iPhone SE: Is the cheapest iPhone the best one?
We pitch the tech giant's newest handset against the 5S, the 5C, and the iPhone 6
iPhone SE: Case leak, specs and launch date
11 March
There appears to be disappointment ahead for Apple fans hoping the upcoming iPhone SE will see a new case marrying iPhone 5S dimensions to iPhone 6 design cues.
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Two separate case leaks from China have suggested contrasting designs: one very much like the 5S and another featuring the same curved edges as the 6S.
However, a third reveal, from what MacRumors calls an "established, well-known case manufacturer", suggests a design "nearly indistinguishable" from the iPhone 5S is on the cards.
SE case renders from accessory company Spigen, which is usually among the first to market with covers for new iOS devices, show the same overall shape and dimensions as the iPhone 5S, with rounded volume buttons running down the left hand side and the power button located on the top.
The cases wrap around the front of the handset, so it's not 100 per cent clear if the screen edges are the same as the iPhone 5S or if they hide a new, curved-at-the-edges display feeding into a boxy iPhone 5 shape.
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MacRumors adds that early case leaks and renderings are often an accurate barometer of what to expect, but are not 100 per cent certain. Giving all the differing case designs so far, the true iPhone SE remains out in the wild.
All will be revealed when it debuts at an Apple event on 21 March, alongside a new iPad and updates to the Apple Watch.
It's a similar story for the other iOS products said to be launching this year. The first iPhone 7 case has emerged months ahead of a September reveal and appears to confirm that the headphone jack will be removed from the next range-topping smartphone. A separate leak for an upcoming iPad – set to be launched alongside the SE- suggests Apple's next tablet will be an iPad Pro-like device, with a Smart Connector for a keyboard and the same speaker setup used on the iPad Pro.
The iPhone SE case doesn't feature possible hardware configurations as with the other case leaks, though a camera bump as on the iPhone 6S is a possibility considering it has been rumoured that the new entry level device will pluck many of its internals from the current Apple flagship. An A9 chip is also expected, but a 3D touch display remains an outside chance.
All will be revealed at an Apple event now confirmed for 21 March, the new iPhone SE and iPad set to make their debuts alongside updates to the Apple Watch and possibly some news regarding 2016 editions of the MacBook Pro.
iPhone SE: Price, specs and release date
9 March
The iPhone 7 isn't the only handset Apple is working on for a release this year. Current rumours suggest a new model could be just around the corner in the form of an entry level handset called the iPhone SE to replace the ageing 5S as the cheapest new iPhone on sale.
The tech giant looks set to reveal the SE on 21 March, along with a new iPad and some updates to the Apple Watch.
So what will the new baby iPhone be like?
Design
How the phone will look is one of the hottest topics ahead of its anticipated reveal. It's largely considered a given that it will be a four-inch model – the exact same size as the iPhone 5S it will replace - but the actual look hasn't quite been nailed down yet and the extent of any revisions are still more or less unknown.
A design tying in cues from the iPhones 5S and 6 seems credible, though, and if case-makers are anything to go by, the iPhone SE should sport the 5S's dimensions, with a thickness of 7.6mm but slightly curved edges and the curved-off glass display from the iPhone 6.
Display
According to Pocket Lint, we shouldn't expect anything new or particularly improved regarding display, seeing as the handset is a new entry level model. It should be the same 1136 x 640 pixel setup found on the iPhone 5S, meaning a pixel density of 326ppi and an 800:1 contrast ratio.
Apple's latest flagship iPhone – the 6S – introduced pressure-sensitive 3D touch capabilities, but they're not expected to be a feature on the SE and a leak on French tech website NWE allegedly of the new phone's hardware display shows the sensors required for 3D touch are absent.
Hardware
It is expected that the SE will have internals from the iPhone 6 or even the 6S. The A8 chipset from the iPhone 6 has been rumoured alongside the faster A9 used in the iPhone 6S, as well as varying levels of RAM – possibly 1GB or 2GB.
MacRumors reckons the SE will get the A9 from the iPhone 6S, although limited to just 1GB RAM. Storage options could be just a 16GB model and a larger 64GB one, with no 128GB option.
Reports say the phone will ship with an NFC chip for Apple Pay, as well as Touch ID and some of the latest iPhone features such as Bluetooth 4.2. A larger battery could also be on the cards – a 1,624mAh setup is expected.
Camera
According to established Apple leaker and KGI securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the SE's camera hardware could be the same setup found on the iPhone 6S – a 12-megapixel camera over the eight first touted.
