldn't complain.
8. Better battery life
The iPhone 5C has respectable battery life, but it's still a phone you'll be charging every night, so we'd like to see the iPhone 5SE have longer life.
Very few phones last as long as we'd like, but we've seen from the likes of the Sony Xperia Z3 Compact that two days is possible, so we want to see that from the iPhone 5SE.
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