iPhone SE: Is the cheapest iPhone the best one?

iPhone SE: Three things about Apple's new handset

21 March

There's just hours left on the clock as Apple prepares to host a keynote event at the firm's Cupertino campus.

The tech giant is expected to announce two new devices alongside some other announcements.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Attention is focused on Apple's smartphone range, with a new iPhone, set to be called the iPhone SE, believed to be in the offing.

The four-inch device is targeted at those wanting the practical dimensions of older handsets but with updated features - and an affordable price tag.

Here's three things to look out for:

It should look familiar

While Apple introduced a brand new design language with the iPhone 6 generation phones – using curved edges and an aluminium unibody case – so far rumours regarding the iPhone SE point towards a handset that will retain many of characteristics of 2013's iPhone 5S, which the SE will replace.

Case leaks have painted a contrasting picture, with some hinting at phones featuring curved edges and designs similar to the 6S. But the reliable 9 to 5 Mac has stamped its foot down, with sources saying the new device will be almost "identical" to the iPhone 5S, with the same dimensions, round volume buttons and power button on the top.

There's scope for a little change, though. The edges, while still boxy like the 5S, could get very minor curves and the SE could be offered in the popular rose gold colour available on the 6S.

It should get iPhone 6S hardware

It's what's going on inside the device that Apple hopes to focus on. Rumours strongly suggest that the SE will mark a large improvement over the 5S by plucking many of its internals from the iPhone 6 generation handsets.

The camera is said to be one of the big upgrades. The SE should come with the 12-megapixel iSight camera setup, along with the ability to record video in 4K and the Live Photos feature.

An A9 processor is expected, although MacRumors says it could be mated to just 1GB of RAM. It may only come in 16GB and 64GB capacities, too, with no room for 32GB and 128GB options.

Inside should also see the addition of a Near Field Communications chip, bringing ApplePay to the bottom of the range, but 3D touch displays are expected to remain a fixture on flagship iPhones for now.

It should launch soon

Being an entry level device rather than a flagship handset, rumours have suggested that Apple could deviate from its usual launch schedules and have the iPhone SE on shelves by the end of this week.

According to well-established Apple leaker and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, prices could be around "$400-$500" (£277-£346), which would represent a drop over the iPhone SE. Others are sceptical, however, with Know Your Mobile pointing out that if Apple prices the handset too low, it could deflect attention away from the hardware inside.

Apple will reveal all at 5pm UK time on its website.

iPhone SE: Handset 'will not look like iPhone 6S'

18 March

Apple's iPhone SE has attracted a fair amount of contrasting, flip-flopping rumours, but one reliable source has now well and truly stamped its foot down in regards to what the phone should look like.

9 to 5 Mac reports that the handset, which will be revealed at an Apple keynote event on Monday, will appear "identical" to the outgoing iPhone 5S – a blow to fans looking forward to a four-inch device with a completely fresh design.

Previous rumours have swayed between the SE being an iPhone 5S clone, a miniaturised iPhone 6S or marrying the best design cues from each for something completely new.

But the website says sources have told them the new handset will use the boxier design of the iPhone 5S, rather than the curved look of the current flagship iPhone.

It should have rounded volume buttons, as well as a power button mounted on the top of the device, and the metal casing should retain its metal centre on the back, with the same glass caps top and bottom.

The phone could still be "slightly curved", though the "potential change is not noticeable".

On the bright side, this means the iPhone SE will fit existing iPhone 5S cases – and 5S users are who Apple is targeting.

Also, while the looks won't be changing much, the phone is expected to get iPhone 6S internals, such as the A9 chip, 12-megapixel camera and an NFC chip to support Apple Pay.

Tech Insider points out that 9 to 5 Mac is a convincing source – it was the first site to report the "SE" name and given that the phone is now just days away, you'd have to concede this will likely be the final pre-launch twist.

All will be revealed come Monday, alongside a new addition to the iPad range as well as some updates to the Apple Watch.

iPhone SE: Leak confirms new phone will support Apple Pay

17 March

Days away from the iPhone SE's 21 March reveal, a leak from within Apple's Chinese supply chain appears to confirm some of the details of the new handset.