Kuo has proven to be reliable in the past, though some outlets still expect the camera to be the lower version and without the Live Photos function introduced on the 6S.
Software
Not much to pick over here other than that the SE is likely to ship with iOS 9.3, given that a public beta of the latest iOS update is currently available, says Gizmodo. This means the phone should launch with Night Shift, a new setting that changes the display colours from blue to orange as the sun goes down to help ensure a better night's sleep for those who use their phone late at night or in bed.
Other upgrades include password and Touch ID protected notes as well as a new News app. None of these are iPhone SE exclusive, however, and will be coming to iOS devices soon.
Price and release
Apple was originally expected to reveal the phone on 15 March, but more recently, a date of 21 March has been touted. It is expected that alongside the iPhone SE, Apple will reveal a new iPad, originally thought to be the Air 3 but now being touted by some as a smaller, 9.7ins iPad Pro. Updates to the Apple Watch are expected, too. The phone could be on the shelves in stores a matter of days later, in comparison to the usual wait of a few weeks.
As for price, that could be one of the biggest surprises. Current rumours suggest £250-£350 – a price range with considerable scope for now but either way representing a price slash over the £379 of the iPhone 5S.
The case for Apple introducing a new entry level device is strong, says the International Business Times, not just from a consumer point of view, as inevitably there will be people who prefer a smaller device, but also from a business perspective.
iPhone growth is stagnating and sales expected to contract for the first time ever in 2016. Supplementing a slowing demand with a new, less expensive device would mean Apple can aggressively pursue sales in emerging markets such as India and China, although the "cheap" price touted in the US and Europe probably isn't going to impress there, as mid-range smartphones with bigger displays can be bought for very little.
Current iPhone 5 and 5S users should be tempted, however. About 30 per cent of customers still use one of Apple's older, four-inch devices and a small handset could be the catalyst that sees them upgrade.
iPhone SE: cases reveal differing designs
04 March
Apple's new iPhone SE is just weeks away from a global reveal, with an on sale date likely to fall within March, too, but case suppliers still seem split over the final design.
Cases have begun to emerge online and MacRumors has obtained pictures indicating that while the overall shape now seems to be nailed - an ever so slightly more rounded iPhone 5S -some minor details have yet to be settled on.
"Early case leaks have historically been fairly accurate indicators of new iPhone designs", says the website. But with "two distinct case designs still floating around this close to the iPhone SE's launch, it's clear there is still confusion over just what Apple intends to release".
One case suggests very little change from the iPhone 5S. The edges appear broadly similar in terms of curve and the power button remains on the top rather than relocating to the side, as on more recent iPhones.
However, a second case suggests the edges are much more curved and that the power button has indeed made its way onto the side.
The second case design is definitely the more radical departure, but uSwitch reckons the lack of solid information and component leaks means that overall, a design more like the 5S is likely.
On both cases, however, the camera holes are wide and open, suggesting that regardless of which one is correct, the protruding camera module from the iPhone 6 and 6S seems likely to appear on the SE.
iPhone SE: possible price and features leaked
3 March
A spate of leaks regarding a new, four-inch iPhone handset – originally thought to be called the iPhone 5SE – have emerged shortly ahead of an anticipated reveal.
A research note by Ming-Chi Kuo, the established Apple leaker and analyst, has been obtained by MacRumors suggesting what kinds of hardware features we can expect on the new device, as well as a potential price.
The "well-informed" analyst touts a price point between $400 and $500 (£288 and £360), meaning a price slash is on the cards when compared to the iPhone 5S, which starts at £379. This should drive sales in the low to medium-cost smartphone market and boost the company's foothold in India and China.
TechnoBuffalo says that introducing the new phone at such a price level means the "iPhone line-up would suddenly provide compelling options for budget smartphones buyers, who will have been sticking with Android and Windows Phone until now". The 5S is expected to have its price more or less halved in response.
The research note also points out several hardware features to expect on the phone. It should get a 12-megapixel camera - lifted from the iPhone 6S -, an A9 chipset and an NFC chip for Apple Pay, 16GB and 64GB storage options and a slightly larger battery.
However, 3D touch has been ruled out – something that appears to be confirmed by a separate leak on French website NWE that supposedly shows some of the internals of the new four-inch model.
MacRumors says the images are from a source that has been reliable in the past and if they are indeed pictures of some of the iPhone SE's hardware, 3D touch components aren't present – confirming that Apple considers the feature to be one of the premium selling points of its flagship handsets.
Reports that Apple will introduce a new entry level iPhone this year have been circulating for some months and while many these rumours have remained static, the name has become a bit of a saga.
The tech press initially touted the name iPhone 7 Mini, before iPhone 6C and iPhone 7C were both thrown into the ring.
More recently, general consensus plumped for iPhone 5SE – but even that has now changed.
According to 9 to 5 Mac, it seems Apple could be keen to drop the '5' designation from the model, meaning it could simply be called the iPhone SE. By dropping the number, the company would remove the device from the yearly upgrade cycle and simplify the line-up. Introducing a new iPhone 5 derivative immediately before the iPhone 7 is unveiled could confuse customers. It is thought the "SE" could stand for "Special Edition".
The reveal date has changed slightly, too. It has been hotly tipped for some weeks that Apple's keynote event will take place on 15 March. However, according to Re/code, the company will hold an event in Cupertino on 21 March for the reveal of the iPhone SE.
It is widely believed that Apple will also use the event to introduce a new iPad. First rumours strongly suggested an iPad Air 3 would debut in March, but the latest whispers hint at the introduction of a new 9.7ins version of the iPad Pro. Some updates to the Apple Watch are also expected.
Changing the date could have unintended consequences, though. A 21 March reveal would fall a day before the company is due in court to explain its refusal to hack into phones for the US security services. It's possible that the divided headlines created by the case could trample any good publicity generated by the introduction of the new phone, argues Macworld.
Why is Apple introducing a new cheap phone?
After almost three years on sale, the iPhone 5S is not only ageing, but could be disrupting the Apple line-up – hence the decision for a change. When the iPhone 7 is revealed in September, having a phone with the '5' nomenclature in the range would emphasise just how old the company's entry level device is getting.
According to Forbes, the impending release of the iPhone SE shows that Apple is "getting aggressive".
Releasing a new entry level phone that doesn't follow the yearly update cycle of the flagship handset means the company will have a device likely to have stable sales throughout the year. It could also boost handset sales at the beginning of the year, helping to keep iPhone sales positive, and steal some of the spotlight currently being enjoyed by rival Samsung, which recently released one of the biggest threats to the iPhone in the form of the Samsung Galaxy S7. If Apple sets the right tone at launch, the iPhone SE could push any other smartphone news into second place.
What could the new phone look like?
Aside from the obvious answer of small - it's a four-inch handset - the SE is tipped to look very similar to the iPhone 5S, albeit with one or two alterations to bring it closer to the design language of the iPhone 6S.
The edges are tipped to be slightly rounded, but not to the same degree as those on the iPhone 6, so a hybrid design fusing the look of the old and new handsets looks set to be on the cards.
Imagining the potential design, MacRumors has posted renders speculating what iPhone 5 aesthetics combined with iPhone 6 design cues could look like – showing off a phone that essentially looks like a stubby iPhone 6, though with buttons in difference places and the top and bottom panels still present on the rear of the handset. The protruding camera module is present, though, something hinted at in leaked schematics, together with strong indications the SE will get hand-me-down iPhone 6S camera hardware.
It must also be noted that a reveal of the SE this month may indicate that Apple has clamped down hard on leakers. MacRumors says that part leaks for new iPhones usually come thick and fast this close to launch and the company has done a good job of keeping things under wraps – which could bad news for fans hungry for news regarding the iPhone 7.
iPhone 5SE: design of new handset leaked online
25 February
Details of the upcoming iPhone 5SE have emerged on the internet in the form of case renderings leaked to 9to5 Mac.
The website was provided with pictures from a case-maker outlining just what to expect when Apple reveals the device at a keynote event penned for 15 March.
If the drawings are accurate, the handset shouldn't be too dissimilar to the current iPhone 5S, with one or two small modifications.
Rumours have suggested the phone could ship with a completely refreshed design marrying styling cues from iPhones 5 and 6. However, it appears the older designs will remain dominant.
The handset's dimensions are exactly the same as the iPhone 5S, meaning it will fit inside existing cases.
The edges are slightly curved, but not to the degree seen on the iPhone 6, while the sleep/wake/power button has been relocated to the side as on Apple's latest models. Some schematic drawings posted on Twitter by OnLeaks also hint that a slight camera bump could be on the way, in similar vein to the iPhone 6, although they also show the power button on the top of the phone.
It retains the metal plates on the back, with glass caps top and bottom.
iPhone 5SE: new mini handset could get 6S hardware
24 February
Apple is planning to launch a new, smaller, entry level iPhone handset this spring in a bid to increase sales and replace the now ageing 5S.