A picture showing the specifications sticker on the packaging backs up the name and that the phone will be available with 16GB flash storage and fitted with a near field communications chip to support Apple Pay.

MacRumors says that the picture – which could feasibly be photoshopped – also confirms that the iPhone SE won't serve as a test bed for removing the headphone jack ahead of its expected demise on the iPhone 7, as a Lightning to USB cable and EarPods are both listed as being in the box.

AppleInsider notes that in separate posts, the leaker reveals some other details regarding the handset.

According to the source, the iPhone SE will be available in 64GB configuration, too, and come in four colours: silver, space grey, gold and rose gold.

The leaker also offers some insight into how the handset might look.

So far, it's generally been understood that the SE will be an iPhone 5S-like device in terms of size and dimensions but with iPhone 6 generation styling cues, though which style of handset will be the prevailing look has so far divided critics and case makers.

According to the source, however, the overall design is similar to the iPhone 6S, but how many of its design tweaks make their way onto the new handset remains to be seen.

For instance, 9 to 5 Mac still believes the phone will be "nearly identical" to the iPhone 5S and that the lack of rumours from the Apple supply chain is because the SE isn't expected to be a huge seller and the design is not interesting enough for leakers to take a gamble on.

iPhone SE: Will new handset be Apple's cheapest ever?

16 March

Apple's next iPhone isn't the iPhone 7. Instead, the four-inch entry level iPhone SE is just around the corner – and some rumours suggest it could be Apple's cheapest handset ever.

Despite regular upgrades to their flagship devices, Apples sales have hit what some have called "peak iPhone", with many users staying with the company's current small offering – the iPhone 5S, introduced back in 2013.

According to AppleInsider, one analyst believes the iPhone SE, which is set to debut at an Apple keynote event on Monday, can drive upgrades among existing iPhone 5S users to the tune of 15 million handsets a year.

A report issued by Amit Daryanani, of RBC Capital Markets, notes that "only 40 per cent of the install base [current iPhone users] has upgraded to Apple's larger 4.7 – or 5.5 inch iPhone models".

As such, the iPhone SE represents an aggressive strategic move by the tech giant to accelerate the upgrade cycles of customers not interested in larger, phablet-style phones and concerned with cost.

Daryanani admits the 15 million handsets a year figure is "modest" when compared to the 75 million iPhone 6S handsets shifted in the last quarter of 2015 alone, adds AppleInsider, but the timing is key: "A late March launch would allow Apple to provide a buffer in the upcoming June and September quarters, leading up to the debut of a flagship iPhone 7."

And while many expect the iPhone SE to be cheaper or the same price as the soon to be replaced 5S, he believes it will be more expensive, given that it's expected to receive iPhone 6S internals. The "premium construction and components" could push the price to $549 (£389).

Know Your Mobile points out that most analysts predict a price around $450 (£319), making it cheaper than the current flagships and the iPhone 5S - but "not by much". Should Apple go any lower, the prices could speak louder than the hardware, overshadowing the upgraded performance, and people may think the phone is an inferior product.

The website adds that Apple shouldn't be worried about cannibalising its own range, though, and that the SE is in a prime position to suck up sales of customers who "didn't upgrade to the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus because the screen was too big".

iPhone SE: 'Apple to show off 4K camera in promo video'

15 March

The iPhone SE is just days away from its anticipated reveal on 21 March and AppleInsider has received word from an Apple tipster that the company is planning to market the device heavily around its camera hardware.

According to the website, a source told the tech giant will "tout the imaging prowess" of the new handset with a promotional video shot in 4K captured entirely on the device. However, they cannot verify the legitimacy of the tip off.

It adds that it is unknown if Apple plans to use the promo material during the unveiling on Monday, but the company "had employees filming on location in New York as recently as last week", according to the source.

Such a video would mean the rumours were true and that the SE will feature heavily overhauled internals and hardware, with iPhone 6S-grade goodies. That would see Apple's next entry level phone get at least the 12-megapixel iSight camera plucked straight from the firm's current flagship.

It also means that an A9 chip is likely in order to have the necessary processing power on board to deal with 4K video, which features 30fps (frames per second) and 240fps slow-motion recording and playback.

The phone is expected to get a Near Field Communication chip, too, for Apple Pay, but 3D touch capabilities will probably remain a feature reserved for the company's flagship models.