The four-inch phone – likely to be revealed at an Apple event tipped for mid-March – could be called the iPhone 5SE and according to the latest rumours, looks set to be decently specced and laden with goodies from some of the tech giant's very recent flagship handsets.
An article from Bloomberg offers up some interesting hints regarding products Apple intends to release shortly and from that, MacRumors believes we can deduce that the 5SE will use the A9 processor chip from the iPhone 6S.
Earlier rumours suggested the company would only use the A8 chip, but the now much more solid hints that the iPhone 5SE will have the 6S chipset suggests the iPhone 5SE could be a well-performing little phone when it arrives.
Depending on RAM and clock speed, says Trusted Reviews, it seems Apple may be taking a step back in terms of size but not in terms of performance. The phone could prove to be an ideal alternative to the larger, flagship handsets and for "performance fiends on a budget."
The new handset, which possibly could go on sale on 18 March, is in no way a prelude to the iPhone 7 expected to land this September, but Apple will introduce a new design to its entry level handset. The 5SE will take on the same footprint as the 5S within a slightly new shape, hinted to be a fusion of the 5S but with the curved edges of the more recent iPhone 6 models.
It's not clear if it will adopt 3D touch capabilities, but the iPhone 6's camera hardware has also been hinted as a possible addition.
iPhone 5SE: what does handset mean for Apple?
18 February
Before the fanfare of the hotly anticipated iPhone 7 launch this year, Apple has much grittier affairs to attend to.
Next month, the firm is tipped to be holding a keynote event at which three devices could be in for attention. A new iPad Air 3 is rumoured to be on the way, and the Apple Watch will receive some kind of update. However, there's also the not too insignificant introduction of a fresh iPhone on the cards.
Unlike the flagship device expected in September, the iPhone 5SE, which Apple is supposedly set to reveal on 15 March, is a brand new entry level, four-inch smartphone to replace the ageing 5S.
According to most rumours, the new "cheap" device will look like a mixture of iPhones 5 and 6. Out goes the clunky, bevelled edge from 2012 to be replaced with a curved design more reminiscent of the current iPhone 6 range.
It could come with the iPhone 6's camera setup, too, as well as upgraded internals, while some believe it will have the A9 processing chip found in the current 6S.
However, the imminent reveal has critics pondering what the introduction of a new entry level iPhone means for Apple. While the company updates its flagship device every year, smaller introductions are few and far between.
The last time Apple introduced an entry level phone in the shape of the recently discontinued 5C, it "failed to light the world on fire any standard iPhone model would", says BGR.
Making the 5SE's job even harder is the fact iPhone sales as a whole are about to go into decline for the first time ever, although according to investment notes doing the rounds on the internet, Apple can expect $5.5bn (£3.8bn) in sales this year, assuming the phone has a price tag of around £380. Most sales will be driven from emerging markets, as well as those keen to have a smaller iPhone than those currently available. It's thought that iPhone 5S owners will see the 5SE as a worthy upgrade, too.
Forbes agrees that despite some critics' scepticism, the handset could be a winner. The slowdown in iPhone sales may be in part due to consumers not upgrading to the larger devices, so bringing out a four-inch model should result in a boost in sales, provided Apple gets the hardware right.
The company needs to be careful, though. Apple needs to "tell the story" of the device perfectly, argues Forbes. Communicating with consumers is key here, as the phone needs to "be accepted for what it is, not what people want it to be".
It's a "gamble", but a relatively safe one for the company.
iPhone 5SE: new handset on shelves 18 March
15 February
Apple's new four-inch iPhone 5SE will hit shelves on 18 March, according to reports around the web.
The cheaper, entry level phone is said to be set for an introduction at a rumoured keynote event taking place on 15 March and it seems customers could have one in their hands just three days later.
9 to 5 Mac says that according to sources, Apple will introduce the new iPhone alongside the iPad Air 3, with both devices going on sale the same week. Unusually, there will be no option of pre-ordering – a breakaway from the tech giant's usual tactic of putting new products on sale a week or two after their reveal to allow for advance sales.
According to the report, production of the four-inch iPhone - believed to be called the iPhone 5SE but also known as the iPhone 6C and 7 Mini by critics - ramped up significantly in January in order to accommodate the quick reveal-to-sales plan.
The new design mixes cues from the iPhone 6C and current iPhone 5S, but mated to upgraded internals. It's not expected to serve as a prelude to the iPhone 7, which is believed to arrive in September.
As for the iPad Air 3, ZDnet says Apple will hope its immediate introduction will "rejuvenate its iPad sales" - the Daily Mail says they have fallen by "almost a quarter over the course of a year".
It's said that the next mid-range iPad will be a 9.7ins device with updated Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil support, iPad Pro-inspired speakers, an A9 processor, an upgraded camera and potentially an LED flash system.
iPhone 5SE vs 5S: What's the difference?
12 February
Strong rumours over the past few months indicate that Apple is interested in introducing a brand new four-inch iPhone handset in 2016 as a pre-cursor to the iPhone 7 reveal in September.
According to most sources, on 15 March, the tech giant will host an event at which they could reveal up to three new devices. The iPhone 5SE is said to be one of them.
Since before Christmas, critics have given the long-rumoured entry level device a range of monikers, such as iPhone 7 Mini and iPhone 6C. Now, though, speculation has cemented the iPhone 5SE namesake in place.
How will the replacement 5 handset stack up against the soon-to-be outgoing iPhone 5S and what new features can Apple introduce to ensure the new entry level phone is not a flop?
Design
According to most rumours, the 5SE is tipped to marry iPhone 6 and 5S design cues for an all-new looking handset different to what is expected from the iPhone 7.
It is thought the phone will drop the 5S bezel, which loops around the chassis, and will be replaced by a curved edge setup similar to the one seen on the 6 models. It seems likely it will use the same casing colour pallet as the iPhone 6 and 6S.
Camera
According to MacRumors, the 5SE and 5S will share cameras with the same eight-megapixel resolution – only the 5SE's unit being lifted from the iPhone 6 meaning it should have better image stabilisation and low-light shooting abilities. If the 5SE's camera is exactly the same as the 6, it should mean 1080p, 60 frames per second video recording and 240fps slow-mo are coming to the entry level phone, as well as Apple's newly introduced Live Photos feature.
Display
So far, reports have not hinted at anything revolutionary in terms of the iPhone 5SE's display.
According to Pocket Lint, it will use the exact same four-inch display with 326 pixels per inch as the iPhone 5S, with an equal screen resolution of 1136 x 640.
Apple recently introduced 3D touch capabilities onto its iPhone 6S, a feature allowing users to use differing pressures to toggle between options. However, it's unlikely this will be used on the 5SE as it's the entry level device and the technology has caused supply chain headaches for the company in the past.
Software
iOS 10 seems set to launch in 2016, but not on the iPhone 5SE. The new operating system will likely launch on the iPhone 7 in September.
When the phone ships to customers two weeks after its reveal in mid-March, it will be running iOS 9 much like the iPhone 5S it replaces, albeit with one or two additions – for example, it is expected to have ApplePay capabilities.
Chipset and Hardware
The internals of the 5SE look set to be a big update on the now ageing chipsets found in the iPhone 5S and 5C models. The 5C still uses an A6 chip, the 5S powered by an A7. Rumour has it the 5SE will get the A9 chip from the iPhone 6S mated to 2GB of RAM for a serious performance hike.
The phone will likely be offered in the same 16GB and 32GB storage options, but could sport a larger battery. Pocket lint touts a 1642mAh cell compared to the 1560mAh battery found in the iPhone 5S.
iPhone 5SE: new iPhone will be unveiled in March and 'will come in rose gold'
09 February
Apple's forthcoming four-inch model – which is being referred to with increasing confidence as the iPhone 5SE – will come in rose gold, as well as the three colours of the iPhone 6S range.
According to reports the phone will launch on 15 March and will go on sale two weeks later.
Previous rumours suggested that the phone might come in hot pink option, similar to one of the colours in the plastic-clad iPhone 5C range, but it is more likely the phone will feature a rose gold option, 9to5mac says.
So what else is known about the phone?
Codenamed "N69" within Apple the iPhone 5SE will be an upgrade of 2013's 5S, with a design expected to take its cues from the iPhone 5 and 6 range rather than from the upcoming iPhone 7.
Tech journalists have previously called it the iPhone 7 Mini, the 6C, the 5E, but 9 to 5 Mac's sources say it is most likely to be called the iPhone 5SE.
The 'classic' design will be married to more recent tech incorporated in the latest models. It is expected to take the iPhone 6's camera and use the same A8 processor, with live photo capability and an NFC chip to support Apple Pay.
Experts say it is unlikely that the phone will come with 3D-touch capabilities, and it will keep the headphone jack, in contrast to the rumours surrounding the release of the iPhone 7 later this year.
The handset should be arriving out shortly. Forbes says Apple is planning an April release after a March announcement, which would coincide with the reveal date of the Samsung Galaxy S7.