Apple will reveal all on Monday, alongside what's tipped to be a new 9.7ins iPad Pro.

iPhone SE: Has the handset been revealed?

15 March

Apple is set to reveal a new four-inch handset next week, when the iPhone SE takes centre stage at an keynote event on 21 March. But a new video from China claims to show the handset ahead of its unveiling.

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_original","fid":"92292","attributes":{"class":"media-image"}}]]The device does match up with some of the rumours regarding the design of the phone, tying the dimensions of the iPhone 5S with some of the design cues used on the iPhone 6 handsets. However, some case leaks suggest a much more 5S-heavy look is on the cards, calling the legitimacy of the leak into serious question.

There's a great deal of scepticism over the video-makers' claim to have obtained an iPhone SE at a black market stall in Shenzhen.

BGR says its "almost certainly not a real iPhone SE, though it is possible that it's a dummy model assembled from real iPhone SE components".

The website also notes the device is too iPhone 6S-like in comparison to leaks obtained by more reliable sources, which have led to expectations of an iPhone 5S with subtly curved rather than bevelled edges. The volume buttons are also plucked straight from the iPhone 6 generation, as is the camera bump.

Rather than calling the design of the device into question, TechRadar goes after the quality of the build and the fact the handset "cannot be powered on".

It's "hard to believe a prototype model would have found its way on sale already", they say, adding that the speaker holes slant awkwardly and are squeezed too closely to the lightning port – certainly not a shining example of Apple's finishing quality.

As for the original leakers, even they issue a disclaimer in the video, saying the handset is allegedly an SE but may not be the real deal.

Take the video with a pinch of salt, Ubergizmo adds, as Apple is usually watertight before a product launch so waiting until Monday for a first look at the phone seems very likely.

iPhone SE: Why is Apple launching new handset now?

14 March

While Apple fans are keeping a long-term keen eye on the iPhone 7, a lot of attention has turned to the company's keynote event on 21 March, when a new handset is expected to be revealed.

The 7 will follow the company's now-yearly routine of trotting out a new flagship model towards the end of the year, but the iPhone SE is breaking convention: it is a completely new phone but takes a step backwards to a four-inch display and it is launching in March - the first non-autumn reveal since the 4 in 2010.

So what's the train of thought behind Apple's new phone?

According to Macworld, the introduction of the SE reflects not just on the company, but the smartphone market as a whole. Apple sold around 75 million handsets in the last quarter of 2015, but there are signals we have now reached "peak iPhone".

A maturing market means manufacturers will have to look for different ways to grow sales beyond relying on the introduction of new flagship models each year. Macworld argues that as technology has progressed, "low-hanging fruit", such as front-facing cameras and bigger screens, have "already been picked off". The companies will continue to find ways to sell new models, but maybe they aren't as "must have" as previous generations as growth begins to stagnate.

As such, introducing a new phone off the beaten track of the usual iPhone upgrade cycle could tempt some to fork out, especially those already sold on the four-inch size of the iPhone 5S and not willing to sacrifice convenience for the larger but more powerful iPhone 6S.

"Puzzled" by the timing of the phone's release, Macworld says a standalone reveal doesn't allow consumers to work out which is best for them.

However, Jan Dawson, writing for Re/code, may have an explanation.

Generally seen as a flop, the iPhone 5C, Apple's plastic-cased entry level phone from September 2013, could prove to be a "valuable experiment" in the context of the iPhone SE, he says.

Sales of the 5C may have been strong during the downtime in Apple's flagship schedule so penning the SE in for a reveal around the same time could help balance "seasonal variability" in sales. It also means Apple can direct maximum attention the SE rather than risk overshadowing it by their new flagship handset, as may have been the case with the 5C.

However, Dawson goes against the current price rumours, suggesting the SE will adopt the iPhone 5S's pricing, a world away from the rumours that phone could start from as little as £250.

It's been said that the SE and its cheap price tag is how Apple will try to crack developing markets such as India. Instead, the company could adopt a different strategy and rather than gamble with a new, very cheap iPhone, use refurbished devices as the cornerstone of its strategy.

The phone's launch is believed to be just days away, so answers could be just around the corner.